Majaica

After the wonderful, but somewhat exhausting holiday season, Shane and I slipped off to Jamaica or as Marlie calls it, Majaica. We were celebrating our 10th anniversary. Its really not until August, but who wants to go anywhere hot in August? Jamaica in January sounded much better. As always 99% of our pictures make it look like Shane went on a vacation by himself or no one was there at all. I kinda hate asking people to take our picture.





There was lots of laying on the beach, lots of reading, lots of Shane trying to convince me to snorkel, some hammock swinging, a little too much wind, just enough rum punch, and 5 days of alone time. It was really nice.









Don't get me wrong, we missed our kids. But it was really nice to walk around on warm sand for a while instead of cheerio bits. I wrote our names in the sand because I knew it would embarrass Shane...and it did.





Happy 9 1/2 years Shane. I still really like you.

thank you 2011

This year was full of great things. Tate boy was born, Marlie got even cuter. I took 6 months off of shooting for maternity leave and it was good to step back, concentrate on my kiddos, and refocus on my photography skills. I started back shooting this fall and loved being back behind my camera. However, along with baby #2 came less time to blog. I'm not upset about it, its just the way it is. I had so many great sessions this year that I just didn't get around to blogging. The following shots are some of my favorite shots from the "unblogged" shoots with my dear clients. Thank you all for a great year!

Last year at this time I announced that I was cutting back on work quite a bit. I am still not shooting as frequently as I used to, but I am opening up one additional date a month this year. Check out the schedule page on my website to check for open dates. Spring dates are already booking up so email me if you are interested!

Joy to you

The Christmas season is definitely a fun time of year around here. One of my favorite days of the whole year is the day we get our tree and decorate the house. This year Marlie is at such a fun age for the season. She is giddy with excitement about anything Christmas related. She screams with joy any time we see even the smallest display of lights. Tate boy doesn't know what is going on, but it is fun having his little squishy body to snuggle by the tree and his badly head to rub this year.



I wish you all joy this season. Screaming, giddy joy. And that includes myself. I can't help but wonder that if I really understood the gift we are celebrating if I too wouldn't be bursting with child like joy. I think I've posted this quote in years past, but I love it so I'm doing it again. It really sums up what I believe about Christmas...

This is Christmas, the real meaning of it.
God loving, searching, giving Himself - to us.
Man's needing, receiving, giving himself - to God.
Redemption's glorious exchange of gifts!
Without which we cannot live;
Without which we cannot give to those we love
anything of lasting value.
This is the meaning of Christmas -
the wonder and the glory of it.

- Ruth Bell Graham



Have a Merry Christmas!

Tate boy 8 mos 7 days

My little man. I couldn't pick just one picture for this month because I wanted to remember all of the funny little faces that you make.



Having you around makes this Christmas season even more fun. You aren't crawling yet but you love to roll over and pull off the tree skirt.



You've been giving out lots of slobbery kisses lately and it is adorable.



Happy first Christmas Tate boy. Love, Momma

Amy & Mark get married

A few weekends ago Amy & Mark got married in a tiny little chapel with their families in Columbia, Missouri and celebrated afterward at a big party with friends and more family. Before you get your panties in a bunch about how I said I'm not doing wedding photography anymore, Amy is one of my nearest and dearest friends and so, of course, I jumped at the chance to be her photographer!

Isn't she the cutest bride you have ever seen?


And she married this tall handsome guy...



It was a gorgeous day to get married and everything about the wedding was perfectly Amy and Mark. Click here to see an slideshow of the day or scroll down to see a few more of my favorite shots. Love you guys, Congratulations!

cyber Monday - free shipping

Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful! Our holiday and weekend was wonderful mixed with horrible. Family, food, and relaxing with a dash of fever and stomach flu thrown in. Ah well, you take the good with the bad.

Today is cyber Monday and we are running a deal on name collages. If you purchase 2 or more then you will get free shipping! That's a $20 savings at least people. Name collages make great gifts. Head on over to the "shop" page of my website (erinduggin.com) and order today. Enter the coupon code holiday2011 to get the discount. Badabing badaboom your holiday shopping is done.

Tate boy - 7 mos 2 days Marlie - 4.5 yrs

Oh Tate boy, you are getting so big. You are still so baldy. I love to rub your peach fuzz head against my face. This week you have caught your first bad cold. There have been lots of boogers and not much sleeping, but somehow you still keep grinning at me with that wide smile and scrunchy nose.


Miss Marlie, this is you on your first day of school this year. Looking at you in this picture makes me tear up a bit. Look how grown up you are! You amaze me every day with the funny things you say and the new things you are learning. You are a great big sister to Tate. No one can make him smile like you.

Love you both - Momma