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middle school awards night
We were all pretty excited when we got the letters home from school saying that both Jack & Patrick were going to be receiving some kind of award on Tuesday night. They don’t tell you what award you’ll be receiving and when you get there, the program is just an outline of all the awards for the night, so you are in suspense until they call your name.
Some friends receiving their Citizenship awards: Maddie, Tess, JP, Kayla, Julie & Matthew
Todd receiving a music award, Ryan receiving an A for Effort award. 
Hannah, the daughter I’ll never have, receiving one of her two Language Arts awards (she and the boys received the same reading award! See, told you we were almost related!)
Liam receiving one of his two awards for band. He’s a really talented slide trombone player. 
Zach receiving one of his three awards (2 for languages, one for chess).
Jack & Patrick receiving their ‘voracious readers’ awards. It had already, but those Kindles just paid for themselves. Again. They got medals and also a $10 gift card each to Barnes and Nobel. 
And receiving their departmental academic awards for Social Studies. They were so happy (so were we)! And not surprised that it was Social Studies! 
It was a great night with two awards each (pretty funny that they both got both awards, but SO thankful it worked out that way or living here could’ve been very, very ugly. Does anyone remember Jack singing at the Islanders and being in the spelling bee and Patrick not? Yeah, not my favorite time of having twins.) And we topped it off with a trip to Carvel (where else?)
Very proud of you, boys!! Keep up the good work for 7th grade! -
aidan’s first communion
Aidan’s first communion is the last one I shot this season, and the last to be shared. A big thanks to his mom for being extra patient waiting for his pictures. Without further ado, meet Aidan and his fantastic family on his special day.
The little one just woke up from her nap and was not particularly interested in photos. But she has a special place with me as she’s the little baby on the left of the blog header on the wood floor. She’s grown up a bit since then but is still just as cute!
Loved this mother & daughter. 
The balloon guy was fantastic- his balloon animals, swords, lightsabers and other things were the best I have ever seen. If you are looking for some good entertainment for your next kid party his name is Edgar Calderon and can be reached at mistertwister260@gmail.com or 917.497.3761
Besties. 
How cute is this face?! Thanks for letting me be there for your day, Aidan!
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jake is born
Saturday night (actually Sunday reeeeeeeeeally early morning) I had the first of what I hope to be many birth shoots. It was an incredible experience and I am so lucky and honored that Jenn & Scott let me share this most special of days with them. I am still on a high from the shoot and watching a new life come into this world. Watching what the human body is capable of was seriously awe inspiring. Many thanks to Jenn & Scott for allowing me into their lives at a very private time, to Winthrop Hospital, Dr. Dilenna, Michelle (Jenn’s nurse), Tricia (my on call “in” just in case), Val (Jenn’s mom and other birth coach), and all of Jenn & Scott’s families who kept me awake and laughing in the waiting room during the long haul wait.
I arrived at the hospital at around 11pm, finally got into Jenn’s room at around 2:30am, and witnessed Jake Martin being born at 3:58am. He was 7 pounds, 7 ounces, 21.5″ long and miraculous!
Please watch the video to see all the pictures (ok, well not ALL the pictures but everything that was suitable to post on the internet!) of Jake’s birth. Jenn & Scott, I can’t thank you enough!! Wishing you every happiness with your new little family. And I can’t wait for the newborn shoot!!I just wanted to add that:
1. I hope you cried or at least got chills during the video. I’d love to hear what you think, please feel free to comment below.
2. That my favorite picture from the whole night was Jenn having her celebratory lollipop while texting and Dr. Dilenna stitching her up. That is SO totally her.
and 3. If there are any expectant mothers out there who are interested in a birth session, I’d looooove to do another one. I think I’m addicted!
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first pool day of the year
I know many of you are waiting for the birth session I shot Saturday night. After minimal sleep this weekend, I just couldn’t stay up to edit last night- my eyes were closing while I was sitting at the computer. My goal is to edit those pictures today and have the shoot up tomorrow. Be sure to come back and check them out.
So two weeks ago when it was brutally hot, we ran (read: drove really slow with the a/c on super high) over to Hempstead after school for a swim to cool off. After picking up 3 extremely sweaty, red children from school there was really no alternative. I still believe school should end immediately following Memorial Day weekend.
Yay, summer!
Someone was pretty excited to be in the pool, in the deep end and playing basketball.
Just floating….here in the pool. 
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field day
Posting this on a rainy, yucky day but field day was beautiful and HOT. Like really, really hot. Like sweating in places that you didn’t think you could sweat, hot. But the kids seemed to have a great time (especially with the new ‘cooling system’ that they put in place) and I was just thankful they had the morning session. I went over to watch and take pictures of Timmy but stayed the whole time and took tons of pictures of well….everything!
Can you tell they were all a little hot?
The water stations were key. And the water was nice and cold!
The new cooling system for this year. GREAT idea!! I can’t tell you how much I wanted to get under there but with the camera it just wasn’t happening. The funniest thing was that they were trying to get all the kids under the spray in shifts and were making announcements about who’s turn it was, when all the kids just took off running and screaming under the water immediately.
Teacher tug of war is always a hit with the kids.
Timmy took this one!
Timmy’s teacher, the fabulous Ms. Jackson!
Timmy’s best girl- Ms. McClain. 
BBQ time. That’s a LOT of kids to feed!
The bbq team- and I have to say that I had a cheeseburger and it was fantastic!
Timmy had his first cheeseburger ever and loved it!
