We sure love spending time with cousins! We played hard and when we were done with our walk we were all exhausted! It was a great day!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Thanksgiving Parties
Now that both Dallin and Mandy are in school, I get to go to two parties for every holiday!
At Dallin’s we all ate a Thanksgiving dinner from the cafeteria together and then they put on a little program telling us all about Thanksgiving and what it means to them. It was really cute!
For Mandy’s party, all of the parents brought in food and we had an ENORMOUS feast. Seriously – so much food!!! And of course the party started out with a little entertainment from our little Indians.
They were super cute! We had a great time at both parties. I am looking forward to the day when I’ll get to go to three for each holiday :)
Friday, December 3, 2010
Getting Fancy with Mema
While visiting with Mema (my Aunt Becky) Mandy decided that she wanted to get fancy, so of course Layton had to join in too!
I think I have two very pretty little girls!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
BFFs
Dear Kate,
Last night Layton told us that you were his BEST FRIEND. In fact he told us this so loudly and emphatically that it is quite possible that the neighbors now know this little tidbit of information too.
Anyway – Just thought you’d like to know!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Fall Festival
Ummmm…these pictures were taken like a month ago…just tells you how far behind on things I am right now!
Anyway – it was a fun little school sponsored festival. We all had a great time!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Trying to reach the surface…
Do you ever just have some days where at the end you fell like this:
It seems I have been having weeks worth of those kinds of days. I feel like I have so many different things right now pulling and vying for my attention that I can’t ever seem to get ahead.
I imagine that in some small way, this must be what it feels like to be drowning. You see the surface so far away – you struggle and struggle and struggle and stretch and push yourself even harder – at yet you never seem to be able break the plain of the water. I’m hoping that by the time Christmas is over that I’ll be able to burst through the surface and just breathe. And relax. If only for a little while. You know, spend a day like a two year old and just lay down and rest and pretend to sleep anytime I feel like it :)
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Fall
While we don’t get to enjoy the fall colors here nearly as much as happens further north, we do at least get a little taste of it here and there. Isn’t it a little ironic that fall colors are all colors in the “warm” spectrum? Reds, oranges, yellows – all wonderfully warm. And yet they are here to herald in the cold.
No matter their purpose, they are beautiful.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Locations
I put together this page of information about photo shoot locations yesterday on my other blog. Now, I was hoping to get a few more suggestions for places to do photographs from you guys. Do you know of other places that are really pretty? All of these parks are also great places to go and spend time with family. So I also have another motive in asking - I love having new places to go to do things with my family :)
Main Street Park is located at 3788 Main Street next to the Main Street Boat Ramp in Middleburg on the North Fork of Black Creek
Pros: For such a small park (5 acres) there is a surprising variety of photo opportunities, including a boardwalk, wooden steps, a fishing pier, and some lovely trees.
Cons: It is a rather small park and there are often quite a few people out around the boat ramp, especially during the summer time.
Recommendations: No longer than a 30 minutes session, great for families with small children
Entrance to Eagle Landing is located at the intersection of Oakleaf Plantation Parkway and Eagle Landing Parkway in Orange Park off of Branan Field Road.
Pros: Very meticulously manicured landscaping, small bridge and manmade waterfall.
Cons: The sprinklers have been known to come on at unexpected times! While very pretty, there is not a large variety of photo backdrops. Some walking involved to get to that area.
Recommendations: No longer than a 30 minute session, good for families and children.
Spring Park Green Cove Springs is located in downtown Green Cove Springs at the end of Springs Street off of Hwy 17 adjacent to the St. Johns River.
Pros: A natural spring constantly flowing water, a huge fishing pier, gazebo, beautiful natural trees/grasses, bridge, of course – the St. Johns River.
Cons: Popular location for parties and weddings so sometimes you have to work around them.
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for families, children, engagement, or even bridal shots
Kathryn Abby Hanna Park is located at 500 Wonderwood Drive, Atlantic Beach
Pros: Tremendous variety of photo backdrops, from a lake, to lush vegetation, to stately trees, to sand dunes, to the beach itself.
Cons: Entrance fee of $3 per car, can often be a little crowded during the summer time
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for all types of photo shoots
Public Beaches
Pros: Its free! The beach is such a beautiful place, especially at sunset.
Cons: Because it is free, it is very often crowded and it can sometimes be difficult to get shots that don’t have other people in the background.
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for all types of photo shoots
Anastasia State Park is located at 300 Anastasia Park Rd, St. Augustine
(The following pros/cons/recommendations would be applicable to any of the state parks along the beach)
Pros: An absolutely gorgeous pristine beach environment. Generally less crowded than public beaches.
Cons: Entrance fee of $8 per vehicle.
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for all types of photo shoots
Ringhaver Park is located at 5198 118th Street , Jacksonville.
Pros: Gorgeous variety of scenery, boardwarks, awesome trees (some are great for climbing!), the Ortega River, an interesting variety of vegetation, and a HUGE playground.
Cons: To get to all of that beauty requires a pretty good amount of walking. The loop to go out to the river is around 2 miles or so round trip.
Recommendations: Because of all the walking involved you should plan for a minimum of a 1 hour session. If you have small children you may want to bring a stroller!
Alpine Groves Park is located at 2060 State Road 13 on Swiss Lane, Switzerland
Pros: Wonderful variety of photo backdrops including a turn of the century barn, outbuildings, and plantation style home, gorgeous vegetation, pretty park benches, and an amazing view of the St. Johns River.
Cons: Popular wedding spot so sometimes you have to work around the party, which isn’t too difficult considering the size of the park.
