Hallie + Ryan | {weddings}

It was a beautiful morning in Sonora. Hallie and Ryan were going to be getting married. For me, this wedding means a lot.

Ryan has been Uncle Gordy to my kids for years. I first met him at Delta College and as the story goes, I hated him.

Ryan came to work at the Lodi News-Sentinel, were my husband and I worked. A group of us became dear friends. And I don’t hate him so much.

Then entered Hallie. We LOVE Hallie. She is so sweet and smart and together they are Aunt Hallie and Uncle Gordy. Ryan was also the last of a trio, known more commonly, or maybe not so much, as the Hutchins Street Hooligans. Because they all lived on Hutchins Street about the same time.

A kitty at the Barretta Gardens B&B where Hallie got ready.

Hallie looking gorgeous.

Everyone loved Ryan’s tie. My good friend and wedding helper Lauren shot the guys getting ready.

Ryan making the piñata whacking stick.

We all met up at their house. I love how the lace is shadowed on her dress.

Love this shot of her.

Ladies.

Gents.

Jumping for joy.

The Hutchins Street Hooligans – Sasso, Gordy and Voodoo. Don’t they look terrifying!?

St. Patrick’s.

Delicious red velvet cupcakes!

Oh Daddy!

Cheers.

Piñata, piñata!

Really! What wedding is complete without at piñata? This is my second wedding with one. Love them!

Madison taking a whack.

Chase finishes it off.

The loot!

Thank you Hallie and Ryan for letting us be a part of your day! Hallie welcome to the family!

Ivan + Heather | {engagement} session

This past Saturday, I met Ivan and Heather in San Ramon with their puppies for their engagement session!

I can’t wait to shoot their wedding August.

We went up to Mount Diablo. I have always wanted to go there. Almost every night I see it on the horizon.

In the sandstone, the high school sweethearts etched their initials many years ago.

Ivan is an awesome mechanic and loves model cars and planes. Heather has a sweet little shop, HeatherVintage88.

Heather and Ivan, thank you for such a great evening! I can’t wait for your wedding!

Ted & Sylvia’s family | {family}

Saturday, I met with Sylvia, Ted, and their family at a lovely home in Morada.

Ted celebrated his 60th birthday on Mother’s Day.

They have the best smiles!

Daniel, Jaime, Syvlia, Ted, Sally, Nia, Ieuan, Sean, and Michael.

Nia and Ieuan.

Nia is so full of thought…

The boys.

WHEE!

Nia’s turn!

The ladies!

Sean and Sally with their babes…

Siblings.

What a fun group!

Kisses from Auntie.

Uncle Daniel has his hands full.

Michael deep in thought.

Thank you all for meeting with me and I hope your Mother’s Day was beautiful and I hope Ted’s birthday was a blast!

Saying Goodbye | {my life}

Last week, family, friends and the community came together to pay their respects to Lodi Fire Capt. Joe Hansen.

I knew him through working at the local newspaper. He was a giant of a man. He was kind and had an great laugh.

He reminded me of Tom Selleck, and that’s what I called him.

Thursday, we all said goodbye.

Here are a few photos I found looking back.

The Pink October fashion show. He was an escort last year. He escorted his wife, Natalie.

Fire training 2008.

Rest in peace, Joe. We will miss you dearly.

Bokisch Spring Wine Event | {events & wine}

Sunday was the Bokisch Spring Wine Club event under beautiful skies east of Lodi. Markus and Liz, the owners of Bokisch Vineyards and wines offered wine club members paella, tapas, barrel tasting and wonderful people.

Marinated cuadros de queso.

Marcona almonds marinated in olive oil, rosemary and sea salt.

Paella simmering.

Love the vw bus!!!

Beautiful Concetta serving guests.

Good friends, wine and paella!

John & Markus.

Hugs for Liz.

The beautiful couple and their bus. Have I mentioned I love the bus. I do. Just a little bit.

I love Liz and Markus too.

A gentle breeze.

Randy Caparoso, with Sommelier Journal, takes in the bouquet of the Bokisch wines.

Barrel tastings.

Ruben & Adi.

The music was amazing!

Thank you Liz and Markus for a wonderful afternoon!

Revolutionaries | {my life}

Wednesday Chase had a field trip near Somerset with his class to learn about how the revolutionaries lived during the American Revolutionary. They dressed up and learned how to make fires with a flint, weave, sew, make candles, were examined by a red coat (Lobsterback) and paper quilling.

Even the moms dressed up. I helped with teaching the weaving. It was tough, but the kids got it once we knew what we were doing! LOL

Looking in the mirror.

Many blouses.

Off to work.

Warming the wax.

The stocks.

Chase.

Rope pull game.

Good Lady Hess.

A loom.

I think there were some men hidden in this box.

