We’ve known Jen since middle school so we were thrilled to be asked to photograph her wedding to Jonathan this spring in California. These two where very certain of what style of photos they wanted for the engagement session – Bright and colorful! I think we found that!

A poor unsuspecting grasshopper landed on Jonathan’s pants sending Jen flying!

My friend Karen has these adorable basset hound puppies – Rosco and Lilly. Of course they needed photos taken! Honestly, it was so hard to stop laughing long enough to get photos. I have never seen so much skin on an animal, they kept tripping on their ears or worse yet chewing on each others ears. In typical sibling fashion the wrestling was non-stop.  It was a total crack up watching these two interact.

Rosco

Lilly

The only way we could get the wrestling to stop long enough to get photos was to put peanut butter on the floor and have them lick it off.

When they lean forward the skin completely covers their eyes! No wonder their noses are so sensitive to smells.

Oops…. no more peanut butter!

Wait! We found a where it was before, maybe more peanut butter will come back.

Isn’t this the saddest look you’ve ever seen!

Last Sunday Amanda and I walked the Susan G Koemen Race for the Cure. Over the years we’ve had friends and clients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. It wasn’t until several years ago that two of our close family friends began their breast cancer journey that we saw up close the personal side of cancer.

Becky just celebrated her two year anniversary of being cancer free. Her hair is back…. different but back. Her eyebrows may never return but that’s okay…. eyebrows are a small exchange for your life. Her then fiance – now husband attended her doctor appointments and was there through all the chemo treatments. Things you do when someone you love is fighting for their life.  She’s a stronger person now having gone through this journey.

Kai did all the right things. In a preventive move she decided to have both breasts removed, she did the recommended course of treatment and then reconstruction surgery. Her family stood by her as well, going to her doctor appointments and chemo treatments, making sure she was in good spirits and comfortable. All was well until a year ago August when the cancer returned with a vengeance. In December, with her family by her side, Kai lost her fight. Her husband misses her desperately every day.

Last Sunday we walked with Becky to celebrate her life and we walked to remember the life Kai lost.

Last weekend Bob and I used a gift certificate to Wild Horse Inn given to us by Amanda and Parker. Due to family crazyness we were unable to celebrate our 30th anniversary, birthdays and other important events when they happened so this was a perfect get away. Amanda had shot a wedding last September where the bride and groom stayed at the Wild Horse Inn. She love the place and thought we would too. She was right – it’s a lovely place!

We opted to stay in one of the three cabins. A very good choice! With a living room/kitchenette and a big beautiful bedroom, it was like being home away from home.

I should mention that the bathroom had a huge two person bathtubs that was fabulous… but I won’t since my children read this and will think it’s totally gross that mom would even bring it up.

Bob signed us up for the “Romantic Escape Package” which included a beautiful vase of flowers in the room, champagne and yummy breakfasts in the cabin.

The weather was overcast most of the time. Once in a while the sun would peek through and then just as fast as it came out it would be snowing.

Saturday morning started with John, the owner of Wild Horse Inn, delivering breakfast of orange ginger french toast.  YUMMY!

We hung out for a while, then decided to drive out to Granby for the heck of it. Lets just say there isn’t much happening in Granby in October!

So we gathered up the cameras and headed over to Devils Thumb Ranch for the afternoon. First we went to their stables to take photos. Sadly their horses had been turned out for the afternoon.

I’m convinced the red chicken was trained to stare you down. She never took her eyes off you.

Then just like magic it’s snowing like crazy again!

So we hopped into the car and went to The Ranch Creek Spa at Devils Thumb for a couples massage. This was perfect for the two of us – I’m pretty sure with work and family stress we’ve forgotten how to relax. Everyone at the spa was great, very accommodating which was good since I think Bob has had only one massage before and was a bit apprehensive about what his crazy wife was getting him into.

We stayed for dinner at The Ranch House. Amanda and I have loved their meals when we’ve shot weddings at the Ranch. The food is excellent – lots of game choices and the chocolate desert was perfect. After we headed back to the cabin to watch movies and let the snow fall outside.

The next morning Bob went over to the main house to get another yummy breakfast. Got to love a man bringing you food!

After lounging around for awhile we headed back to Littleton where the snow was worse than what we’d been having in the mountains. Go Figure!

We had the perfect relaxing weekend. John and Chris at Wild Horse Inn have a great place to get away from it all. In a month or so the snow up there will be perfect for skiing. Tabernash is called the “Icebox of the Nation” for a darn good reason – it’s cold up there!

Thank you Amanda and Parker for the gift certificate and for staying with Spencer and Grace while we were gone. We appreciate your thoughtfulness!

Last September we told you about our soon-to-be intern Jeanie who due to a fall, ended up with a serious closed-head injury. We worried that she may have long term brain damage, physical problems, or the multitude of other issues that come with this kind of injury. Jeanie’s journey has been a remarkable one – one that has amazed her doctors, nurses, friends and family. Jeanie is one determined young lady and has set her sights for her recovery high. Due to a lot of hard work and determination on her part, Jeanie will be released from Craig Rehabilitation Hospital on October 6th, she will be able to graduate with her class and slowly resume her life as a teenager.

