Little E on a Little Vacation

Cute cute cute family this morning out at the beach.  They are here on vacation from Dallas and we were hooked up by a mutual friend.  This little family could not have been any more fun, pleasant, happy, funny....sickening really.  Even when I was playing with E, I'd look over and there were mom and dad hugging or kissing like they were crazy about each other!?!  (Too cute)   E and I are best friends now....we were holding hands by the end of our play date and neither of us wanted it to end.

I'm not sure who was more photogenic....daughter, mom, dad or grandmother....you be the judge.

I'll let you know when the rest are done and going up.......enjoyed meeting you guys!

6-Week Check Up

I usually do a 2-week follow up after I shoot a delivery.....but baby D wanted a 6-week check up instead so he could include his older sisters!  Great choice!

I'm glad we were able to escape the harsh heat yesterday afternoon by staying under the bridge.  I had fun meeting the girls and it was good to see D again.  Here's your sneak peek......

Hope to see you again soon!

Hampton Park Heat

I'm a little behind on my posts....going out of town mixed with being really busy (AMEN!) mixed with children being out of school....puts me a little behind.  But, I had a lot of fun with this cute family.  I shot them a couple of years ago for a Father's Day shoot...and wow, what a change in 2 years!  Our goal last week was to capture a shot for a portrait painting.....but 'posing' isn't as much fun and not my favorite so...after we got the business done...they changed clothes and we got to play!

Happy little guys who seem to really enjoy each other.....and H, you did great considering having your picture taken is not your favorite.  I hope you're having a ball in Maine and may the weather be just a little cooler for you.  We're melting down here!

Remembering Good Ole Ike

My family attends St. Philip's Episcopal Church downtown and it is a big part of our lives.  For years, there was not a day that you didn't see Ike, the Sexton, around the church.  This is Ike's church and his smile has touched every corner.  He's been through those big wooden doors a thousand times....

Ike passed away this weekend.  He had been sick.....but not old enough to die in our minds.  My youngest asked just this morning if Ike was still in the hospital.  We all loved Ike.  He called my little H "Daddy-Look-Alike" and always gave him a high five that burned his hand for a few minutes.  Ike is the one who put my children to work when they needed to earn a little extra for the bike they wanted.  He'd make up some task for them to help him with and praised them with a big smile and laugh.

I got the biggest kick out of seeing him while I was shooting a wedding this past spring.  He was helping out and was all dressed up in his tuxedo looking so handsome.  He and I sat in the Narthex laughing about the nephews of the bride shoving each other before they went down the aisle.  His saying was, "Your Daddy gets to walk you down the aisle, I get to walk you to the church."  Many young ladies are mourning the fact that that won't happen now.  Irreplaceable Ike.

Sweet Ike straightening out her dress....

Just after Easter, I was driving along and heard someone honking at me.  It was crazy ole Ike with a huge grin.  He motioned for me to pull over and he asked if I would do him a favor.  He had recently pulled the Easter cross, with all the flowers from the children on it, out in front of the church for display.  He thought it was beautiful and wanted me to take a picture of it for him.  I did and I framed one and gave him an extra print.  He was so excited to have one for home and one for his office.  He loved it.

I can't shake the sadness today.....he was an icon around our church and is part of the family there.  He wasn't just someone behind the scenes....he was a part of the church and he knew everyone.  He once told a good friend who he noticed was fretting....."You know what your problem is?  You're letting  Work work you.  You've got to learn to work the Work."  You will be missed Ike....smile on!

Side note:  At his funeral on Saturday - packed house and the family is finally all seated....and a fireman comes in to tell us we needed to evacuate that there was a fire.  Everyone was fine and the fire was some electrical wires arcing due to a bird's nest.....but true to Charleston style, we just shuffled on up the street to another family church and proceeded.  Ike got a giggle out of it I'm sure.

Happy Independence Day!

Going away on vacation is always bitter sweet just before you leave - the packing, tying up loose ends, making sure everything is just right before you leave....you know what I'm talking about.  However, is there anything more fun than taking the children to a lake house for the 4th of July?  Friday morning, I packed up the kiddies (each taking a light load of about 2 shirts, 2 pairs of shorts and bathing suits) and headed to Georgia to see my sister and her family.  I'm just sorry that, yet again, my sweet husband had to stay behind and work.  But whoever said staying at home by yourself ain't no vacation!

My sister is a master at making mealtime an event that somehow comes out of nowhere because she's done all the shopping and prepping behind the scenes.  She truly enjoys making a creative, well-rounded meal for everyone to sit around, visit and savor the goods.  So....since Friday afternoon, we have had yummy pasta salad, pimento cheese, english pea salad, grilled burgers, baby-back ribs, shrimp, homemade donuts.....get the delicious picture?

We also enjoyed boat and scooter rides....well, we had a couple of scooter mis-haps....but the tubing and swimming in the lake hit the spot every afternoon.  

My oldest is a bit of a pyro.....well, aren't all boys??  Thanks to a little visit to 'South of the Border' a few weeks ago...we were packin' 250 sparklers and a load of really fun fireworks.  We had ourselves a 

Great American Weekend.

These guys represent 3 different families but account for only 5 out of the 18 grandchildren in my family.  Left, middle and right are mine. 

The Dew Family traditional 4th dessert....and no....it's not 'accurate'... so don't bother counting.  

These two little guys are rescues.....and are the sweetest, 4-leggars on the planet.  

We had a GREAT weekend...I hope you all did too!

  

15-Month Check In!

Baby L and I branched out a little at our last little date.  He's nice enough to have me out to play every 3 months.....and we usually have a play date at his house.  But this time, we got to do something special.  We played at the park under the bridge in Mount Pleasant.

(it's all about that sweet profile....)

He was a little attached to Mama in the beginning.....but he warmed up and we had some fun.

Please....can you take it?

I love that he couldn't resist the finger in the holes....

"And over this way we have the Ravenel Bridge built in 2006 or so...."  I get it, buddy, I live with a tour guide.

That sweet curl in the back....I could have pinched the back of his neck off.  Dang.

Until September my little friend......