Great-Grandma's biscuits

A few weeks ago, JJ's grandma, Aiden's great-grandma, came to stay with us for a few days. We loved having her here and had so much fun watching her and Aiden interact. Ever since JJ and I visited grandma in Virginia when we were engaged I have wanted her to teach me how to make her biscuits. So one afternoon while Aiden was napping we went to work. Grandma started kneading the flour into the crisco and buttermilk while I wrote everything down in my recipe book (she moves quick, so I was scrambling to get it all). You can tell she has been making these for years because she so easily knew if the texture was right or not, how much it needed to be mixed and when it was ready to go onto the pan and into the oven. It was a blessing to watch her make the same biscuits that her children, her grandchildren and now her great-grandchildren have enjoyed and will enjoy for years to come!

Thankful - Thanksgiving Family Photos - Franklin, NC

Every year, like a lot of families, we take our family photo for our Christmas cards. Luckily this year was warmer than last year and we weren't all shivering, red nosed, and blue lipped! Even though Aiden was fighting a double ear infection and had just fallen on the driveway (the fun part of learning to walk), it was a beautiful evening and the lighting was great. It's always interesting when you are the photographer and the photogetter, photo'ee, ya know....the one in the picture! Thankfully, with the help of technology and a tripod, Paige was still able to capture some great shots that will be landing on refrigerators and card holders everywhere in the next few weeks!

Oh, Christmas Tree - Western NC

Our family loves Christmas! Since we usually spend Thanksgiving in the mountains, it has become a family tradition to head out to a local tree farm, located miles off of an old country road, to pick out and cut down our Christmas trees for the season. This year was extra special because Aiden was able to help pick out the trees as well. It was a beautiful, cool, crisp day and the entire farm smelled of evergreen! How do I know the entire farm smelled of evergreen?...because we literally walked the entire farm! Between my mother, husband and Paige - picking out a tree can be.... challenging - "this one's too round," "this one's too skinny," "this one gives me a bad vibe" - you get the idea! Carrying a 26 pound, 1 year-old child up the side of the mountain, I would have been more than happy with any of the "good" trees we saw, but good isn't good enough and Aiden did have a great time seeing all the trees.  In the end, it was well worth it and we found three beautiful trees!

We hope all of you enjoy every moment of this wonderful season and have a very Merry Christmas!

Pittman Maternity Session - Raleigh, NC

We had such a nice time with the Pittman family! Nina and Jason we're such an amazing couple and their son, Drake, though shy at first, warmed up to the camera and had the biggest smile! We were worried the weather might be a little cold, but it ended up being a beautiful day in the 60's. We had fun taking pictures all over the park and Drake was excited because he even got some time on the play ground! They are so excited to welcome their newest addition in a few weeks and we had the best time sharing this moment with them. We can't wait to meet Baby Pittman in January....or sooner!

Guthrie Family - Raleigh, NC

We have known Scott and Michelle for a long time. We knew them when they were part of the college and singles group at our church and now they are married with 3 adorable kids! They had their third child, and first boy, this summer and wanted to get pictures of their growing family! It ended up being a little colder than expected the day of the session, but I don't think the kids noticed at all.

Aiden's 1st Birthday!

We had such a great time celebrating Aiden's 1st birthday. Leading up to his birthday, I won't lie,  I was a bit emotional. The reality that my baby was turning one hit in full force. Through much prayer and the support of my loving husband, when the day came (and the weekend for that matter) there were no tears and all smiles! JJ took off of work for Aiden's actual birthday so we could all celebrate together. We started the day with one of his favorites - pancakes! Aunt Paige even came over before work to have breakfast with him. We spent the majority of the day at the North Carolina State Fair with our neighbors and their son. I'm not so sure the Fair was more for Aiden or mommy and daddy. The adult menu for the day included pulled pork, deep fried mac and cheese, deep fried Oreos, and deep fried girl scout cookies - we didn't leave hungry, that's for sure! Although he missed out on the food, Aiden enjoyed seeing the animals, the people, Smokey the Bear, and watching all the rides.

