23 November - Time Flies

Has it really been two months since I last updated this blog?! Time has just flown!

So what have I been up to? Football - which is now over - well after tonight's banquet it will be - and it turned out to be a disappointing season 2-8. But we won our last game, so at least it ended on a win. I was busy taking photos at the varsity games along with two other photographers (who are dads) and making cupcakes almost every Friday night for their dinners. The favorite turned out to be Devils Food Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough cupcakes with Cookie Dough frosting - mmm, mmm!

The soccer team hired me to get action photos for their senior gifts. Not an easy task when I have never taken soccer photos before and their were three games left (two having overcast skies and one being a night game). It was a little late in the season to try and get photos at a 4 pm game with fading fall light. Next year I suggested they hire their photographer at the beginning of the season. I was lucky that they got an extra State game that started at 2 pm and they were ahead so the coach put in the subs and managed to get shots of all 11 seniors in the last game - whew! The 16x20 posters looked awesome!

And not to just blah, blah, blah - here are some recent photos.

My nephew's oldest daughter - Miss P

My nephew's middle daughter - Miss R



And we can't forget the baby - Baby KG



And my best friend's grandson

This Is What I've Been Up To.

Between high school football and 10u softball and let's throw in the fact that school started things have been rather busy.

Attending the JV high school games too because my son is playing on Varsity and JV.

Making tie dye cupcakes for the varsity dinner and tailgating. School colors are green and gold.



First day of 4th grade. The 11th grader didn't want his photo taken.



Squeezing my friend's son's youth football games when we have a chance.



Going to the youth football pep rally - even though we have nobody playing or coaching this year, but we've been doing it for 17 years so why stop and my daughter wanted to go see her friends.



Seeing cool buildings in downtown Newark on the way to a football scrimmage.



And there you have it!

A Few More

Because I just had so much fun with her.

Mt. Tabor

On one of the cooler days last month, I headed over to Mt. Tabor walk around and take some pictures. Until then, I had only been there to go to the post office. What a cute little town! There are still many more streets to explore - next trip.

Boonton Train Station

Today the girlie and I went out for another session. We hit the abandoned trains in Boonton. We did a session here a few years ago and wanted to get back before the trains are removed. After having to go back home for a charged battery (switched camera bags last week), we were good to go.

I think she really rocked this session and can't decide which ones to process first. Here are some of my favorites.

Cupcake Party

The girlie attended her friend's party last week. First they gathered at Cupcake's (her nickname) house for nails, makeup and presents. Then they all went to Sugar Mommy Cupcakes in Denville for the second half of her party which consisted of decorating a chef's hat, making pizza, and decorating your own cupcake. A little singing and bopping in their chairs was also part of the party. The girls had a lot of fun and so did I as the tag along photographer!

Shore Weekend

We spent this past weekend in Toms River at our extended family's house. They moved from Denville last year and we don't see them enough. Between my son's high school sports and my daughter's summer softball and their daughter's high school sports, it's very hard to find the time.

Originally our plan was for my son to do a wrestling tournament at the Ritacco Center, but after a very hot wrestling camp and then two days of football, he was exhausted. So instead of sitting in a hot gym for hours, we got to spend time outside. It was so HOT, HOT, HOT, but they have a built in pool, so that's where we spent most of our time on Saturday. Later in the afternoon, we piled in their conversion van and headed for Ortley for a few hours. Even later in the day it was still hot, but the kids had a great time in the sand and water.

20 July - Rutgers Wrestling Camp

The boy is at camp this week with his team. They go from hot, hot gym to hot, hot dorm rooms. The only relief they get from the heat is when they go to eat in air conditioned cafeteria. We've been driving down every night to watch.

Yesterday was the individual tournament. He came in 5th in his weight bracket and so far all around is 10-2. Not too shabby!





Didn't he just look like this yesterday?

Denville 4th

We had a quiet family party on the 4th, thrown together last minute. Afterwards, we did the townie thing and went to Gardner Field for the fireworks. They were awesome this year!

The glow bracelets are courtesy of her aunt. We didn't let her crack all 100 of them.

Not Softball

The weather here in NJ has been just beautiful the last few days. The girlie and I went out yesterday for some photos and lunch. We ended up by the gazebo in town and then went over to Mt. Tabor to go for a walk.

Here are some from by the gazebo and park.

1st Poster

The other day I got an email from Easy Digitals with a free template with instructions on how to add photos to make posters. I've been wanting to do this for a while, so I thought I'd give it a try. And what better subject than something that is always in my camera these days - my daughter's softball team.

Sparta Schools Out Tournament

This past weekend my daughter's 8u softball team participated in a tournament all weekend. They played two games on Saturday and two games on Sunday. They were such troopers, it was HOT, HOT, HOT, and had to play the games each day back to back. They won all four of their games. In the last game against Jefferson on Sunday, it was very heated (not describing the weather). We went back and forth between having the lead and losing the lead. Going into the bottom of the last inning we needed two runs to win. We got them! My daughter got a hit with the bases loaded and drove home the winning run. Way to go Katie! They were so excited.

This week we are playing in a district tournament - photos coming soon!

Team Photo

The girls are in a tournament this weekend and the coaches needed a team photo for it. Trying to get a team of 8-9 year olds all looking at you is quite tough. This is one of the better ones that I got. After the serious ones, the coaches said "OK, now a silly one" you can see how that one ended up.