A glimpse of Christmas.

3 1/2 hours of wrapping + 2 kids x-morning = total destruction in 3 minutes.

Christmas this year consisted of Zhu Zhu pets, nerf guns, lots of board games and tons of fun and memories made. Hoping everyone had a wonderful x-mas as well! Don't have time to stay must go bury myself from all the wrapping paper!!!

It's a Winter Wonderland.
Yesterday we went for a walk in the snow and it sure was cold out there. It was so pretty out with the fresh fallen snow and I really wanted to take some more pictures - but it was way too cold for me!
And, I think that she just might get her two front teeth for christmas afterall!!!

The snow was really deep and Max liked running through it for about 2.2 seconds until he realized how freezing cold it was also - and then he was back up at the front door waiting to get in.

It's so pretty when it first falls, but now it's time to dig ourselves back out!!! Ugh!!!

Transiberian Orchestrea and hot cocoa {with snowman marshmallows}.
This past Wednesday, my sister and I traveled to Pittsburgh to see the Transiberian Orchestra. We had a blast! If you ever get the opportunity to see this talented group of musicans in concert it is definetely worth every penny!

Their show was awesome to say the least. The light show is incredible and these pictures seriously do them no justice. It takes their stage crew 18 long hours to put the stage together and they do 70 shows over a 60 day period - totally amazing!

And, we are already making plans to go next year!!

Amazing lights, fireworks and flames, along with the singing, is phenomonal!! Although, I must admit, I am still recovering from a migraine produced from the strobe lights, but so totally worth it.

And, we are all relaxing on this very cold, snowed in Sunday morning drinking hot cocoa with snowman marshmallows and I thinking about all the wrapping I must do!!! LOL. Hope you all are enjoying this weekend before Christmas next week!

I heart this.
If my christmas cards were not already mailed out...this would have been it. But since they are already in the mail - I will share it here and wish everyone a Merry Christmas early. And, in case you are wondering - she is wishing for her "two front teeth".

Christmas Red.
Just some Christmas red that can be found around my house.

Oh Christmas tree...
Mr. Chip + Christmas tree = DISASTER!!

A glittery, shiny christmas tree and a cat is just not a good combination. Look at the expression on his face - he's saying "Yah, its back"! The tree only stood for one day until it was knocked completely over by Mr. Chip himself. Everyday when I walk through the door I am afraid to look and see if it is still standing.

Oh, christmas tree...I hope you make it till the 24th!

A sneek peek and the making of a Gingerbread house.
This has been such a busy time of year for me and trying to get everything accomplished there just is not enough time in a day!

But...here is a sneak peek for my sister and her litter of reindeer, all five of them! LOL! Except for the group picture - the oldest one was down with the flu.

And, Lizzie and I made a Gingerbread house this past Sunday. It was my first time ever making a Gingerbread house, and I must admit that it looks nothing like the box!!!

Hope you all are enjoying the festivities this month and stay warm and dry I hear a big winter ice storm is coming our way!!

Bad Blogger, I know.
I know...I have been a bad blogger lately, but things around here have been so crazy busy with work, kids and special school projects. Below is part of Coy's school project. He needed pictures for a school project so we went out and found some places to take some "cool" pictures of my handsome li'l guy because that is what he wanted "cool pictures".

For Kathy C. - {your sneak peek}

Thanks Kathy for letting me spend such a beautiful, fall afternoon with your two gorgeous fur babies and one handsome li'l nephew {oh yeah, also with the cows, the horses, the ducks and the cats!} It was such a pleasure! The rest of your proofs are being ordered as I type this - cannot wait to show you the rest of your images - be in touch soon. Much love and appreciation.

Trick or Treat.

Every Halloween it is always such an adventure to dress up seven kids and take them "Trick or Treating". Coy and Liz always have a blast with all their cousins. This year Lizzie was a witch and Coy was a Penn State fan. Good times.

Autumn Days.
This is my most favorite time of year. I love the fall foilage and playing in the leaves!

Vikings 4-0.
So, the Glendale Vikings go 4-0 and she was so adorable out there cheering on her team...in the mud, with white shoes I might add! Go, big blue.

Stacy & Derek's {sneak peek}

After much worrying and praying, the day could not have been any better and mother nature cooperated and the day was just as beautiful as the bride.

