Finally Out Of The House

Today we went out briefly to meet up with my friend Bill at the Chestnut Hill Coffee Co. He's a very talented photojournalist who did a terrific job shooting our wedding. Almost two years later and at no one's fault but my own, I'm finally getting our wedding album finalized. It's going to look soooo good!

It's so nice for someone to take a photo of me with Carver for a change! Thanks Bill!

This place makes a killer chai latte! However it would have been great if they had high chairs.

One last photo of Mr. Bill.


Can't wait to see our wedding album! Thank you for giving us such gorgeous photos to remember our extraordinary day!

What To Do, What To Do?

I haven't left the house much in the past few days, trying to get Carver well rested and recovering quickly from his ear infection and cold. Today I was really going stir crazy and I feel like Carver was too. It amazes me how fast a 10 month old crawling exploring baby can destroy a room! Nevertheless we had a fun time hanging out inside and of course I had my camera...

We thought the lens shade was the coolest thing ever!

I finished knitting this hat months ago, but I can't get Carver to keep it on his head for more than a minute! Cappy gave me a paw and modeled it for me.


Wow! This is the first time Carver's worn this hat for more than a minute! We made it to 3 minutes! Then it was on the floor...

He had fun attacking the sheep skin rug.

Then he had enough of me and my picture taking.

Cappy gave me some love...

Hot To Trot At 82!

This past Saturday February 23rd, Rosario, my 'Dadafied', Carver's 'Pop-pop' turned 82! He was born in 1926! The cost of a first-class stamp was $0.02, The Queen of Great Britain was born, The Great Harry Houdini dies, actors Marylin Monroe, Andy Griffith, Mel Brooks were born. He's never been much for big parties or receiving gifts on his birthday, he just loves to have the family around. He doesn't even like decorated birthday cakes, just give this man a chocolate Pepperidge Farm cake and he's happy!
I don't know anyone else who lives as simply as my father. I'm sure being a child during the Great Depression has a lot to do with it. However, he's not a hoarder like I've heard other depression babies being, although come to think of it.. he does have quite a collection of cottage cheese and yogurt containers.
Anyway, I could go on and on about how fabulous I think my father is but I'll shorten it for you with just a few of his qualities.. First off he is a MASTER of pretty much ALL trades! Carpentry, masonry (brick,stone,concrete), cooking, gardening, cleaning, mending holes in pants and sewing missing buttons, drawing, painting, photography (which is how I got started), and he can fly planes!
Happy Birthday to my father, who claims that he's been around since West Chester was a prairie. I love you.

I asked my dad to scan and email me some photos of the two of us when I was a child, and here's what we got...

Here we are in Puerto Rico, I think I'm about 1 year old and my dad is 52.

Notice the brick wall we're sitting on at our home... he built it! I think I'm 3, which would make old Ro 54.

Three years old here and I totally remember this bathing suit! I loved it!
Oh man gotta love the 80's! This might be 1984, and I'm 6 or 7? I think my father still has that Mexico t-shirt! Kyle said I HAD to post this photo.


Here are some shots from his birthday gathering. In attendance were... My brother Michael, sister Gina, nephew Dominick, step-mother Amy, Kyle, Carver, Cappy and Gracy (the dogs).

Notice the kitchen cabinets and the kitchen table.. He built those!

Amy, my dad, and the popular square Pepperidge farm cake.

Amy cheering Carver up with a little song and dance. Carver wasn't feeling well with an ear infection and cold. Poor little guy.

Gina's very handsome and crafty son, Dominick, holding his handmade fabulous soap. Dominick should totally sell his soap on Etsy!

Pop-pop and Carver, Favorite Aunt Gina and Carver.

Carver with his Uncle Michael.

Last but certainly not least, Carver with Daddy.

Book Club Mamas!

