Senior Pictures

Nicole came home from school this week with a packet of papers for us to look through regarding her upcoming graduation from High School.

I can't believe it's that time already!

For the past few months, we have been talking about the need to get her senior pictures taken. It's a tradition to have professional photos taken of your senior student....at least that's what I've been told.

So everywhere we go, we are always looking for beautiful venues where her pictures could be done.

Recently we spent a weekend up in Park City and found some very scenic spots to have them taken. And since I am an amazing photographer, we decided to save a few bucks and just take them ourselves.

What do you think?

This one we call, "I'm so excited to finally be on my own and out from under the firm gaze of my ever present father." Didn't I capture the essence of that nicely?
Then there was this one...

It was just such a lovely backdrop that I couldn't resist. Her brothers couldn't resist either.

Speaking of her brothers, this one says, "You can't live with 'em, but I think I could live without 'em."

Ok, here's my favorite one....
It turned out really nice....after I cropped Isaac out of it!
I will definitely be leaving the photo taking to the professionals, and I am definitely going to miss this girl when she's off to college. But for now- we are enjoying every crazy, busy minute of her Senior Year!

My Happy Place

You know when you are about to have some horrible procedure done....like a root canal or an exam on your nether regions (ladies you know what I mean)? The kind of procedure where you just close your eyes and hope and pray it is over soon? The kind that you try to visualize your happy place so that with the help of your mind, you can escape your current reality?

I'd like to introduce you to mine.

This is my happy place. It's a little off road campsite in Daniel's Canyon.
My family, the Adamson's, have camped at this spot for many years. My great-grandfather was a sheep herder and this is one of the spots where he would bring his sheep. Every year, over Labor Day weekend, we have a family reunion here.

I have so many happy memories spending my last days of summer with my cousins, riding motorcycles, putting on 'shows' around the campfire at night and discovering all the family names carved on the trees.
There is a breathtaking mixture of aspen and pine trees.

One of my favorite sounds is the sound of a gentle breeze passing through the aspen trees. There is nothing more relaxing to me than that sound.
My favorite hike is this one, were one minute you are among the aspen trees and the next minute you are in the cool and dark forest of pine trees.

I took a few pictures along my hike this year that hold special memories for me.

Our kids had a great time this year making memories of their own.


It's one of those places that holds so much hidden beauty.
But when you are there, time just somehow slows down so that you can notice it all.
So if I'm ever in a coma or just have a far off look on my face....now you know where I'll be. :)

The Best Man

A few weeks ago, some good friends of ours finally tied the knot.

Stephen and Anna.

Erik was asked to be Stephen's best man.

I thought it would be fun to document the occasion because it's not every day that you get to be a best man. It was a first for Erik.

Here's the best man checking out some pictures of the happy couple before the ceremony started....(isn't that little guy the cutest thing ever?!)

Pictures of Stephen and Anna hung in the trees....I loved this!
The tables all set for dinner after the ceremony.
Here we see the best man helping Stephen's friend Scott with his boutineer. Isn't that sweet? Oh the many tasks the best man must do.
The best man had Stephen's back the whole time....just in case he passed out or something dramatic like that. For everyone's sake, it all went as planned. It was a beautiful ceremony!
I had to put a picture of the beautiful bride in here too!
After fulfilling his best man duties, Erik headed off to the bar. For some Sprite my friends!
Then he got his groove on! The dancing was lots of fun- I've seriously never been to a reception where the father of the bride did cartwheels and whose dancing put us all to shame!

And then it was all over. A beautiful ending to a beautiful day!
Stephen with his best man- who also happens to be my best man too! :)

What do ya think?

It has begun....

This is how Nicole (with a little help from her mom and dad) asked her friend Adam to Homecoming this year. We filmed it one weekend while staying in lovely Park City.

You may be thinking, "Isn't this a boy's choice dance?" You would be right, it is. But that's how Nicole rolls.

It's sweet with a little bit of kooky-ness, just like Nicole.

Enjoy!