Just a Sunday Hello

I'm off to pray to the rain gods and shoot Rachel & Jason's engagement photos - and have some yummy Ice House!

But before I go - here's a hello from Avery. She's such a peanut - we never have tiny babies in our family and it's so fun to see something so little! I can't believe she's already 4 weeks old tomorrow. May was a blur. A complete blur!!



Well I'm off while the sun is till out! More posts coming soon!

~MelissaKoren

A Beautiful Day!

After all the rain yesterday, this morning is a wonderful surprise! Warm and lovely!
The weekend forecast promises to be even better, and that's just fine with me because I have two weddings this weekend!

I'm going through wedding withdrawal and SO excited to get back in the saddle in the next few weeks. Kristan & John, Kimberly & Bryan and next weekend Stephanie & Mike! I'll have all sorts of new shots for the blog so check back often! I'm also going to be overhauling the website and seeing if I can summon my inner web designer to rock it out!

I've also been getting in touch with my inner boxing superstar. I'm addicted to cardio boxing on our Wii! Hopefully it will help keep me strong and agile for darting around ceremonies & receptions in stealth mode!

And since posting with out a picture is unheard of, I leave you with this shot I grabbed after a family portraits shoot last summer in Prescott Park. It was just so perfectly the embodiment of warm weather - and a great re-purposing idea!!

Enjoy your day!
~Melissa Koren

How to celebrate a birthday

Part 1: Let them eat cake.

Cake? Cake you say?


I like cake -and being nearly 2 I can feed myself with a fork. Small bites are for babies.

You know what else is for babies? Forks. I don't need no stinkin' fork, it's just not working fast enough.

Aha! See, I've done it! I've become one with the cake!!

Not to be outdone on her birthday, Nichole decides this is a good idea and she requires a faster method of eating the cake also.


Now that was great fun, haha, posed for the picture.


but wait - - - while i was taking the picture, my brother and my cousin got up from their seats and came around to her side of the table and with lightning speed....

WHAM!

Admittedly the pictures are blurry, but you must forgive me because I didn't see it coming and once it happened I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe, but still trying to take pictures.


Her clearly indented cake. (p.s. Best Cake EVER - Coldstone Creamery's Cake Batter Confetti)

After we cleaned them up, my cousin redeemed herself by presenting Nichole with her fabulous birthday gift: The Snuggie (the child is only our nephew, we had to give him back)


Part 2: Eat, Drink & Be Merry

Our very very good friend Allison helped me plot and execute a 6 course wine dinner for Nichole's birthday. We cooked and one of our other good friends Annie helped with the wine.



Allison-tong-hands. She was tending to the pork roast.

Course 1:

Annie talking about the accompanying wine.

Course two:


And here's where I failed. After course two was the risotto, which I was in charge of. So for 30 minutes I stirred and stirred and stirred and I made BRILLIANT risotto, however, Annie had topped off my glass repeatedly and my focus got ..er.. distracted, and I forgot to take photos of the rest of the courses as I was too busy eating amazing food and having a great time with our friends. I very much regret not having photos of everything, but I can't be too upset because that was the only thing that went awry!

With that I leave you with the menu card from the evening:

Happy Birthday Nichole!!!

Love,

All of your Nearest and Dearest

A Private Wine Dinner from Around the World Just for You

First Course
Mionetto, Brut Prosecco, Italy
Mixed Greens Tossed with Fresh Strawberries and Almonds

Second Course
Tohu, Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
Seared Scallops with a Citrus Butter

Third Course
LaCrema, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Monterey, California
Risotto with Fresh Peas, Pancetta, and Parmesan cheese

Fourth Course
Candor, Merlot, Paso Robles, California
Beef Tenderloin Bruschetta with Gorgonzola Cheese,
Caramelized Onions, and a Balsamic Reduction

Fifth Course
Yalumba, Barossa Shiraz, Barossa, Australia
Roasted Pork with a Port Wine Reduction and Figs

Dessert
Grahams, LBV Porto, Portugal
Lemon Torte and Homemade Dark Chocolate Torte

And that, is how to celebrate a birthday!

MVG Animal Barn!

Part of our morning adventure when we went to the Mountain View Grand was to go down to the barn, on suggestion from our waitress at breakfast (oh, the breakfast! I still have dreams about that buffet!!)

It didn't occur to us to drive down, since we could see it from our room, but by the time we got there we realized it was probably only 10 degrees out and WINDY! We survived, and the animals were totally worth the trip.

These two were so cute!


Those eyes!!

Even the animals were c.c.c.c.cold! This poor llama was making 'smoke' with his breath!


These are the rare curly sheep - so much wool! The waitress said 'kind of like your hair!' but she meant it in the nicest way possible :)
We were much more fascinated in them than they were in us!


