Happy 2011!

Last time I posted it was 2 months from the time before - now it's only a month and a half so I guess I'm getting better!

Football ended with our the banquet the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. And the day after Thanksgiving wrestling started. For any of you that know wrestling, this explains my absence. And let's not forget the girlie is having winter workouts of traveling softball which entails Saturdays from 1:30 to 3:00 and Sundays from 10am to noon.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we met family in Philly for some sightseeing and cheesesteaks. We found Macy's and got to see Santa and the awesome light display they have in their store.

Sunday was the parade in Denville. We haven't gone in years, but Katie was on a float and the weather wasn't too bad either.



Then came our trip to NYC to see the Christmas Spectacular. It was awesome!



The wrestling season officially started on December 18th with our Morris Knolls wrestling tournament. For this I made 4 pounds of baked ziti, 101 cupcakes and 36 wrestling singlet cookies. Worked in the kitchen from 6:00 am to 8:00 am and then took pictures all day - getting out of there somewhere around 7:00 pm.



Christmas Eve followed a week later with an impromptu trip to NYC to see "The Tree" - I think a new family tradition was born. Maybe next year we can get more of the family to come along. Kaitlyn still isn't too keen with NYC (she couldn't wait to get out of there when we went to see the Rockettes) but learned that pushing your way through the crowds is how you need to roll sometimes.



Katie woke everybody up at 6:00 am - we told her we weren't getting up until at least 6:45 - she was relentless until we got up. The whirlwind of opening took all of 10 minutes (all that time spent shopping and it's over in minutes). The hub always makes omelettes for breakfast every Christmas morning. The engaged ones came over to open presents and eat breakfast. After this round of opening the house was somewhat cleaned to prepare for company. A wonderful day was had by all.



The year came to a close with the annual Parsippany wrestling tournament on the 29th. Steven came in second this year and the team placed first overall - woohoo!



No photos from New Year's Eve - we stayed home. Watched the ball drop and were in bed by 12:01.

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!