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for all types of photo shoots
Memorial Park is located at 1620 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville
Pros: Historic location in downtown Jacksonville, huge old trees, concrete walkway along the St. Johns River, large open green.
Cons: Very popular park so you have to work around people to get your photos and parking can sometimes be tricky.
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for all types of photo shoots
Treaty Oak Park (Jesse Ball DuPont Park) is located at 1123 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville.
Pros: Treaty Oak is AMAZING. There really is no other tree around like it.
Cons: Not exactly in the nicest part of town and is a frequent stopping place for homeless people.
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for all types of photo shoots
Ronnie Van Zant Park is located at at 2760 Sandridge Road off CR 739 B in the Penney Farms/Lake Asbury area, Middleburg.
Pros: Beautiful fishing pond with lots of decks and bench seating, beautiful trees, very cool and fun Frisbee golf course
Cons: Not the largest variety of photo backdrops around, but still very pretty.
Recommendations: No longer than a 30 minute session, good for families and children.
Ft. Caroline National Memorial Park is located at 12713 Fort Caroline Road, Jacksonville.
Pros: Free National Park, old ruins, pier, gorgeous trees, St Johns River
Cons: Park closes at 5:00, so you can’t always do photos during the best lighting times (i.e. the hour before sunset)
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for all types of photo shoots
Main Street Park is located at 3788 Main Street next to the Main Street Boat Ramp in Middleburg on the North Fork of Black Creek
Pros: For such a small park (5 acres) there is a surprising variety of photo opportunities, including a boardwalk, wooden steps, a fishing pier, and some lovely trees.
Cons: It is a rather small park and there are often quite a few people out around the boat ramp, especially during the summer time.
Recommendations: No longer than a 30 minutes session, great for families with small children
Entrance to Eagle Landing is located at the intersection of Oakleaf Plantation Parkway and Eagle Landing Parkway in Orange Park off of Branan Field Road.
Pros: Very meticulously manicured landscaping, small bridge and manmade waterfall.
Cons: The sprinklers have been known to come on at unexpected times! While very pretty, there is not a large variety of photo backdrops. Some walking involved to get to that area.
Recommendations: No longer than a 30 minute session, good for families and children.
Spring Park Green Cove Springs is located in downtown Green Cove Springs at the end of Springs Street off of Hwy 17 adjacent to the St. Johns River.
Pros: A natural spring constantly flowing water, a huge fishing pier, gazebo, beautiful natural trees/grasses, bridge, of course – the St. Johns River.
Cons: Popular location for parties and weddings so sometimes you have to work around them.
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for families, children, engagement, or even bridal shots
Kathryn Abby Hanna Park is located at 500 Wonderwood Drive, Atlantic Beach
Pros: Tremendous variety of photo backdrops, from a lake, to lush vegetation, to stately trees, to sand dunes, to the beach itself.
Cons: Entrance fee of $3 per car, can often be a little crowded during the summer time
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for all types of photo shoots
Public Beaches
Pros: Its free! The beach is such a beautiful place, especially at sunset.
Cons: Because it is free, it is very often crowded and it can sometimes be difficult to get shots that don’t have other people in the background.
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for all types of photo shoots
Anastasia State Park is located at 300 Anastasia Park Rd, St. Augustine
(The following pros/cons/recommendations would be applicable to any of the state parks along the beach)
Pros: An absolutely gorgeous pristine beach environment. Generally less crowded than public beaches.
Cons: Entrance fee of $8 per vehicle.
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for all types of photo shoots
Ringhaver Park is located at 5198 118th Street , Jacksonville.
Pros: Gorgeous variety of scenery, boardwarks, awesome trees (some are great for climbing!), the Ortega River, an interesting variety of vegetation, and a HUGE playground.
Cons: To get to all of that beauty requires a pretty good amount of walking. The loop to go out to the river is around 2 miles or so round trip.
Recommendations: Because of all the walking involved you should plan for a minimum of a 1 hour session. If you have small children you may want to bring a stroller!
Alpine Groves Park is located at 2060 State Road 13 on Swiss Lane, Switzerland
Pros: Wonderful variety of photo backdrops including a turn of the century barn, outbuildings, and plantation style home, gorgeous vegetation, pretty park benches, and an amazing view of the St. Johns River.
Cons: Popular wedding spot so sometimes you have to work around the party, which isn’t too difficult considering the size of the park.
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for all types of photo shoots
Memorial Park is located at 1620 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville
Pros: Historic location in downtown Jacksonville, huge old trees, concrete walkway along the St. Johns River, large open green.
Cons: Very popular park so you have to work around people to get your photos and parking can sometimes be tricky.
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for all types of photo shoots
Treaty Oak Park (Jesse Ball DuPont Park) is located at 1123 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville.
Pros: Treaty Oak is AMAZING. There really is no other tree around like it.
Cons: Not exactly in the nicest part of town and is a frequent stopping place for homeless people.
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for all types of photo shoots
Ronnie Van Zant Park is located at at 2760 Sandridge Road off CR 739 B in the Penney Farms/Lake Asbury area, Middleburg.
Pros: Beautiful fishing pond with lots of decks and bench seating, beautiful trees, very cool and fun Frisbee golf course
Cons: Not the largest variety of photo backdrops around, but still very pretty.
Recommendations: No longer than a 30 minute session, good for families and children.
Ft. Caroline National Memorial Park is located at 12713 Fort Caroline Road, Jacksonville.
Pros: Free National Park, old ruins, pier, gorgeous trees, St Johns River
Cons: Park closes at 5:00, so you can’t always do photos during the best lighting times (i.e. the hour before sunset)
Recommendations: 30 minute and 1 hour sessions, great for all types of photo shoots
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