Last Thursday night was our third book club meeting, held at Melissa's house. I don't usually read for pleasure, or even occasionally read for pleasure, but the book club that my playgroup put together is fantastic!! There's never pressure to finish the book or even read it for that matter. It gives us a chance to get together minus our little angels and discuss whatever we want (which is usually our little angels). After an hour or so we finally talk about the book for a few minutes, which usually leads to how the book relates to our lives. The book in question was Shopaholic & Baby by Sophie Kinsella. I could barely get through the first chapter because I thought the main character was a superficial, materialistic bitch, and I had better things to do (sorry Mamas). Hey, if there was a test on the book at the book club meeting and prizes to be won, I would have finished it in a heartbeat! So I'm sorry that I can't give you a brief synopsis of the story, but rumor has it that there will be a movie coming out based on one of the Shopaholic novels.
The next book on the docket sounds interesting but may be upsetting. Can't remember the title (I'm not so good with details), but it's something about children bullying in school and how the bullied children go 'Columbine' on their classmates. On a lighter note, here are a few shots from our recent gathering..

Here is our lovely hostess Marvelous Melissa..

The ever so Exquisite Ellen..

Don't mess with the Jazzy Jen's..

Or the Marvelous Michelle and Merry Mary..

Mmmmm...wine, delicious chocolate desserts and beautiful flowers..


Looking forward to the next book club meeting ladies! Thank you Melissa for hosting this time around and for all the divine treats!

Lunar Eclipse Of The Heart...

First off I would like to share that I LOVE the Moon!! I don't know what it is about the moon but no matter what phase it's in, I can't help but gaze at it and smile. Kyle and I even planned our wedding date on a full moon!
Last night I pulled myself away from American Idol to grab a few photos of the amazingly beautiful lunar eclipse!
Here's some info on the celestial event that I pulled from the Associated Press...

The next total lunar eclipse won't happen until Dec. 20, 2010 (another two years!)
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the full moon passes into Earth's shadow and is blocked from the sun's rays that normally illuminate it. During an eclipse, the sun, Earth and moon line up, leaving a darkened moon visible to observers on the night side of the planet.
The moon doesn't go black because indirect sunlight still reaches it after passing through the Earth's atmosphere (I was wondering about that myself).
Wednesday's total eclipse phase lasted nearly an hour. Earth's shadow began to blot out the moon around 10 p.m. If you missed it, there is a time to plan for another sky spectacular later this year. In August, there will be a total solar eclipse.

Just Married!

I always have a fun time assisting Joe with his weddings. Heather and Royce were an incredible pair and were so willing and able to do anything we asked of them for pictures. My day started meeting up with Royce and catching him in action before heading to the church, he and his family were seriously the sweetest! We packed about 10 people in the hotel elevator when leaving for the church and Royce and his groomsmen had me laughing with their 'There's just too much sexy in this elevator' comments!
It was a great day for a wedding and I wish Heather and Royce all the best! Here are a few of my favorites from the day...



Gotta give the church organist some love, I doubt they ever make it in the wedding album.

We headed to Pennsylvania Hospital for the bridal party portraits and I'll definitely be going back in the spring for a guided tour! Here's 'new hip' Joe, holding a drawing of a hip in the surgical amphitheater.



Thanks Joe, I had a blast!

Happy Valentine's Day!

We wish everyone a wonderful and happy Valentine's day today!

We made these Valentines this weekend, and Carver had a great time squishing his hand in the white paint!


Despite his bad cold, Carver still manages to motor all around!


Cappy has been so funny lately with Carver's toys and trying to get Carver to chase him around the house!

Happy Birthday Baby Dalton!

My BFF Lauren gave birth to beautiful Baby Dalton..Febuary 5, 2008 weighing 8 1/2 pounds and 21 inches long!
Baby, Mom and Dad are doing fabulous!
I can't wait to see him again and again! He is too precious.

Main Street Manayunk Stroll

This Super Bowl Sunday was a mild 50ish degrees in Philadelphia, so we checked out Main Street in Manayunk. I brought my camera along to document the day and came away with some fun 'journal' photographs. Today reminded me of when we get that first real warm spring day and everyone is out enjoying it.

First we stopped by Mugshots Coffee House where I met John with his two very photogenic Chihuahuas, Alice and Lucy.

In dedication to the movie boxing champion 'Rocky', I would like to title this photograph.. "Eye Of The Carver".