But that just kicked things off.....Saturday was the big day! Bachi and Gaddi (great-grandparents on mom's side), grandma (great-grandma on dad's side), Bachi D and Pop (Grandparents on mom's side), Ranger and Nana (Grandparents on dad's side) and Aunt Renee and Cousin Elizabeth all came to town for his birthday. Not to mention all his friends (and ours) that came over for the party! Unfortunately, he was a bit under the weather (go figure), but he still had a great day. He had so much fun opening presents and then really (and I mean really) enjoyed eating his cake! We were so blessed to have so many friends and family come together to celebrate our little man - it has been a great year and I am thankful to say the least! It's amazing to think that just a year ago he was this tiny little baby, brand new to this world. He has gone from this immobile, constantly sleeping, bundle of joy to the sweetest of boys that we can't imagine our lives without.  What a gift you have been to our lives, Happy Birthday, My Little Man!

The Frasier Family - Raleigh, NC

Paige and I had such a great time this past weekend capturing pictures of the Frasier Family. We have known the Frasier's for quite some time now. We both worked for Jim back in college when he had a coffee shop here in Raleigh. Jim has an amazing wife Michelle (how he managed that one, no one will ever know!). They are the proud parents of their super fun twins, Cole and Karis. The twins are three years old and while it took Cole a little while to warm up to the camera, he soon got into the grove and Karis was working it from the first shot! Michelle's parents and brother joined us for this family session - the more the merrier! The love this family has for each other and the fun they have together made for such a great session!

Hello, it's nice to meet you!

Well we are officially official and now the fun begins! Life has been a bit hectic for Paige and I, respectively. We both decided that I will carry the bulk of blogging duties. I plan hope (life gets crazy with a 1 year old) to share many of the fun things happening in our lives through the blog, and want to hear what's happening in your life as well. To those who know us, it has always been an amusement how opposite Paige and I are as sisters. I'm the blonde, she's the brunette. I'm an extrovert, she's an introvert. I'm a bit more spontaneous and she is quite regimented. The list goes on and on. As the oldest, I have to admit growing up I enjoyed making use of my younger sister. It was easy enough to boss her around (much in part due to her extremely loyal personality) - but fortunately, as we have grown older, we grew from sisters to friends and have rubbed off on each other in the best of ways.

Paige is the smarter one, the more creative one, the detail-oriented, book worm - and passionate one. She has a heart for story telling, a love that led us to start Fifth of June. She is the proud mom of an awesome Golden Retriever named Owen and loves to read (hence the book worm), travel, spend time with friends and loved ones, and pursue all that the Lord has for her in life.

I'm married to my amazing husband, JJ, and we have a 1 year old son who has made our life full of fun and non-stop motion. We love it because JJ and I aren't the type to just sit around. Other than helping Paige with Fifth of June, I stay home full-time with Aiden. Through a lot of prayer and the Lord's leading, JJ and I decided back in the spring that I would leave my job in the corporate world and be at home with the little man. The Lord was so gracious to confirm that for us and to provide for a family of 3 on a police officer's salary. Aiden, my side-kick, and I love working-out, bargain-hunting, traveling, eating and seeing the Lord in each and every day.

So here we are... Besides keeping you up to date with our photography adventures, I look forward to sharing with you some of our day-to-day happenings, recipes, travel stories and so much more!

Teran

Driver Family - Wake Forest, NC

A few weeks ago Teran and I had the great pleasure of meeting up with the Driver family in Wake Forest. For months we've been discussing getting together to capture some photos of their growing family. Billy is a pastor at our church and I have had the privilege to serve along side of him for years in our college and young adults ministry. From the day I met him and Sonia, their heart for service was evident and that attitude carries over when you see them around their family. You might think a family of 8 would keep our hands full, but it truly was one of the most laid back and enjoyable sessions we have had!

