The Bitler Family

My good friends, Don & Chris Bitler are beyond amazing and inspirational. Not just because they are absolutely in love with each other and their kids, or because they are people who are truly grateful for everything they have.  The real reason they amaze and inspire me and the rest of our friends is because they are proud and loving parents to 4 children, all within 4 years and a few months.  Yes, to me that is beyond words...because lets be honest it takes a great mom...and dad, to have patience, energy, and well lets be honest more patience!


Their children, Emma, Jackson, Noah, and Max are beyond adorable and pretty much inseparable...which is a blessing. You can tell they really rely on each other not just as siblings, but also as friends.  Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen any of their kids fight.  However, I was told prior to our photo session, a fight had ensued in their house between Superman and Spiderman because Spiderman wanted to wear Superman's cape.   :)  Oh to be a kid again!


Here are a few of my favorite shots from the day...more to come!

Thank you Don & Chris for a fun day & delicious dinner! =) xoxo

Kristie & Baby Almira

My good friend Kristie, decided that she wanted to do a photo session each week of her pregnancy to show the growth of her baby inside of her belly.  A website she receives weekly updates from, informs her of the approximate size of the baby and compares it to a type of fruit or vegetable.  More importantly it lets her know what parts of the baby are developing. 


This week Kristie is 19 weeks.  The website compares the baby to an heirloom tomato, however a peach seemed to be more appealing for the photos.  I decided to play around with the fact that the peach is basically symbolizing Kristie's baby.  


I love everything about the picture below, because although the peach really isn't her "baby" or "child", it shows the relationship they (Kristie & Baby Almira) will one day have...enjoying each others company and playing on the playground at the park.

Mom & Paul

In just a few short weeks my mom, Anne will be tying the knot to her fiancee Paul.  In the year that they've known each other they have already done so much as a couple.  From camping, to fly fishing, to snowboarding, and scuba diving they seem to be doing it all.  It is a joy to see my mom really happy for the first time in a long time.  She has found that special someone who has put an extra skip in her step and an extra twinkle in her eye.  


I love you mom and may the best be yet to come...

Because I think they are adorable...Cardona's part deux

Eric & Desiree Cardona

Together a total of 13 years and on September 27th they will celebrating their 1st wedding anniversary. When you meet the Cardona's, they are warm and inviting. Eric is soft spoken, has an amazing sense of style, as well as humor. Desiree is warm, charismatic, and has an infectious laugh. Together the Cardona's share, and outwardly display a zest for life, laughter, love and dedication for one another. If I had to sum up what Eric and Desiree are as a couple, I believe I could speak on behalf of their family and friends and proudly state, "The Cardona's are all heart!"

When discussing their photo session, it was important for Desiree and Eric to have their beach cruisers. As Desiree explained, "They were the first items we bought as a married couple".

The beach cruisers are in a way a unique symbol of their love and life as a married couple, because anytime they are riding them they are creating memories. Therefore, the crusiers became a significant part of their photo session to honor their first year of marriage as Mr. & Mrs. Cardona.

Thank you both for an amazing day! Desi & Eric, I love you to pieces and I am so grateful for our friendship!

Happy Wedding Anniversary...and to many more! =)

Preview.The Cardona's

Perez Pit Party

Ok...so I know my blogging has been lacking, or shall I say non-existent for the past month and a half. But in the words of Grandma Leen, "That is neither here nor there!"

Two weeks ago, The Perez's both immediate and extended family got together for a Pit Party. This was a 2 day event and so worth the wait! I say worth the wait because when I first started dating my now husband, the Perez family had been talking up this Pit Party at each family event...12 years in the making! The last Pit Party they held was in 1994, so it was definitely overdue.

The first day (actually started at night), was spent with some of the family hanging out around the pit, which was fired up at 9:30pm. Uncle Richard, Uncle Sam, Darren, Bill, and Richie were the men in charge of building up the fire in the pit. They manned the fire literally all night and then at around 5am, my husband joined them along with his dad to put the goods in the pit.

Finally at 2:30pm on the second day, the dirt was shoveled off the pit and the top opened. Now let me just say a few things...the ground surounding the pit was crazy hot! Also, the aroma once the top was lifted...out of this world! Ok so back to the pit, the tradition in the family is that all the men in the family shovel off some of the dirt on the pit and then each male helps take out the meat. This was so neat to see and honestly was probably my favorite memory of the whole experience. You see the men in our family just overjoyed at the sight and smell of all their hard work =)

Once all the meat was extracted and put in pots, Aunt Irene and my husband, along with some help from Aunt Elaine and Grandma Perez started to cut the meat. Well, let me just say that the meat cut itself so to speak because once it was taken out of the cloth it was wrapped in, it literally just fell off the bone or was already shredded to pieces! All this was due to the simple fact that the meat was cooked with LOVE from the whole family in a pit made by the family years ago.

Many thanks to the entire Perez family that put this shin dig together and made it a memorable event to us all! In honor of Bill's birthday and in loving memory of Grandpa Perez.

Uncle Richard getting the pit ready

The passing of the shovels from the men to the kids

Carnitas

Lamb

Beef

Grandma Perez & Ralph Perez (Grandpa John's brother)

all the kids playing video games to keep cool