I've always loved the early black & white street photography of famous Philadelphia photographer, Ray Metzger, along with my all time favorite photographer 'HCB' Henri Cartier Bresson. After 13 years of shooting I'm still trying to capture my true "Decisive Moment" photograph.
Although these street shots are not decisive, I think the color is nice and if you're a conceptual thinker maybe you would get more out of them, than I.

I was trying to get this shot of a vacant store front. I loved the architecture.

One shop shuts down, another one opens. This shop is new on Main Street, called Spectrum Scientifics. I didn't get a chance to go in, but it looks like a great place to purchase all your astronomical viewing devices and Slinkys.

Ingredient Specialty Foods carried a delicious assortment of edible delights! I learned a little something about Gruyere cheese and Kyle participated in the olive oil tasting bar. He preferred the spanish olive oil out of the 3 other choices, and I purchased a gourmet chocolate and bacon candy bar. Our buddy Chris thought it tasted like a dog treat, but how would he know what a dog treat tastes like? I thought it was delicious!

The sidewalks were crowded on Main Street and lots of people were walking their dogs.

This dog wins the Biggest Dog I've Ever Seen award. I'll call him the Main Street Mastiff. Seriously, those cute Chihuahuas Alice & Lucy were smaller than this big guy's head!

During the Manayunk Arts Festival, the Artesano Iron Works gallery sets up their tent with working blacksmiths who demonstrate the intense process of making the business's beautiful iron pieces... Kyle loved their big knockers.

After countless times of driving & walking past the Manayunk Design Group storefront, we finally made our way inside! Unfortunately Carver was approaching his nap time and I wasn't able to really browse the shop's treasures. I did however snap a few interior shots and I just loved the old chandelier and their inherited cockatiel 'Tweety'. We found out that the owner and the woman working there that day, are Drexel alumni as well! They were in the graduating class of '83 and '85, I think? Frank, the owner (pictured below), salvages architectural elements of local Philadelphia buildings that have dates with the wrecking ball. You can find all these pieces of history in his shop and incorporate them into your own home or business.

This beautiful dress is at the Nicole Miller shop. Kyle, it would make lovely Valentine's Day gift... hint hint. Although, I don't know when I would wear it? Will one of my single friends get married already! A wedding that I'm not actually working at, is way overdue.

On our way down to check out the furniture shops...

We ran into friends Rachel and Scott in Pompanoosuc Mills! Carver gave them his contagious big smiles!

A Little Bit Off The Top

I'm sure that at Sharkey's Cuts For Kids in Villanova, they see a fair share of moms bringing in their botched baby haircuts! I mean, I can't be the only mom out there who failed miserably at trimming up their little one's hair, can I? Thank goodness for May at this place! She was fabulous and super quick and excellent with Carver. You can't go wrong with Jeep seating plus Elmo and Friends on DVD! Although Carver didn't crack one smile for the camera, he was completely entranced by the boobtube and it was the best $20 I ever spent!

Before...

and After...

and in between...

Kaitlyn Turns One!

My very beautiful and good friend Amy threw a first birthday party with friends and family for her gorgeous baby girl, Kaitlyn. It was held at the Little Gym in Frazer. All the kids had a great time and I'm sure they were ready for naps by the end of the party! According to Amy, Kaitlyn was possibly a 'little overwhelmed' by all the action, but she was trooper and her eyes lit up when it was time to blow out her birthday candles!
The babies below are all my girlfriend's babies! We've all had our children within a few years of one another, and I'm sure we're going to have more!
I love this shot of the two gorgeous mommies with their birthday babies! Carly's boy, Trey, turned one also and shared the party with Kaitlyn. Carly and Trey are on the right, and Amy and Kaitlyn are on the left.

Carver getting adjusted to all the happenings around him.

Cutey patootie, Emilia.

Laurie and a very excited Lillie!

The birthday boy, Trey!

Carver cruising.

Handsome eight month old, Luke.

Adorable eight week old, Ava.

Daddy and Carver.

Mommy and Carver.

I'm not sure if this is the first pizza eating experience for Kaitlyn, but she definitely loved the pizza!


And the finale... cake time!
Here are Scott, Kaitlyn and Amy for her very first birthday cake! A year goes by so fast!