Thursday, July 31, 2008

Playdate!





Wes loves other kids...alot! He loves to watch them, play with them, babble at them...and is facinated by the things they do. He's still young enough that people can take away his toys and he doesn't get annoyed. But, he's old enough now that he's starting to interact with others.

This is Cumorah. She's his friend. They are only a couple of weeks apart in age and because Cumorah's daddy is deployed, Wes gets to play with her more often than he might otherwise. They are about as opposite as two kids can get. Cumorah is totally independent, unless she needs to be fed. Wes likes to play on his own for a while, but comes back to Mom and Dad frequently for hugs and words of affirmation. Cumorah loves sports...soccer especially. She gets so excited when she sees teams playing on the field in front of our house. She could live outside. And when she comes over, we spent long amounts of time at the park and walking around the neighborhood in the nifty wagon that Nina gave Weslee for his birthday. Lucky it has two seats and two seat belts! Wes on the other hand likes books, and cooking, and playing with blocks. He likes outside...alot. But, he's only recently discovered that balls are a plaything. Cumorah actually calms down quicker with a ball in her hands than with a pacifier or any other thing. They are different, but they play well.
I guess, I love learning from these two kids that friendship doesn't have to be about commonality at all. Friendships can be based upon the mutal enjoyment of one another's company...no matter how different you really are!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Revamped!

Dear friends and family,
As you know, our time here in the good old US of A is limited and we are racking our brains for ways to keep in touch with you all. I have, in the sporting interest of trying to keep everyone up to date with our family during our crazy travels abroad, revamped our blog. This is no longer my photography blog, but our family blog. My photography blog is now at terihalesphotography.blogspot.com and I hope you will feel free to visit it for my latest photo sessions (if you so desire).

This blog will be limited to life's daily fun, frustration, exploration, and our missing all of you. We hope you (and grandmas...you know I'm talking about you here)...will find this blog a little easier to navigate now, because let's face it, we all know you're just here for pictures of the kid! And, no one wants to sift through pictures of people they don't know to see pictures of his cute little dimples. So, this is a dimples only blog from now on!

Cheers!
Teri

Friday, July 11, 2008

The Reception












OK...these are the final pictures of the wedding that I'm going to post. The reception was beautiful thanks to both the mothers and some really good friends. I find that during wedding receptions you really get to see who your friends are. They calm you when you're stressed out. Tell you that your chocolate covered strawberries look wonderful and actually eat one. They help clean up after the whole ordeal. It was nice to see who Bubba and Tessa's real friends were...and they have several. I still don't know Tessa very well...but I know that ALOT of people love her to pieces...and that makes me happy to have her for a sister-in-law...and happy for Bubba that he has her for a wife. I'm actually kind of sad that I won't get to know her very well for a few years to come. But, hey...we've got a long life ahead of us, and plenty of time to become acquainted. Until then, we'll just have to get to know eachother over our blogs.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Pictures of the Bride and Groom




























OK...so I know it's 4:10 in the morning...and I'm aware that there is a baby in my home that will wake in like 4 hours and need my attention...but I'm addicted to photo editing...and I wanted to post some more work. These are the pictures I've been dying to edit. These are my favorites. This is what I do best...small groups and couples. I like it when the crowd goes away and I just have a few people to focus on. I don't particularly enjoy large groups. I never can seem to get everyone looking good in the same shot. With more than 4 in the group, I lose track of who's hair is in who's face, who isn't looking at the camera...and who's eyes are closed...again! But, with two, I can focus on all of that and get some good stuff.
I was actually kind of glad (though maybe the bride and groom weren't) to have these two alone to myself for a little bit. This is really the only quality time I've gotten to spend with Tessa. This was the first time I got to really see her as a person and not the phantom writer that sends me emails about the upcoming wedding. This was (and might be the only time) I get for a while to see her with my brother and come to know her as my new sister. I liked what I saw. She's really a sweetheart.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

The Ceremony



























Wow...there really are alot of pictures! Tessa, you're gorgeous in all of these pictures. You were SO FUN to take pictures of! So photogenic. Bub...well, I'm just glad that Tessa can make you really smile. I have to say that I love the location...it was SO beautiful! I think it's kind of funny that all of the groomsmen and bridesmaids look like they're in pain, though, because of the sunlight in their eyes. Brett, especially, had some fun expressions in some of the pictures. Anyway, I hope you guys like what you see...and feel free to give me direction about what you're looking for if I didn't quite nail the finish, or if you'd like me to try a different look with the raw materials I have. Love you guys! Oh...these aren't all the pics...and they are in no particular order, just putting them up as I finish editing them. Enjoy!