Wednesday night was the 3rd Annual Children’s Home Society’s Celebrate Adoption event held out at Haile Plantation Golf and Country Country Club in Gainesville, Florida.  The event celebrates adoption, by creating a carnival like atmosphere for kids and families to enjoy.  The last two years Angela and her staff from Avie have help CHS organize and plan a terrific event. (You can see more picture on their bog http://avieweddingsandevents.blogspot.com/)  The event is a great place to learn about some of the children looking for “Forever Families” in our area.  If you’d like to learn about how to become a “Forever Family” for a child, please contact Children’s Home Society at 352.334.0955.

We did the studio part of our senior session with Emily last week.  And had it not been for the crummy weather today we would have finished up with some fum outdoor stuff at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens.  But to hold you and your mom over, here are a few of my favorites from the studio session.  Emily was a ton of fun.  And I loved all the shoes.  A woman after my own heart.  Don’t forget to check out DSW in Ocala, it is a shoe girls dream!

Interested in doing something different for your senior portraits…call Angel (352)371-9735 or contact me by e-mail at photography35@aol.com.

Hunter is such a cute baby!  He is looking more and more like his dad every time we see him.  And full of smiles and giggles…

Check back in 3 months to see Hunter next session.

We recently got a chance to photograph the Schroeder Family.  Their girls are just so cute.  And we found out that Madison will have a part in the Hippodrome’s production of a Christmas Carol.  She even knows her lines already.  Very talented. Adelie is so cute and such a good baby.

Saturday was the Junior League of Gainesville’s Annual Toy Sale or “Miracle on Main Street” as it is officially called.  The event provides hundreds of disadvantaged Gainesville families toys for their children for Christmas.  In many cases, especially this year, this will be the families only opportunity to get gifts for their children.

For those unfamiliar with the event, the Junior League provides the different agencies in town vouchers to come and shop for their children for Christmas.  Each family can receive the vouchers value in free gift and toys.  The event is a first come first serve basis.  This years first family got in line for the event at 10 pm on Friday night to be the first to shop for their children for Christmas at 8am Saturday morning.

The gifts and toys come from donations in the community.  Seeing this event for the last three years, I must give Kudos to Elaine Almond, Jenn Garret and the entire toy sale committee.  I have never seen so many new toys and bikes.  Great JOB!
Do you want to be part of this amazing event?  The toy sale committee collects toys year round.  If you’d like to donate for next year’s event, please contact the Junior League of Gainesville.

Jenna and Carl are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Ethan Carl.  His car themed room is all ready for his arrival on December 8th.  Jenna was glowing everytime you mentioned Ethan’s name. We can’t wait to meet him.

Amanda is soooo cute pregnant.  And Phillip is beaming about his little girl Lily that is due on December 12th.  Amanda had a little fun during the session since Lily wanted to participate and started kicking.  I think she like having her picture taken.

Yes that is actually Ashley’s dad dumping a bag of bird seed on his daughter’s head!  What a great bunch of people.  We had a fabulous time.

Let me start off by saying there will be one more post later today.  I somehow missed one of my favorite bird seed pictures.

On a sunny October afternoon Ashley and Little Earl tied the knot during a ceremony on the Swannee River at Anderson Park in Old Towne, FL.  The reception, decorated by Ashley’s lovely mother Debbie, was beautiful.  With photographs of Bride and Groom dangling from the pole barn rafters, blue mason jars filled with pecans and tea lights and a candy bar that had to have taken over 100 hours to create all the little decadent treats adorning the bride and groom’s name and/or picture.  Ashley stayed up until 4 am the night before her ceremony to finish her own wedding and groom’s cake.  They were beautiful.  As evening settled in, friends and family enjoyed each others company and danced to some great country songs.  Everyone had a great time.

Now, I have seen lots of bird seed tossed as the bride and groom head off to their honeymoon, I have never seen this.  And boy did we get some great pictures.  The groomsmen poured cups of bird seed down the grooms shirt.  Erin, Ashley’s sister and her dad wrestled a 50 lb bag of bird seed away from the groom.  And finally, Ashley’s dad, dumped 25lb of birdseed on the bride before she left (this is the missing picture that I will post later today).  Just goes to show, this is why you stay until the end, you never know what is going to happen.

Congratulations Ashley and Earl!

We had the privilege of photographing this year’s 7th Annual Children’s Miracle Network Art Auction held at UF Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute in Gainesville, Florida.  The art, created by children at Shands, are wonderful one of a kind pieces that are treasured by the participants who bid throughout the night.  There is both a live and silent auction, with pieces as small as mirrors to small houses decorated by the kids.

We love Children’s Miracle Network and strongly encourage everyone to help support them.    Through November 15th we are offering free studio sessions and an 8×10 print to anyone who makes a $50 donation to CMN.  Please help support a wonderful cause and call us today!
The studio’s number is 352-371-9735.

Have you seen Jenn Johnson’s newest family member, Cambell.  She just turned 3 months old.  And she is as adorable.  And has a great big brother who is very good with her.  Congratulations on the newest edition to your family.

It was a beautiful day out at Haile Plantation Golf and Country Club in Gainesville, Florida for the union of Sonja and Preston.  Bagpipers dressed in traditional garb from Gainesville Fire & Rescue played as guests were seated for the ceremony.  The couple’s best pet, Harley even took part in the nuptials.  Harley even got a dance with the bride.
It was a perfect evening, with lots of dancing, toast and fun.  There were tons of great moments.  There was karoke, plenty of drinking and some of the most interesting dollar dances I’ve ever seen.  Preston & Sonja are a terrific couple who are loads of fun.  Thanks for including us in your wonderful day.  Here are a few photos to tide you over until next week.