South Africa:Part 1

After 31 hours of travel time, my great friend Mindy and I, made it to Cape Town, South Africa. We are staying with my long time Scottish friend, Naomi...possibly the greatest hostess in the world (besides my mommy).

Naomi had to work the first day so she booked a wine tour for us in Stellenbosch...where she lives. It was fabulous. What a perfect thing to do on our first day. The landscape is amazing here! And we slept well :o) I don't feel the 6 hour jet lag at all.

The second day we ventured to Cape Point. It was a little rainy, but bits of sunshine were pouring through. The drive was sensational. It must be hard to drive two photographers around...pull over here, pull over here! By the time we actually made it to the point the clouds were surrounding us, so we had another great drive back to Capetown :)

Today our adventures take us back over to Capetown to do the cable car up table mountain, explore the city...and possibly gamble on seeing the Point again. Off to see some more of God's awesomeness...

These were the only grapes left since it is fall here...I think they were sad without their friends!





Photographers hate getting pictures of themselves, but we just have to do it. We are in these beautiful gardens in one of the vineyards...it reminded me of a scene out of The Secret Garden.








I was quite happy to have the clouds with us this day. I think it adds such texture to the sky!


This vineyard also had olive trees.


This was just one of many beaches on the way to the Point...surfer huts.


LOVE these rocks.





One of the fishermen wanted me to take his picture...um...hello...okay!


The penguins were all with their young babies. They almost look the same size, but they are super furry.





These girls were precious! And they could totally dance. I love the movement of her necklace on this one.


I don't usually encourage people to take pictures in their cars as they are zooming by, but these
next two pictures are from our zooming car...and I love them :o)

Melt My Heart Twins...

I'm leaving for South Africa tomorrow, but I just had to do one more post before I left.  This sweet Mama and I have been trying to plan a session since February.  Her babies have been in and out of the hospital, so we've had to reschedule a few times.  Needless to say, these two stole my heart right away.  Trying to slow down 2 one year olds who just learned to walk was out of the question...so I ran with them.  They're fast. 

I love documenting life as it is. I think it helps us to remember what life is at this exact moment...not perfect.  Not necessarily bad, just the daily grind of funny things that happen, frustrating monotonous routines, soul wrenching looks of love, bear hugs that don't let go.  Just life.  I feel like I captured a glimpse of that below.  Wet eyelashes from a quick cry, pacifiers...because sometimes Mommy just wants to breathe!, movement because life flies by, G-tubes because God gives us what we can handle, and eating puffs off the carpet because that's the only way we could keep them still for a second :o)  I hope you enjoy some of this family's moments of life.

I LOVE these eyelashes!




Everyday play













I love the movement of this picture!






Nothing slows this little man down!

Sandy + Nick = Married!

Nick and Sandy are both teachers, so I felt instantly connected to them. I absolutely loved their engagement session. I knew almost all of Sandy's bridesmaids from a previous wedding she was in (Nikki and Troy) so they knew how I "rolled". However, they totally threw me for a loop with the new Roller Coaster pose. See below for examples :o)  One of my favorite parts of the day was jumping in the vintage Volkswagen Beetle with the newly married couple.  Sandy and Nick were also so gracious to jump out of their car and take pictures with me along the way to the reception.  Thanks Sandy and Nick!    Slideshow will be coming soon :o)

This dress was a champagne color which looks perfect with Sandy's skin...creamy!


Hot Mama shoes!





I could literally take pictures of this girl for weeks. 


As photographers we have to decide how to use the bright sunlight...hide from it, or use it to our advantage.  I think it worked well...especially against the awesome textured rock wall.


There are A LOT more where this came from!











This picture was (re)posed.  Nick's Dad took this exact same picture (sans peach tuxes) when he was married at the same church.


Sandy was glowing all the way down the aisle.


Nick waited for her and then did this...awwww


Loving the sun in this one too.


In the car!








The weather was so perfect!


Gorgeous!


I love this one.  They're so happy!





Sandy and Nick hand painted each place card while they listened to their favorite music.


Their favorite bands were then the names of each table...such a cool idea!


Pst...see the bulletin board behind them.  Even though this wasn't planned, I love that it was there representing 2 teachers :o)