Congratulations Jeanie – We are very proud of you!

On Sunday, I met Jeanie and her parents and sister for a brief Senior Photo Session at the park. We will do more a more extensive session later but for now she needed a photo for the Littleton High School yearbook – they have graciously held a space open for her photo. We are looking forward to having Jeanie interning for us in the future.

and to Jim and Jean…. you are remarkable parents. Watching from the outside how dedicated your family — Jeanie’s siblings were to supporting Jeanie throughout this long and difficult time is a testament to you as parents.

As many of you know, one of our interns, Jeanie, is in the hospital having suffered a closed-head injury. She tripped and fell down a flight of concrete steps during a party with some of her friends- just a simple freak accident. We’ve received lots of inquires about her situation, and I wanted to give everyone an update.

Jeanie is stable and her condition is slowly, slowly improving. The doctors are taking very slow steps to bring her out of her induced sedation- they’re just allowing her time to rest and recuperate between every procedure, every move they make, and allow her to heal herself as best as she can!

Thank you, everyone, for your continued thoughts and prayers- I know her family really appreciates it!

Jeanie and her niece, Elise.

A couple times a year we work with the Perfect Wedding Guide assisting with photographing their Giveaway Events. So far we’ve been there for several dress giveaways but this time it was a honeymoon to Cancun.

Ashley was this events lucky winner. She and John will be getting married this November in Castle Rock. Ashley was a bit confused as to why we were showing up on her office with a cake from The Makery and camera flashing.

Ashley had a hard time believing she had really won her honeymoon! But Phil from Perfect Wedding Guide convinced her it was for real.

Sylvia, from Perfect Wedding Guide filled Ashley in on the details of what she’d won.

Sylvia, Ashley, The Makery and Phil

Some of the group from Ashley’s office got into the spirit too.

Ashely and John also won a limo for their wedding.

The Makery did this beautiful cake. All the ribbon is chocolate.

Congratulations Ashley and John – Have a great time in Cancun!

For the past 30 years Bob and I have hosted Christmas Eve dinner at our house. The door is open to everyone. At times we’ve had as many as 30 people, some from as far a California, Wyoming and even Germany.  Our tradition is a big cheesy lasagna, plenty of snackie stuff and chocolate — lots of Chocolate! Over the years we’ve added enchiladas and as the older 20 something kids noted — more “grown up drinks” are served.

There are presents, but more important there is family. Our family has grown over the years, in numbers and in size. Our babies are now in their teens and 20′s, taller than I am and no longer wait up for Santa. I miss the stage where the anticipation of what Santa might bring was the center of their lives. But I like this stage too. I like being able to have adult conversations, seeing the world through their eyes. Having the 16 year old nephew tell me a dirty joke — which was pretty darn funny! I like that most of them can get themselves to and from the party on their own and will help with the dinner without being asked. Ana and Cody had little Marco this September so there’s a baby again. Next year he’ll be old enough to sort of understand what Christmas is about and the cycle of anticipating Santa’s arrival  will continue.

Happy Holidays – Debi

My favorite ornament — this year.

Miss Sophie got a toy mouse for Christmas.

My father, David

That sibling thing never goes away no matter how old you are! Bob’s sister Lisa expressed her feeling about having her photo taken.

Spencer hamming it up for the camera. He’s feeling much better these days

My mother, Joan and Cinnamon. She walks in the house and Cinnamon goes right to the treat door. I’m not sure who’s got who trained!

Me holding little Marco. Grace and Jessica were amazed at his little tiny fingers. Really — they were hoping to get to hold him next.

AC and Dori

As Grace said “Oh my gosh mom, that is the cutest thing ever!” Granted she more than a bit partial to these two adorable twins. Kristen bid on this great bag at a fundraiser for the Colorado Destination ImagiNation program and was the lucky winner. We nearly froze poor “N” and “E” doing the shoot on a very chilly afternoon but they were little troopers through the whole event. My hands were numb and they weren’t complaining a bit. They even put on their Halloween costumes for a few shots. I’m not sure how Kirsten decided which photos to use on the bag — there were so many that turned out soooo cute!

“N” and “E” — Grace is looking forward to babysitting you two again!

- Debi

Check out the new bag (it’s huge!) as well as a couple shots from the day. This is the front side.

and the back side!

“N” — Isn’t he the most handsome 4 year old!

and Miss “E” looking positively adorable.

Even Kristen got her photo taken.

Our friend Leah, a producer at Alice 105.9, cooked her first turkey on new Alice Cooks show for their web site. It’s darn funny watching Leah put her hand into the turkey to remove the innards. But if you need a quick and easy description of “How to Cook A Turkey” this a great start.
Alice 105.9 Leah Cooks a Turkey