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Caleb's First Birthday

This past Saturday I went to Titusville to take pictures at my cousin's first birthday party. I got to see a lot of relatives that I haven't seen in years. We spent hours sitting in the living room telling stories and reminiscing people that we've lost. Burgers and hot dogs were on the grill while I chased all the little munchkins who wanted me to try to catch them and take their picture. I had a really great time, and there needs to be more excuses to see family more often. Kept my favorites in black and white since the lighting was all so different.

In The Garden

If you just love me in perfect symmetry.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

This past Tuesday, Dylan and I finally got to go on our hot air balloon ride. It was originally intended to be a Valentine's Day festivity but the weather was never in our favor. When we got to the meeting place, I kind of felt like it was the first day of school. Everyone was sitting quietly, filling out their safety, "if you die it's not our fault" waivers. It wasn't long before we met our pilots and piled into the vans. It was still dark out, and every seat in our van was filled. Again, everyone was so quiet. I was in the very back seat of the van, and as we cut through the darkness, all I could hear was the sound of the trailer carrying our basket behind us. I felt like I was in a space ship. When we got to the launch site, all of us got to help set up the balloon. I took a lot of video, and tried not to get my new moccasins drenched in the dew collected on the tall grass. As the sun peeped up over the horizon, four balloons lifted into the sky. It was like nothing I have ever experience before. I felt the awe of having a window seat in an airplane, except that there was no structure surrounding you, you couldn't hear the whir of the jet propellers. You could feel the wind. You could look directly down below you and see the deer playing in the forest, your reflection hovering above the water. So quiet, so peaceful. Nearing the end of our flight, as we descended back into the airstream, the most overwhelming scent of Orange Blossoms came over us. I felt like I was in Heaven.
After we landed, we took a champagne toast, and recited the Balloonist's Prayer, that goes a little something like this:

The winds have welcome you with softness
The sun has blessed you with its warm rays
You have flown so high and so well 
That God has joined you in laughter 
And set you gently back again 
Into the loving arms of Mother Earth


I also cannot forget that all of us got attacked by bees as we were packing up the balloon, which was funny, until Dylan got a few stings near the eye that made him unable to do that shoot with Julia that I mentioned a few posts below. Anyhow, some pictures that do not do the experience justice...