Shootin' the In-laws

We are very lucky to live close to Heidi's family. This allows us to see them on a regular basis and we get to spend most holidays, birthdays and other special events together. This also give me the opportunity to "shoot" photos of them when ever possible. They are a wonderful and loving family and I very much appreciate their warm welcome and embrace into the family. Last week, we went to Heidi's Mom's house to shoot some family photos and spend some time with the family and yesterday we spent Christmas/Oma's Birthday together at Oma's house. The one missing link was Josh, who lives in Craig, AK. He is loved and missed very much by everyone. You can just tell when they talk about him that they miss being able to give him a hug, bicker with him like brothers and sisters do, and most of all tell him how much they love him in person. Josh has become an amazing father and provider which definitely makes the family extremely proud. We can't wait to spend time with Josh and both sides of our family in June for our wedding. Here are just some of the photos from a family day together and our Christmas at Oma's house.

The Neth Family

I have known Jamie Neth longer than I have known any other friend that I have. We have grown up together and done some dumb stuff along the way but we seem to have turned out okay. He has become an amazing father and husband. His beautiful wife, Abby, is one of the nicest people you could ever meet and we have alot of fun when the two of us start laughing hard. If you have never heard the two of us laughing hard together you are missing out as we both have very distinct laughs. They have created a wonderful family filled with love and they have produced two great kids, Jacob and Paisley. I always look forward to the times that we get to share especially now that we are "all grown-up"(yeah right) and living on opposite sides of the Cascade Mountains. Here are a few photos.

Frien-damily

I know it is a made up word but it represents a couple people in my life. About 7 years ago I met a dirty raft guide from Colorado and an aspiring first year dirty raft guide like myself. Since then Shelby Scott and Bryan Kiele have become not only my friends but part of my family. They have inspired me in so many ways but most importantly they have inspired me to be me. I love you man!!! (said with a drunken slur)

Haylee Amaya

Haylee Amaya is Heidi's brother Trinny's daughter and one of our beautiful nieces. We have been watching her since she was about three months old and we are lucky that we are close enough to be able see her on a regular basis. I have also been very lucky to photograph her as she has been growing up and she has become one of my primary models. She is now three and has so much personality and character for a three year old that it amazes me. We love the times and experiences that we get to share with her and she is a very special kid. Here are just some of the recent photos that I have taken of her.

A friend for a long time

Eben has been one of my closest friends for a long time now and I have considered him family since we were in high school. It doesn't seem to matter how long it has been since we have seen one another, everything feels the same. I appreciate everything about him and recently I was lucky enough to meet his better half, Erin Goodwin (no offense Eb), soon to be his beautiful bride. She is wonderful and she to has that innate ability to make people feel comfortable and feel as if they have known her forever. Heidi and I were lucky enough to spend a weekend in October with them in West Seattle which we enjoyed very, very much. We also got to meet Charlie (Eben's kid). Here are some photos from our stay with them.

Some more St. Croix photos

St Croix - Ohta's and Ahladis's 2008

This past September Heidi and I traveled with my parents, J and Tomi, to St. Croix in the USVI and met the Ahladis's (DJ, NIkki, and Kaya) on the island. My nephew Michael could not make it from St. John because of school and that definitely would have completed our family but we will see him soon and love him very much. We all got to celebrate Kaya's first birthday together and spend some amazing family time. It was our first trip to St. Croix. The island is so beautiful and has a very laid back feel to it, even more so than some of the other islands we have been to. We spent most all of our time doing and seeing things together as an entire family which made the trip even more special to me. The one thing that we did not get to see were the "beer drinking pigs", yes I said "beer drinking pigs" but that gives us just one more reason to return in the future. On this trip, I did not even make it onto the plane before I began to miss my family in the USVI. I love you and miss you!!!! Here are just some photos from the moments that we got to share.