Personal Post : Memorial Day Weekend Up North

Everyone has certain places they feel connected to - certain places that automatically feel like home whether they are or not.  Since I was a child that is how it has been for me with the house my Grandfather grew up in at the edge of Baileys Harbor in Door County.  It is a craftsman style farmhouse on rambling fields that once were orchards.  The land is dotted with various outbuildings all fastidiously up-kept by my Grandfather, who I find to be my kindred spirit, always making the choice to preserve rather than replace.  And if a house needs someone to maintain the structure, it also needs someone to make it a home.  That duty falls upon my Grandmother, Claudia, who fills the house with the smell of baked coffeecake, the sound of well-meaning Scrabble banter, and the feeling of fresh linens.  She is the person who sees the good in everyone, and knows exactly how to express it.

When I was a child my brother Joshua, my cousin Danielle and I would run wild up there.  We would climb the big crabapple tree, get lost wandering the fields and create houses in the "cedar palace" as we called it.  The overall feeling was an intense sensation of freedom.

As I've grown older, the place has remained close to my heart, and it was such a joy to find that Ben saw all the wonderful things I see in it, and that it could become a place we could cherish together.  Memorial Day weekend is always our first trip up there, and this year we were particularly excited to bring Pieper up for the first time.  We knew she would love exploring the trails, nights around the campfire, and playing with Echo (the cute, fuzzy thing in the photo under the chair).

We packed the weekend with the Maifest parade in Jacksonport, breakfast at the Carroll House, ice cream at Wilson's, and an evening at Skyway Drive-In...  all surrounded by various games of Scrabble, bocce ball and many rides around the field on bikes, four-wheeleers and (yes that is a) golf cart.  Ben and I took our film cameras along in hope of sharing the timelessness of how we experience our time spent "Up North".

www.wilsonsicecream.com
www.doorcountydrivein.com

Senior Rep from Southern Door, Nicole's Senior Portraits!

When we choose our senior reps we are looking for students who are outgoing and bold - students who have a zest for life and who aren't afraid to try new things.  That is exactly what we found in Nicole.  Nicole is the person everyone wants to be around because she makes things more fun - the girl who comes up with new ways of doing things and who can turn a dull event into something people would be afraid to miss.  Senior portraits are such a blast for us because they are like an adventure.  We get to explore new spaces, finding textures and colors that can bring out our subject and create stunning photos.  With Nicole it was no exception; we are happy to be working with her for the coming year!

Hudson Turns 18 Months!

Hudson is such a character.  He is so full of personality and expression that he just cracks us up at every photo session.  For his 18 month session, we pulled out our many toys to get him to smile, but he found our lint roller to be most enthralling.  I think he wanted to jump in and help out instead of getting his photo taken. He was busying himself lint rolling the floor and putting away our stools and chairs each time we brought out a new one for a photo.  He wanted to be a helper and couldn't figure out why we wanted him to sit still when there was so much work to be done!  We love that about him! Happy 18 Months, Hudson; you are growing up into such a little man!

{ Isaac Turns One! Happy First Birthday! }

There is nothing more exciting than seeing the tentative hands of a one year old reaching into cake frosting on their first Birthday.  We get the sneak preview a week ahead of time and get the joy of documenting every messy moment!  Isaac has always been a joy to photograph, even since his very first weeks of life.  He is sweet, observant, and wins everyone over with those long eyelashes and his (recently) toothy grin.  Right before his one year session, he had his first official haircut, and became the coolest kid in town as mommy and daddy gelled it into place.  It's amazing how grown up it makes him look (even with his soft, little baby belly sticking around - such a cutie!)  Happy First Birthday, Isaac!

Axle is Growing Up!

It's always so exciting to have little ones back who we have known since newborn photos.  Axle is one of those kiddos; he is such a blast and has so much personality.  Posing for photos was not his main goal last week, instead he wanted to spend the session helping us set up and take down equipment.  With all that enthusiasm, he would make a great mini intern.  ;)  He did an awesome job for us, especially at an age that is usually the hardest for boys!  It is amazing to me how grown up he seems; he is so smart and expresses himself so well that I'm sure people always mistake him for older than he is.  It was a joy seeing him and his beautiful family again!