A Short Flight - New Hampshire

As I walked around the farm, my camera in hand, I paused every now and then to pull the viewfinder to my eye, framing and capturing the sights before me. A beautiful New Hampshire day, the afternoon sun offered a cozy warmth against the slight breeze. It was then that our gracious host, my mother's cousin, looked at me and said, "If you want to get some good shots, how about I take you up in my plane?" A few minutes later we were heading to the airport, an unexpected adventure added to our day. Despite my mild terror at the idea of small planes, it was one of the many opportunities we had on this trip that I knew would be foolish to turn down. So up we went, one by one, soaring above the rolling countryside. Circling the lookout mountain and coasting over the farmland we stood on just hours previously. All the while guided and piloted by our "tour guide" who exhibited the same genuine hospitality and kindness I have come to know as staple characteristics of my family.

Every now and then, it is well worth it to just say.. "Sure, I'd love to."

Maine Trip - An Instagram Take - Day 3-5

Maine Trip - An Instagram Take - Day 1 & 2

Weekend Backpacking Trip

A few weeks ago I enjoyed a weekend trip to the Tennessee/North Carolina border for a 2-day hike with a group of friends from Raleigh. This was my first experience camping along the trail and it was one I won't soon forget. Beyond the fact that the area is beautiful, there is something quite enjoyable about being away from the rush of it all. Without cell service and modern conveniences, time on the trail meant good conversation and time to truly enjoy the people next to you and the beauty around you. So here's a run down of what I took away from this trip: 1. Anyone who hikes the AT, or even a significant portion of it,  has my full respect and admiration.

2. If you enjoy not sleeping, go hiking. (This probably doesn't apply to everyone, oh well.)

3. If you are having trouble being thankful and you have a bed and restroom, well... there's a good starting point.

4. The scenic views of WNC and Tennessee are a natural masterpiece.

5. I am blessed to have friends that are kind, selfless, and a true joy to be around.

So here's a few shots from our weekend. Most are from my iPhone as it was pretty damp for most of our hike and the less weight I could carry in my hands the better off I was. We hiked around Roan Mountain. We began our trip at Carver's Gap and hiked to Overmountain Shelter. If you like uphill climbs, steps, mild exhaustion and being in the woods, be sure to check it out. All joking aside, it was beautiful and we had a great time.

Down at the Docks - Hilton Head, SC

Meg has been a friend of ours for years and her little boy, Cameron, is about one of the cutest kids I know (outside my nephew of course!). I'm pretty sure it is impossible to take a bad shot of them, but we had a lot of fun spending the day together nevertheless.

Hilton Head Island - An Instagram Take

Our good friend Ashley has lived on Hilton Head Island for a while now and it has become a favorite getaway for us. This year marked our 2nd annual girl's weekend. Once a year we get together to catch up, relax, and invest in friendships that have persevered over many seasons of life. Over the weekend we enjoyed a boat ride along the coast, some time down at the docks and some beautiful beach sunsets. Here's a few shots all taken with an iPhone5.

Youthful Bliss

Instagram Happenings

The Reeder Family - Wake Forest, NC

Cory and Jillian just recently packed up the moving van to take a position at Jillian's home church back in New Jersey. Before they left we got together to capture a few photos of their sweet family on the Southeastern campus where Cory has been in school for the past three years. This was the second time I've had the privilege of taking some photos for this family. Check out their first session here.

Strawberry Picking - Raleigh, NC

We are that family. You know, the ones that are always on the go. When the parentals come to town, Teran, typically has a day by day agenda planned out weeks in advance. On one of their recent trips that meant a trip to the Strawberry farm to pick fresh strawberries. We went out for the afternoon and Aiden got a taste of his first strawberries.

Pilkington Family - Newborn - Wake Forest, NC

I've known Cassidy and Taylor for years. Throughout college we found ourselves in the same small group on multiple occasions. Taylor and I enjoyed conversations about two of our great loves, soccer and theology. As for Cassidy, I always took notice of her humility. A girl who has much going for her - you will not find a hint of arrogance in her kind and graceful spirit.  I would often joke with Cassidy about the renaissance man she found in Taylor - the guy is intelligent, athletic, musical and an amazing artist. They are two kind and pure hearted people - and let's all just be honest - a good looking couple! It was a pleasure taking some photos of their new family back in the fall.