Stacy and Derek pledged to remain by each other's sides until forever in a small, semi private ceremony in the mountains of Blue Knob at an overlook that has special meaning to them both. They hold each other in the highest regard, and share such a close admiration for each other.

Stacy and Derek, I hope you are enjoying Hawaii. What a perfect place to share your first week together as husband and wife, I know it will be perfect. And, thank you for the honor of being your wedding photographer I can't wait to see what the future holds for you both! But most of all, thank you for going along with all my crazy ideas - you guys were great troopers!! Cannot wait to show you the rest of your images. Much love and apprecation - Rachel

Ashley & Justin's {sneak peek}
Ashley and Justin were such great troopers on their special day since the weather did not cooperate and it poured torrential downpours all day long - but these two did not let the weather dampen their festivites and Ashley was simply stunning as Justin pledged to remain by her side until forever. She looked awesome in this beautiful wedding dress while standing next to her shining armor.

Every detail down to the flowers were just perfect and I just love all the details.

Simply stunning! No more words needed here.

"I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you."

This photo just makes me happy! Thank you for the honor of being your wedding photographer. I will be in touch soon with the rest of your images. Much love and appreciation.

Fiction is like a spider's web, attached ever so lightly perhaps, but still attached to life at all four corners - Virginia Wolf

The one above I found right outside my house and the one below I saw while driving back Sinking Valley in an old barn window. The very last one was discovered down at camp.

I love looking at these masterpieces. I cannot help but think about Charlotte's Web everytime I see one. It is just brillant that these little creatures can create such beauty and yet go so unnoticed.

Have a wonderful weekend! I am off to take pictures of a much anticipated wedding this weekend and a newborn on Sunday.

In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous. - Aristotle.

Sometimes when I hear others complaining about the rain - I am estatic because I love looking around and finding the beauty that it actually brings. I love rainy days!

Write in your heart that everyday is the best day of the year. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tis my favorite season and this pumpkin has some personality.

"Promise me you won't forget me...because if I thought you would, I'd never leave". - Winne the Pooh
I love how these two leaves seemed stucked together for life It just amazes me that after falling off the tree they are still together like they were meant to be together forever.



Yesterday, I found the entrance to fairyland.
Not exactly, but isn't it fun to pretend?? This gate is so very cool. I am finding much happiness in rusty old things lately. Call me weird but...it makes me happy.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

A field of mums.
If you never visited Martin's Garden Center in Tyrone - you do not know what you are missing out on. Especially this time of year. I have stopped there for the last past three weekends just because they absolutely have the best selection of fall items.

I had to buy mums and pumpkins and these cute little pumpkin holders that hold your mums.

And some more favorites.

Her laughter is so contagious and sounds just like Sponge Bob's. Which can be very annoying at times - but you cannot help but giggle everytime you hear her. I could immediatley hear her the other day at the playground before I could see her just by her laugh.

And, I had to throw in yet another cheerleading one - just because I just love those skinny chicken legs with black blues all over them from playing so hard with her brother.

My boy.

Sometimes there are those moments when I suddenly remember that he will grow up and I want to stop time.

This is what he was does while we wait for cheerleading practice to finish up. Jamming in the car with his ipod shuffle and playing his video games.

Modern day technology at its best. It is really sad when your son doesn't know what music CDs are because we download all our music from itunes and never buy the whole CD. But, then again my grandfather walked to school in 2 feet of snow up a hill both ways, LOL!!!

I think maybe I am just starting to show my age.

Wordless Wednesday.

First day of Autumn.
Today is officially the first day of Autumn. So get out there and enjoy it!!

Edited: I am not sure why the date is saying Monday's date but it is actually Tuesday, September 22!!!

In nature nothing is perfect and everything is perfect.....

Summer's end.
When I went for a walk this past weekend, I was sad to see all the beautiful things dying off from this summer - but fall's splendor is defintely starting to show as well. There were so many beautiful things to capture and the colors are amazing already. I absolutely love this time of year.

It is surprising how much of a memory is built around things unnoticed at the time...sometimes the only thing to do is to start looking at everything again until you forget what you're suppose to see and actually see what's there.

Tomorrow is the first day of fall and I plan on getting out there and soaking it all up and enjoying nature's free show. Have a wonderful Monday!