The Lobsertback.

Finding the traitors’ flag.

Firing the rifle.

Loom weaving.

Paper quilling.

Starting a fire with a net and flint.

Blowing on the spark.

Ignition.

Watch those eyebrows!

Beautiful Iris’.

It was a long day. But so much fun.

art | {my life}

Earlier this week, I had a few minutes in between getting kids from one thing to the other so I took a few moments for me. It is harder nowadays to squeeze time like that out of our busy days. So in a matter of about 20 minutes, I did a quick safari along a small stretch of Cherokee Lane. And here is what I found.

art.

Attached to Grave’s Antiques, an antique shop that specializes in folk art, is artwork that stretches the length of the building on the alley side.

Art in the Alley.

April Instagram | {my life}

A few days late, but here is my April Instagram. I can’t believe how much I love this app. I love it and plan to take it to the next level soon… You’ll have to watch for details!

1. calla lily at church 2. pinwheel 3. blocks 4. hidden treasure

5. tomato & bagel 6. editing 7 . chase in thought 8. tab (memories of summers at grandma’s)

9. light 10. dandelion 11. bud 12. cute color

13. broken angel 14. my life’s angel 15. avocado 16. shoes

17. clouds 18. joe 19. lamb chops 20. clouds

21. scrimmage 22. lanterns 23. soy & wasabi 24. california rolls

25. baseball 26. mailboxes 27. rambler 28. rambler

29. rambler lights 30. bacon 31. me 32. cutie

33. hard-boiled egg 34. mac & cheese ingredients 35. easter cupcakes 36. mini robin eggs

37. paper straws 38. maddie’s egg, eric 39. joe 40. bacon burrito

41. editing 42. breathe 43. keys 44. bottle

45. freckles 46. pop tart 47. freckles 48. fries

49. hail 50. the kids in the rain 51. fox tail 52. nails

53. yield 54. ladybug 55. flags 56. ladybug lifeguards

57. wet cabbage 58. chase 59. limes 60. the “grill”

61. jalapeños 62. my little pony 63. sunset 64. editing

65. dried pear 66. bottle cap 67. chase pitching 68. bon appétit

69. maddie 70. maddie 71. me 72. flags

73. track 74. chalk house 75. maddie 76. hoops

77. warming up for tkd tourney 78. awards 79. blue wall 80. me

81. kettlebell 82. bell pepper 83. i love big sur 84. gym

85. rose 86. night lights 87. chase catching 88. garbanzo beans

89. carrots 90. family drawn by maddie 91. noodles 92. chase mowing

93. chalk heart 94. light 95. water wheel 96. dogwood bloom

97. antlers 98. flag 99. shi ra soni dinner 100. my goddaughter

101. mona lisa 102. freedom of speech 103. tnt 104. repent

105. 545 106. bus stop 107. jesus 108. jesus

109. mi dios 110. taco truck 111. garage 112. the richmaid

113. open 114. diner 115. parking 116. fan

117. caution 118. red door 119. broom 120. victor

121. vineyard 122. wires & clouds 123. vw bus 124. joe

To follow me on Instagram : newvintagephotography

Mason | {as i grow} 9 months

Mason is now nine-months-old. His mommy, daddy and I headed up to Ironstone Vineyards. It was a beautiful ride up as the landscape was still lush and green. Flowers were all all abloom.

Mason has two little baby teeth  and a bunch more on the way.

I just love this family! There is so much love!

Until your one-year-old bash!

Monday Morning Musings | {my life}

Good Monday!

It has been a crazy wild few days… but that is nothing new!

We’ll start with Chase’s last game Thursday. He pitched and caught. The team won their first game. It was great to see the boys excited…

Our friends Jen and Lonnie were up to visit their niece and family as Jen’s sister, Margaret, is expecting a new baby in a matter of weeks.

This is Audrey, the sister-to-be. She found a little puddle that she and Maddie played in Saturday afternoon.

This is Miss H. My goddaughter. And oh how I miss here. She lives in Southern California. I am looking forward to seeing her in several weeks as we take Maddie to Sea World for earning her black belt.

H and her beautiful mommy, Jen.

<3 her!

Sunday after a shoot, we met with our family friends to celebrate two new black belts to our families. The kids picked Shi Ra Soni.

Our wonderful, lovely friends, Lyanne & Doug.

Hot stuff!

So the kids want me to make eggs like this now!

And we celebrated hubby’s birthday with a lil ice cream…

which is a lot of fun to eat with chopsticks.

My kiddies!

The black belt crew…

My sister dropped off my heirloom tomatoes this weekend also. Now I have to hurry and figure out where I am putting these beauties! Nothing like a little push to get things done! The have some awesome names like Isis candy, Northern lights.

See you next week!