READY... SET... GO!!!!!

We were fortunate to get to see Paige for a while Christmas morning, and it was like a whirlwind.





She was arriving at Samantha and Martin's at ten.





We left our house at 7:30 that morning to get down there a little after ten. Paige had just arrived and was, needless to say, excited to see what was lurking beneath their beautiful Christmas tree!





There is nothing like watching a child on Christmas morning.

Yeah, yeah... that's not what Christmas is all about, but wait...

...when you're five, it kinda is.

Present unwrapping can be very serious business!






Kapuna Ken, Steve, and Nanny Maureen can attest to that, as can Aunt Meagan..

... and Sam. Oh goodness. Sam doesn't seem to realize the seriousness of the situation.

Paige made a teddy bear especially for Kapuna because it looks like the black bear that live by us.





Then she helped her Dad unwrap his gifts.





We brought some goodies from the farm to share... homemade organic maple syrup, vanilla extract, and squash from the garden...





... which might not be quite as good as a candy bar in some people's eyes.

After presents, we sat down to breakfast, including zucchini bread with an orange glaze still warm from the oven. Thank you, Sam!





Martin got Paige ready for the rest of her day before bringing her back to her mother's.

Then a quick pose with her Nanny Maureen...

... and goodbye.

We enjoyed the rest of the day despite the absence of Paige, including a sumptuous ham dinner.

We'll see you in January, Paige, when we have our weekend Christmas celebration here on Shadow Glen Farm.

Kapuna and I can't wait!!!

ENTER PAIGE'S GALLERY

MASSACHUSETTS CHILDREN PHOTOGRAPHER: Introducing Cecelia Korbut-Comaneci-Retton-Strug

Introducing, at just 2-1/2 years of age, Cecelia Korbut-Comaneci-Retton-Strug.

Yes, she is an up and coming hopeful for the 2020 US Olympic Team.





She's already a master at the parallel bars and rings...





...and even at rock climbing (undoubtedly a new event for the 2020 Games).








Here our little gymnast contemplates her dismount from the balance beam...





...and yes... 


She sticks the landing.





Beautifully done. But, please...




I am crying. A perfect ten.

One last tumble and we are off for pancakes at what Celia claims to be her "favorite diner since she was a little girl."




As we were waiting, one gentleman commented on how it must not take much food to feed such a tiny, little girl. (Please notice the hand, lest a crumb may fall.)





Clearly, he has no clue of what our tiny, little girl is capable of.





Celia's Auntie Jamie is taking her to see The Nutcracker the day after Christmas. As part of her preparation, I brought the music to her and we proceeded to re-enact the entire ballet. (Modified, but entire...and multiple, seriously... multiple times.) With a memory like hers, I hope they are going to a matinee, because she will certainly be the official narrator of the event. 





Sharing the love with her nutcracker doll. Good luck putting that away after Christmas.


Celia... Honey, stand in front of the tree like the girls do in the magazines.





You can always tell which kids have a photographer in the family.

We wound down with a private viewing of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. I truly never realized just how very funny those dwarfs are, but Celia was certainly a testament to that.

I can't wait to visit again! Thanks for having me. I'll be back. Soon!


CLICK HERE TO ENTER CELIA'S GALLERY

New Jersey Children's Photographer: CAROLINE & KATIE... SISTERS 4-EVER!

I don't mean to insinuate that all families aren't filled with love in their hearts, but this is a family that is extra special. Kathy, Kevin, and Caroline opted to add to their family by adopting little Katie from China. Because of a cleft palate, she was available for immediate adoption, and long story short, they traveled to China to bring home with them a toddler that had not only experienced the trauma of surgery and recuperation in her short life, but who in addition, had no understanding of the English language, nor any concept of the devotion of family.


This is a monumental undertaking in itself, but also one that could create major problems with the child who was accustomed to receiving her parents' undivided attention. But let me tell you about Caroline. She is a seven year old with the heart of a 30-year old. It isn't easy to bequeath unconditional love when you're seven without the promise of it being returned, but Caroline keeps sending it out, and Katie has begun to send it back. It is evident in the pictures. Even when Caroline isn't paying attention to Katie, Katie is watching her with awe and admiration. The love is there. You can see it and you can feel it. Even though there are moments when Katie feels a little overwhelmed and Caroline feels a little frustrated, the love between them is still palpable. They will be sisters in the truest sense of the word for life.


Kathy and Kevin have somehow found a balance that I can only describe as inspiring, and it was my complete pleasure and privilege to document a small slice of their life on Sunday. I thank them from my heart for the opportunity. Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot, and a slideshow of our day.



























TO VIEW THE SLIDESHOW, CLICK HERE: CAROLINE & KATIE... SISTERS 4-EVER!

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New Jersey Children's Photographer: SNEAK PEAK: Caroline and Katie

Did someone say, "Strike a pose?" Are you sure, because here are two girls that know what that's all about. As a matter of fact, we perceived this as being a problem at first, but as I scanned through all the images from our photo shoot on Sunday, I realized that it had not been a problem at all, and that Caroline could in fact be a potential supermodel in the future. What I saw in front of my eyes were two adorable girls who, when they weren't paying attention to me, photographed like... well, like two little girls. But when they were working it, they were downright FIERCE! See for yourself in this little sneak peak.