My first wedding!

The ring and shoes, originally uploaded by Casey McDaniel. (Dean Michaels Studio)

I am just starting to get into shooting weddings. It is very different than the normal types of shoots I do, but so far I have loved it! There is so much energy going around and you are constantly shooting and trying to be quick, so the bride and groom can get back to their guests and cocktail hour, etc. It was so exciting, though, to go shoot one of my first real weddings! I went with a good friend, whose name also happens to be Kaycee and together we clicked through the night. It was seriously so much fun and so crazy at the same time! I have to thank Sara and Edmund for letting me a part of their gorgeous day! If you would like to see more of their wedding, click here.

P.S. I am pretty sure they both were doctors too. I have come to realize that NJ happens to be the home of many doctors!

Ok, so we are a little excited!

We don't usually put up our Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving,
but this year we were a little excited to
get it up!

Gabe helping put the ornaments on last night

Super happy

Our Christmas stockings
(since they only had 4 different ones, Mom and Dad have
the same one; Mr. Claus and Mrs. Claus with a beard)

The first time Piper has ever seen a Christmas tree

Yesterday, we spent a lot of the day decorating for Christmas. Back in August, we found a free Christmas tree on craigslist and found out yesterday, it was pre-lit with colored lights. Since we really wanted white lights (I guess I should say I really wanted white lights) we decided to take off all 650 of the already army-knotted lights & put on our own white ones. Needless to say, after about 5 hours of unwrapping and cutting lights, then re-wrapping, we had our very own tree! And, we love it. I think it was worth every little scratch I got from all those fake needles. ha!

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Before we jump to the parade, I had to include these two shots of the very first Thanksgiving turkey we have ever made! I was so excited to brine it and marinade it and of course eat it! And, luckily, it turned out delicious as you can see below!

This year we decided to go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and battle the crowds!

Luckily, everything went really smoothly, which made
Thanksgiving Day that much better!

Britt & Lizzie with Piper & I all bundled up!

The whole gang (notice we are in the front! Yahoo for the guys for saving our spots!
They had to be there around 6am to get that spot and the parade started at 9am.
Talk about dedication!)

The crowd across the street.

Jessica Simpson

I am not sure who this girl is, but she looked familiar..anyone know?

Glady's Knight

Ronald McDonald in his shoe car

Ronnie

Parade guy! Pretty cool trick!

The worlds largest drum.

This is by far my favorite float. Who could forget the Hamburger Helper helper's.

I am not sure who these guys are either, all I know is that the girls seemed to scream the
loudest when they saw them.

Smurf

Happy to be there!

I thought of Gabe's cousins (Kennedy, Cameron & Bailey) when I took this picture,
cause they love the Shrek.

Jolley Saint Nick.

One of the bands

Here he comes..

Kung Fu over you!

Kayne West (quiet boo)

Dora and India Arie. (I think India was a little bummed she didn't get her own float.
Just the vibe I got.)

Mr. Penguin giving Gabe a hi-five!

Performers

Gabe's face cracks me up!

Fiery bird

Dancing lady

Alton Brown

This really was one of my favorite floats, because this is the real deal!
The original cast from Sesame Street!
Flash Gordon! He made my day.

Can't forget Oscar...where is Slimey?

We had so much fun at the parade on Thursday and are happy that everyone left happy! I think this will be the only time we go, since it is a good chunk of your day and takes a lot of work to make it worth going, still it was something we will always remember and take with us when we move along this crazy road of ours!

Past due!

I have been wanting to post these pictures of different things going on here in NJ, but never got around to it until now! Sorry they are so late! (warning: there are a lot of pictures.)

This picture was taken soon after arriving in Jersey, with our very first piece of furniture! It was very momentous! It had been a long, hard day folks & we were more than happy to sink into our new, comfy couch!
(Oh and we have a new son...actually it is Gabe's cousin Finn.)

Our living room as it was slowly coming together!

The kids area! I will always be happy I bought this table!
Gabe uses it everyday!

I am so excited about these fun "float" wraps! I also am offering them
through my photography!

Piper at 9 1/2 months!

Ren just got a karate chop from Gabe.

Piper's favorite fall hat...and mine too.

We love apples, (or maybe it's just because I love this certain
apple toffee dip recipe my sister gave me) either way
we had to go to another apple farm and pick some apples!

Gabe & Ethan

This is where we found our beauty of a pumpkin.
He's that one...right there!

I have no idea why they did that.

This picture actually really scares me. I have never seen that face before on Gabe.
Hopefully, I won't ever again. ha!

Our Halloween pumpkin!
(It got moldy after about 5 days. He couldn't cut the Jersey humidity!)

Gabe's principal at their school's Halloween parade walk.

Gabe was a witch this year!

Ethan gives it a thumbs up.

And, I had to include Michael Jackson. I think this was
the best Michael Jackson costume I have seen!

Gabe at Tanelle's Halloween party!

Here comes Dyson...(to the left Dyson, the left.)

Someone is excited to be a lion!!

Well hello there little mermaid. (we did two costumes for
Gabe this year, since this was her last year's costume.)

Posing all too well.

AHHHH!! Who is that scary lady who looks like a crippled bat?

Too cute.

At a get together with some of our friends, at the Liberty State Park in NJ.

Looking across the water at NY!

Some of our buds! Sorry, this shot is so far away!

The clan in Jersey!