Well, there you go. Brooks, if you agree too, how about a big smile?

I showed Brooks the above photo on the LCD screen on the back of my camera. He wanted to see the others I’d already taken, so I scrolled through, and we soon came to a photo I’d taken that morning of one of my boys. Brooks was not impressed, and wanted to me to shoot some more to make that other boy go away.

If you looked at the link above, you may recall that John, these boys’ dad, is a source of endless energy. That hasn’t changed. I think he could have done this all day.

Logan also enjoyed his quiet time with his mom, Deb. This lovely redhead is an old friend and former co-worker. We worked together back in the 20th century, in the B.C.P era. (Before Cell Phones)

Brooks wasn’t going to miss out on some hugs from his mom…

(Technical note: it was pretty sunny in the front yard, but we didn’t want to miss out on the colorful azaleas. I filled in some of the shadows of the overhead sun with some fill flash – a 580ex on camera, pointed directly at them, with the flash exposure compensation dialed down around -2.)

We did get your standard everyone-looking-at-the-camera family portrait. But I’m going to share this one instead, because it makes me laugh.

And last but not least, how often do the grownups get a photo to themselves without the little ones? Pretty much never. So here are John and Deb, looking just as gorgeous and happy as when I first met them so long ago.

But the highlight of the weekend was not just one, but two visits from our very good friends, the Winters family. We’ve been friends for years, and were neighbors, too, until the Winters relocated to State College over a year ago.

Their visit reminded me that in last fall’s rush, I neglected to share photos from a November session with them at Mellon Park.

Jack, the oldest.

Neva just turned two. Doesn’t she look so sweet and quiet and mellow? Well – she may be sweet – but forget about the rest! This little girl finds trouble like no one I’ve ever seen. During a visit when she was about 18 months, her mother had gone upstairs to change Neva’s little sister’s diaper, leaving her under my supervision. I went into another room to get something and when I returned I found her in the kitchen with a box of Bisquick. Feeding handfuls of said Bisquick to my dog.  On Friday night as they prepared to leave our house for their hotel, Neva managed to completely undress (except for one sock). And last night, while we were all in the basement with the trains, Neva disappeared. I went upstairs and found her on the dining room table, scurrying away from a plate of butter with an “I didn’t do it!” expression topped with a bit of “and you can’t catch me!”

And here’s Paige, who will be turn one in March.

We miss you, Winterseses!

Oh boy… as the mom of two boys, myself, I sure know this look…

Simon’s mom, Joelene, has a beautifully unique tattoo that celebrates motherhood.

Simon’s older brother Jesse came along too, so I couldn’t resist capturing a few images of him, too.

Thanks for a fun morning, boys!

***Also if anyone has photos of the wedding you’d like to share, please feel free to post a comment with a link to your photos.***

The wedding took place at the home of the parents of the bride. Their hard work preparing the property, including everything from painting to planting,  paid off perfectly.

Our mother, the lovely Susan Montemurro, had carefully cared for 12 hanging baskets. These marked the entrance to the courtyard garden, location of the ceremony, as well as the area right behind where Beth & Madison stood during the ceremony. There’s Susan on the top right, pulling up a few last weeds on Saturday morning.

Beth came up with a very unique way to let guests know where to sit. As “lovebirds” was the wedding theme, she wrote guests’ names on cards marked with birds of different colors and shapes. Guests then had to find the table with the bird in the cage that matched their card.

And Beth also took great care of the kids. They had their own table loaded with personalized buckets full of toys and games. They found them and dug in before the ceremony had even started!

Favors were homemade cookies made and decorated by an elite team recruited by the bride. And then… cupcake tower. Yum.

Beth & Madison saw each other before the ceremony and their photographer (who still shoots film!) took a lot of family photos. Beth asked me to go away when Madison came over to see her for the first time that day – and I did -  but I also snuck this photo. Hope you don’t mind, Beth!

They look so comfortable together.

Lois, mother of the groom, and Susan, mother of the bride

I believe it was at this point I handed my camera over to my wonderful husband Matt, who took the rest of these pre-ceremony pictures as well as all of the ceremony pictures. I think he did great – especially considering he was holding 16-month-old Jonas for many of them.

Beth & Madison and the six kids of the wedding party! Frankie, Leo, Jake, Emma, Vanessa & Juliana.

My mom and me, the Best Woman (Beth’s preferred term)

The groom and Best Man await the procession (Gymnopedie by Satie and then Something in the Way She Moves by James Taylor, played on acoustic guitar)

Jonas requested that I hold him for much of the ceremony. He then proceeded to gnaw on me.

After the ceremony, I took this of my teary-eyed mom and her little brother, my dear filmmaker uncle, Don Riemer.

And then Don took this series of me, Matt and then Matt & me together.

The very happy married couple

Jonas found playing with gravel delightful.

My beautiful cousins, Kate, Mary and Ann Marie

Beth & our lovely sister-in-law, Traci

The first dance

Another photo by Matt – Jonas spent a lot of time during the reception in this sling (Indigo Stripe Sakura Bloom), borrowed from my gracious friend Genevieve.

But he also found time to play with his truck on the dance floor.

Hooray for an amazing day and night! Congratulations Beth & Madison and I hope you are enjoying every moment of your much deserved honeymoon.

Remember to post a comment with a link to your photos if you have any to share!