I LOVE the construction of barns - this roof was just amazing, I was mesmerized!

As we were about to leave we found the hot cocoa station. It made our walk back to the hotel much warmer!

I'm nearly finished with Kimberly & Jeff's wedding, I keep finding favorites and I can't wait to make a full post!!

~Melissa Koren

Winter Wonderland!

I know we're all a little fed up with cold, and winter, and snow, but the Mountain View Grand is SO beautiful, I found a new appreciation for it! You know, at least for a day or two ;)

I'm here for the wedding of the fabulous Kim & Jeff - as I arrived last night, the sun was starting to set. I dropped my luggage, grabbed the camera and ran outside.

They have a skating rink and nightly bonfires, sugar on snow & all the winter sports activities you can think of.

I love this, shot with my new 5D.

The breafast buffet this morning was DIVINE! I can't wait to eat again tomorrow. But first, I think I'll go out to the barn and visit the animals including some rare wooly sheep and then - it's wedding time!

Matthew Turns 2!

2 years ago I was just starting to dive into photography as more than a hobby.  My friends asked me to take some photos of their new baby, Matthew.  He was only about 2 weeks old here. 

And now, he's TWO!

I can't beleive it's been 2 years - we've all had so much fun!  He's the cutest little boy, so full of personality!

His mom and dad helped him blow out his candles. 

On this AMAZING cake that his mom made and decorated.  It was so gorgeous and SO tasty!

Happy Birthday Matthew!!

~MelissaKoren

Life's a Beach.

Last weekend we decided to take the cameras on a little outing.  Unfortunately, the weather decided to get cold, and fast.  So we only shot a few chilly photos and then packed it in.  

Nichole had a great time with our new 18-200 lens.

 

Theses icicles are hanging off our apartment - they're coming from every where!

Keep Warm!

~MelissaKoren

Isabel turns 3! 01.17.09

Isabel is the daugther of our new friends Stephanie & Jeff.  She is a firey red head who just happened to turn 3 last week.  She has the best birthday shirt ever- and who says redheads can't wear pink!  I love that the "Little Miss (and Mister)" books are making a comeback.  I had them when I was a kid (most notable Little Miss Bossy & Little Miss Helpful (no comment).  We got her little miss chatterbox & little miss giggles - it sums her up perfectly!

Mmm cake & icecream!

She's just soooo cute!!

This was her reaction as her Mom & Nichole paraded in her myriad of presents. TOO funny!

And this was her thank you to the crowd.  Gotta love the confidence and gratefulness of a 3 year old!

Happy Birthday Isabel!

"The photos from Isabel's party are amazing!!!  You are amazing!!!   If anyone needs a photographer.... I will soooooooo recommend you!!!" ~Stephanie

Christmas 2008

Christmas!! Our Christmas consists of Christmas Eve at my parents, then back here for a few hours of sleep, then we have Christmas Morning with Benjamin at our house and head back to my mothers and wind up at my Grandmothers house. 

Nichole acting as the Tickle Monster!

My son, nephew and 1st cousin once removed (what a weird family relation term). But as far as their concerned, they're all cousins. I wanted to get a picture of all the boys, but the younger ones weren't so interested in cooperating. 

Oh, no! Does he have a fever?

My brother and my son - two peas in a pod. My brother is 6'2'' and my son is only 8- yet they look about the same size. I'm in SO much trouble! :)

Ok, I'm obsessed with this face, but wouldn't you be too?

The cuteness!

Every year be gets new PJ's for Christmas, this year he got a new mood glowy thing too - he was psyched. 

My brother found these marbles with real bugs inside.  I love this shot!

Mums tree :)

My favorite part of Christmas.  Every year, since I was born, my dad has read The Night Before Christmas to us, for a book that he's had forever and was published when he was a toddler.  Boy has his audience grown!  Look at my kiddo, he's nearly too big to sit on my lap :(

Our tree, for the first year ever we decided to get a real one, I loved it!

My son is a bit of a dork, and he asked for a lump of coal from santa.  So santa, not wanting to let him down, obliged, and also sent him something a little more interesting than just a lump of coal.

I love Christmas morning hair!

We got a wii, and a wii fit, but the most exciting game for B was the Carnival games

Sophie the Christmas chihuahua

My dads Christmas consisted of guitar loot to grow his renewed obsession with guitar.

My mom's christmas consisted of whiskey.  Hmm. 

Killian in his christmas PJ's & new robe!

We got my brother the book "stuff on my cat" .. it was a hit.

Unless you're my mothers cat... 

 

Spy night vision goggles.

Sorry, its that face again.

Nichole rockin out on the mini guitar

All the technology and noises and toys in the world and this simple spider man toy was what he kept going back to and play with over and over.

...and to all a good night!