Rosie's Eyes

Rosie has the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen! I've known this sweetheart since she was a little toddler.... she is growing up so fast! ♥ Amy and I are going to take this beauty on a fun photo shoot.... soon! And Rosie is excited! :)

Mother/Son & Father/Daughter Dance

Our dear friends, Rick and Jamie, attended the father/daughter and mother/son dance with their twins, Grant and Allana, this past Friday night, so I offered to snap a few pictures of them. I don't really like how they turned out (I could have been way more creative with posing them) but they are ok for taking some quick snapshots. Thankfully they are a super adorable family, so that totally makes up for the lack of interesting-ness. :)


And Allana wanted a picture with her mommy!

Mother's Day Photo Shoot at Olds Manor (Rowe Hotel) Grand Rapids, MI

So last Sunday was Mother's Day, and I told Michael and Grace that the only thing I wanted was for them to let me take their photos without complaint. Grace really doesn't complain.... in fact, she was great at posing for me. But Michael wasn't all that into it which was completely expected. He's a (nearly) 15-year-old teenager. I've accepted the fact that most pictures of him at this age will not include a smile on his face. It's ok.... really. And they weren't too keen on the idea of having a photograph together! Oh well.

So I knew exactly where I wanted to take them! There is an AMAZINGLY cool old building in downtown Grand Rapids..... this building is urban decay at it's finest (or maybe it's worst??)! Olds Manor has the best architecture! Rusted flag poles, faces sculpted on the sides of the building, broken lights and a touch of graffiti added... wow. I am totally fascinated with this building. The kids and I had a great time peeking in the windows... oh how I'd love to get in there to photograph it! It was built in the late 1800's and first opened as the Rowe Hotel, later turning into an old folks home called Olds Manor. I am not sure when it closed, but this building is now slowing falling apart. It's actually quite sad that it's fate is not yet known. I did get some great shots of the kids, which I am so thankful for. And I got some shots of various parts of the building. I do want to go back and photograph it some more... seriously cool, in a very creepy way!












And these next two were taken next to Olds Manor at the post office. Grace loved this ginormous ramp that the postal cars drive on!

Bitty Baby Lilac Buds & Pear Tree Blossoms

I love Spring! I love my yard!

Mercy Me Concert

Once again, Mercy Me performed an amazing concert! My friend Lori and I have been waiting for two years for Mercy Me to come back to Grand Rapids! This time, Mercy Me had Natalie Grant and Brandon Heath join them... both performed amazingly as well!!!
Natalie Grant


Brandon Heath


Mercy Me

Getting a teenage boy.....

.....to take a picture is like finding a needle in a haystack. A very difficult thing to accomplish.... if not, impossible.

But, Michael let me take... oh about five pictures. That's it.

Grand River Flooding

Last week, we had some awesome storms. Unfortunately all the rain has caused the Grand River to flood yet again. But, I took the opportunity to go to Riverside Park... just me and my camera. It was wonderful.




Ducks hanging out "in" the parking lot on the cement parking slab. You can see the dock of the boat launch in the background.















Another boat launch dock under water, with Grand Rapids in the background.