Since her birthday falls in the cold month of February and with close proximity to Valentine’s day, I’ve often taken the easy way out: heart shaped decorations with pink and red for colors. Not this year! I knew she would probably remember this birthday and I hoped to make it something memorable for a little girl. I might have secretly lived out a little fantasy of my own for her birthday (which I guess is no longer a secret now). This year, despite the cold outside which is still lingering, I decided to make it feel like spring inside.

For having just turned five, she has quite a mind of her own. While I would like to say I have no idea where she gets, I actually have a very good idea where it comes from: me! She comes from a long line of highly opinionated women and I hope manages to make lasting friendships nonetheless. Right now Rochelle loves: dancing in ballet class or around the house, pumpkin scones, wearing dresses and skirts, helping me in the kitchen, acting like a mom to her brother Ezra, drawing (yep another artist), singing, posing for the camera, the color purple and having long hair.

Happy birthday sweetheart! We are blessed to be your parents and love seeing the person you are becoming.

Now on to party photos and a few portraits of her: tasty treats courtesy of White Flower Cake Shoppe. The mini flower cakes, cupcakes and shoe cookies were delish!

For any tea party, it is appropriate to have scones … so we did. I made Rochelle’s favorites: pumpkin scones. They were gone in snap.

Birthday girl:

All the little ladies

While I know she can do a great posing for photos, I still prefer the images where she isn’t trying so hard for the camera. I love authentic photos that show feeling and moods and this one bellow is probably a new favorite.

Here is the story in photographs:

Rochelle tried finding the biggest tree but it was a little sad looking

James has an audience!

Time for cookies and hot cocoa before the tractor ride.

It was a pleasant afternoon and I higly recommend taking time with loved ones to do fun trips like this. If you find yourself in the need for a live tree next be sure to check out For Ever Green Tree Farm.

We make an effort to capture our children for each of their birthdays and this year we brought Ezra to the studio. He was ecstatic to have the studio to himself with mom and dad’s undivided attention. If you’ve never met him, these images are an accurate representation of his normal temperament (minus the fits) and how he greets most everyone he sees. I hope these images put a smile on your faces as they do with us!

Hopefully he’ll forgive me someday for putting him in a salmon shirt for his birthday photos

Those eyes make me melt

Attack of the chicken

Mischevious Rochelle

I’m still crazy about Ezra’s blue eyes!

I am proud to say these are (hopefully) the last photos of Rochelle twirling her hair and sucking her thumb

Probably one of my all time favorite images of father and son. Wonder if he’ll pick up his Dad’s musical talent

Before Paris we did some touring of Bretagne:

Of course I had to drag James to Mont Saint Michel which is sight to behold

I’ve recently been asked what I photograph for fun. The answer would have to be old stone buildings such as monasteries, churches and such. I love the history contained in their walls, the weathered feel of the stone and the rows of pillars/columns. Here are som favorites:

Finally Paris:

also a favorite:

While I like how geraniums look, I can’t stand their smell. So if someone is ever thinking of buying me flowers, just skip over these. In these photos they simply remind me of older and simpler times.

Our 30 seconds in front of the camera

Lovely Kerbors

Views from our house

The name of the restaurant says it all

There’s apple juice (above) and then there is Apple Juice (below). We enjoyed the later which is a little too strong for children

Being the good photographer parents that we are (uh-huh) we turned him loose at the park for his two-year photo session. Of course big sister Rochelle had to be in on the action. As any proud dad would, I absolutely love him variety of expressions. He’s so easy to photograph that it’s a shame that we don’t do it more often. When you’re up to your eyeballs in photography, it’s sometimes difficult to pull the camera out for your own family, but it’s an extremely important exercise to do and one I hope we do more often.

Ezra as he was the day we brought him home from the NICU almost two years ago.

Ezra as he is now.

If you don’t fall down at least once, you’re not trying hard enough.

I debated for a second about weather to retouch on the scratches and dings, but he earned those fair and square.

Happy Birthday, Ezra!

Kevin and C.C.’s wedding was a little different for us in that the ceremony started at 10:00AM followed by a brunch reception at the Blue Canyon restaurant. This didn’t leave much time between the ceremony and the reception, so C.C. and Kevin scheduled several hours for the four of us to roam around Cleveland after the reception for photos. This made for a relaxing afternoon with plenty of time to hit some of C.C.’s favorite spots as well as ours.

This was also our first time working with some really great vendors as well. Heidi from Heidzillas handled the day-of coordination duties with an ease that is almost spooky, while Tina and the girls from Prestige Floral provided an awesome array of floral decoration for the day.

Here are some of Genevieve’s favorite images from the day:

And some of mine:

The warm morning light illuminating the front of First Congregational Church in Twinsburg, Ohio.

C.C. surprised Kevin with a WWE themed cake that he absolutely loved. I heard him saying later in the day that it was a shame that they were going to have to eat it, and he wishes he could find some way to just preserve it. Well, we’ll do our best to preserve it in photographic form, but beyond that…

Cakes by Phyllis Lester and rustic ambiance provided by Blue Canyon Restaurant.

Kelvis made a special appearance at the reception to serenade C.C. and Kevin for their first dance.

This guy is just awesome. I want his necklaces. And his walking stick.

Historic West Side Market where C.C. often went as a child.

Congratulations, guys, and come back safe from Mexico!

In the meantime, I’ve been meaning to post photos of our kids. Our oldest Rochelle turned 3 today. She’s already trying to be a little mommy and scolds Ezra when he’s doing something he’s not supposed to. I can’t believe how much she’s grown and learned in the past few months. He’s one of her favorite activities:

Ezra meanwhile doesn’t care for playing in the snow. He is walking everywhere and loves playing with buttons including cranking the volume up. Here’s his reaction to going outside:

but he doesn’t mind a silly outfit

and here’s is a small taste of his numerous facial expressions