Abby – Bridal Portraits
My beautiful cousin Abby got married today! We’re so proud of the lovely young lady she’s become and delighted that she’s found a wonderful compatriot in Parker. Congratulations, you two!
This guy decided he wanted to be a part of the shoot. Where did he want to be? On the train of the dress, of course, because he’s a cat.
Halloween 2016 – (Hey, that rhymes!)
Halloween is here once again, and that means it’s time for Lumos Studio’s Halloween Drop-In!
First things first: go and vote in the costume contest! There are albums on Facebook for kids and adults. Like your favorite photos and feel free to like more than one in each album. The photo in each category with the most reactions on Thursday morning at 8am will be the winner of an awesome, hopefully-age-appropriate book.
I won’t keep you waiting–here’s the mural Wendy drew on our kitchen chalkboard wall:
In the past, Wendy and I have dressed up as characters from hit movies and as historical figures. This year, we decided to go as art. However, since no one knew exactly who we were without prompting, here’s some help. Wendy was a character based on the work of Roy Lichtenstein…
…and I was a very, very curly-haired Vincent van Gogh.
She’s sad because she thinks I made a bad impression.
We were assisted by the lovely Belle.
The food was creepy, crawly, and yummy (even the mummy).
Yes, those are white chocolate mice, so we shouldn’t have been surprised that we attracted a cat.
…and a Catboy!
…and a Bat-Man!
And it wasn’t just the Caped Crusader who was on hand to lay down the law.
And though many of our munchies were sweet, some of our guests were salty!
You do not want to mess with her…I’m pretty sure that’s a prison tat.
I promise, we’re not shipping these guys, but fire and snow go together so well!
This witch brought along her pink-nosed familiar. Terror has never been so snuggly!
I tried to take a picture here but all I caught was the flash of cold steel and cold, steely eyes.
Believe it or not, these next two photos are a whole bunch of Vikings. Go figure.
More art!
This is what it looks like when impressionists hang out.
We had some sweet family costumes, too! Whether you’re going on a safari, raiding ships, um, stealthily for, uh, catnip, or exploring Jurassic Park we’ve got you covered!
Basketball players these kids couldn’t possibly remember, the Boy Who Lived, and the girl who lived in a house on the prairie (though not not necessarily a little one) were all in attendance…
..and if you were looking to catch a Pokémon, you could try your luck here.
And all of this happened in our home on Saturday, not long ago in a galaxy far, far away.
Last of all the Monsignor showed up with his…lady friend, but I’m not even sure we were supposed to mention that…
We hope everybody had a wonderful Halloween!
Greenville Wedding: Kelly + Jesse at Larkin’s on the River
Kelly and Jesse had an absolutely beautiful wedding in Greenville and Wendy and I were fortunate enough to get to capture it for them.
The day began with Kelly, her bridesmaids, and her mom doing all the things ladies do to get ready for a wedding. You know, hair, makeup, eating tacos…
Kelly’s ladies helped her into her gorgeous dress and then she showed it off to her dad for the first time.
This was such a relaxed and fun group. We didn’t have to ask anyone to smile because they were doing it naturally!
Jesse, on the other hand…
…nah, just kidding. He was smiling, too. Of course he was! Did you see his bride?!
The beautiful bride and her adorable…hey! Come back!
They said “I do…”
…and then they got a Prince Song stuck in my head for the rest of the night even though that’s technically a little red Miata.
Yeah, they look good together.
The reception was held at Larkin’s on the River which is a beautiful spot right by Falls Park in Greenville.
D.J. Jeremy from Complete Weddings and Events kept the party going and made sure everybody had a good time.
As the sun started to set, we took Kelly and Jeremy outside for a few photos as the sun was going down. We didn’t have to give them a lot of instruction on being affectionate with one another.
Finally, friends and family sent them off to start their new lives together and the only thing hotter than the sparklers was…
…you can figure it out.
Big thanks to Diane from Memories Wedding Planning for making sure everything ran smoothly, letting everyone else focus on having a great time.
Kelly and Jesse, we wish you the absolute best in marriage and in your life together!
Album Review: Dragon Vox – Bite Your Tongue
All throughout the Valley there have been rumblings about the coming of a new album so rife with unbridled power that the day of its arrival would change the face of rock forever. Ladies and gentlemen, that album is here. I give you Dragon Vox’s Bite Your Tongue.
This album delivers everything a fan could want except mercy. From the thunderous bass of the opening track, “I Took Your Phone (to Hades)”, to the virtuosic and soaring guitar solo of closer “Girl, Take Off That Dress (and Put on Something Appropriate)”, Dragon Vox take their listeners on a ferocious musical journey through the highs and lows of language learning.
Vocalist Rose Lachaleur continues to scream her way into our hearts, bringing such depth and emotion to her performance that I truly believed she was going to literally tear my heart out if I didn’t remember to conjugate the helping verb in “Composé is so Passé”.
Drummer Fiona Fuego and bassist Ember Ablaze keep the driving rhythms going throughout this album, daring you not to bang your head to the anthem “I’ll be the Spark that Sets Your House on Fire”. Meanwhile, guitarists Spark Kraken and Nikki Burns pile on the riffage that Dragon Vox fans know as the band’s signature sound. Kraken’s blues-inspired churning on “You Heard Me the First Time” offers the perfect foundation from which to launch Burns into the stratosphere with her soaring, ethereal solo. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Dragon Vox album without the atmospheric synths of Roddie Pyre, whose impassioned playing provides the backbone of my pick for best power ballad of the year, “I’m Not Done With You Yet.”
Bite Your Tongue also opens a new chapter for Dragon Vox with the departure of long-time member Tina Tinder who left the band last year to seek treatment for a Kody-pendant relationship. Stepping up to fill the void is newcomer Yella Flagrante who will allay any concerns about the change with the way she shreds the electric triangle on “You Shall Not (Leave Without A) Pass”.
So, ladies and gentlemen, the rumors were true. With Bite Your Tongue, Dragon Vox has set the bar higher than ever for power, melody, and bangs. I give this album five flaming stars.
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Kody’s Newborn Photos
Remember the recent maternity portraits we took of Kristina? It turns out Kristina was even pregnant-er than we thought, because look who’s here!
That’s right, Kody arrived less than two weeks after his mom’s maternity shoot. He was also very prompt in showing up to have his newborn photos taken, because here he is checking in at just 6 days old!
Fortunately, he appears to have used all of his post-natal free time to practice being cute for the camera. Here’s his mom appreciating some of that adorableness.
And here’s dad joining in on the action.
Baby brother Kyle even got into a photo or two despite us having rudely interrupted his nap.
Welcome to the world, Kody! We’re looking forward to getting to know you as you grow!
