Monday, August 31, 2009

Our newest family member... Scarlett London Rittenhouse



On Tuesday, July 14th, 2009, our family welcomed in it's newest member when Kelly, my brother's wife (firework photo couple) gave birth to Scarlett London. Scarlett becomes my 2nd niece to Kenny and Kelly and is an absolute doll, as you can see.



This trip also was a reunion of sorts, as it was planned to be my brother's R&R from Afghanistan for Scarlett's birth, so I drove my parents down to see him, Kelly, Fiona and Scarlett. The trip was down was great, minus one little scare with a "LOW FUEL" light lingering on a little too long in the wee hours of the morning. Regardless, we arrived safe, had a great hotel in a great location in Houston, and other than a little heat...

Okay... A LOT OF HEAT!, it was a great trip. It was really good for Kenny to get to come home and see everyone, and to not have to rush from Texas to Indiana just to see us, so it was well worth the drive.

Kenny only had a few weeks of leave, so we didn't want to impose and take up most of his time to be with his wife and daughters, even though we would have enjoyed every second we had together. While down there, I did get to take Fiona to go see "Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" at on of Houston's Studio Movie Grill's. If you ever get a chance to take in a show at a venue like this, it is really cool. It is a restaurant theater, where you have a wait staff come serve you from a menu, just like at a restaurant, but while sitting at a table in a theater. Good food, good movie, Great Company. But for some reason I still feel like I only took Fiona along as an excuse to see the cartoon movie myself, without looking too bizarre. I loved the movie, quite possibly more than Fiona did, but did have a great time hanging out with her.

It was hard to leave, to say the least, but we wanted to let Kenny enjoy the rest of his time back from the war, at home, with his now larger family. As on the drive to Texas, I played chauffeur to my parents, as I have been dubbed "a road-trippin' fool" by some of my friends. The drive home was a normal road trip for me, with the exception of the one Texas state trooper pulling me over for doing 54 MPH in a 50 MPH zone, that I don't believe was posted. I was stopped 10 yards short of the 60 MPH speed limit sign. He let me go with a warning, after interrogating each of us and slowing my drive by 20-30 minutes. 10 miles after getting stopped, we hit the Louisiana state border.





Showing the world who her favorite uncle is...

Cute Side Story:
So from the first minute that Fiona knew she was going to become a big sister, she has given Kelly, Kenny, and the family plenty of memorable quotes. She first told us that she wanted a little sister, and if she had a little brother she was going to throw him in the trash. She eventually warmed up to the thought of having a sibling more, and was excited to know that she was going to have a little sister.
Monday night, the night before we knew the baby was coming, Fiona had a sleep over with 'Mimi' at the hotel. We were all hanging out at the hotel on Tuesday when I got the text message to start bringing everyone up to the hospital to meet Scarlett. So I asked Fiona if she was ready to go meet her little sister. She suddenly got excited and was really anxious to get up there. Please note that the hotel was about 10 minutes from the hospital. I got Fiona strapped into the car seat in the back of my Truck and left the hotel. As I turned onto the main road to get to the hospital, some 100 yards from where we got in the truck, I looked back and caught this shot with my phone's camera.

Obviously overwhelmed with emotion

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Spring & Eric - Pendleton, IN - 13June09


For every 100 traditional weddings, there is a wedding like Spring and Eric's that will just take everything that you saw as normal in a wedding, and toss it all out the window, but yet bring it all together for an event that everyone will remember. For those of us lucky enough to know Spring, how could you expect anything less from this beautiful bride on her wedding day. Spring has an amazingly creating mind that can find ways to create a fun for all. On this day, she provided for all of us in attendance a day to remember, for certain!



Having been privileged enough to have known Spring since High School, I knew that Spring was capable of great things. However, to see what she could do with planning her own wedding at the Gazebo in Pendleton Falls Park, surprised me. To have brought together two great families, such as Spring and Eric's, and mixed in their great friends and their families, it made for such an amazing day.



Eric is a man that I can truely relate to on so many levels. I have always been a self-professed geek, as many of you know. Eric took his to a whole new level, by writing and reading his vows during the ceremony from his smart phone. Now that is impressive!



I have to say that I had soo much fun working with this group and defititly look forward to working with them again. Maybe even a little "bump" shoot coming up?!?!?









Spring, congrats again, and I love you, girl! I wish you and Eric nothing but the best in all that you guys do, as you start your lives together as one.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Ali & David - Elwood, IN - 02May09

David and Ali... What a couple! I have to say that this has been one of the best times I have ever had shooting pictures. These two both come from awesome families and have the greatest friends.

I knew that this one was going to be a fun one when I heard that Mr. Alex Orick was going to be the ringbearer. Alex is one of that many children that my grandmother, my "Nan" has baby sat for over the years. Alex has been around Nan's house to see my brother, Kenny, join the Army, and head off to Afghanistan. He is always excited to see Kenny and wants to grow up and help Kenny in Afghanistan. So hearing that Alex was going to be a part of the wedding party, I knew that I was in for a fun event!



This wedding event also marked a reunion of sorts for me, as I was reacquainted with a couple of my childhood friends, in David and Dustin Robling. Getting to see them and their family again as a treat, as it has been more than 14 years since we had hung out.

Ali was not only the beautiful bride in this wedding, but was also primarily responsible for almost all of the planning and arrangements of the entire event. I have yet to come across a potential bride that has been as organized as she was.



Albeit a very long day, it was a day that I know I won't soon forget, and I am sure that it is one that those friends and families of these two will remember as well. David and Ali, I wish you nothing but the best of happiness and love as you guys start your lives together. I am truely honored to have been a part of your memorable day.
















Tuesday, August 4, 2009

New Assistant's Family - 22March09 - Tipton, Indiana

As some of you know from my MySpace and Facebook pages, late last year, I was searching for a new asssistant. Well I have found one for the Indiana when I least expected to find one. At a going away party for a friend that I ran around with in High School, I met Courtney and James. Courtney and I immediately hit it off talking photography and kids.

She and James have a little boy named Karson, who is an absolute doll to photograph. He is precious, as you can see by this little trip to the park.