My cousin and his wife are expecting a sweet babe at the end of September. My Gram hosted a baby shower for them on Friday night -
Jared got them this - he had to make sure the size was right for the election.
Soon-to-be mom and dad and Uncle M.
Aunt L - Gram to the wee one - trying to feel the babe.
*R* and *M* - you guys will be great parents - I can’t wait to meet the babe.
Saturday I shot a very low-key wedding. The bride and groom arrived together and put the food out for the reception - then Anne - the bride called everyone over to the side of the pavilion where the ceremony was taking place. The groom’s brother stood up with him and the bride’s daughter with her - the rings were exchanged - the vows said - the bride kissed - and the license signed. Then we took a few pictures - ate - had a toast - had some cake and the bride and groom went around table to table to talk with their guests. I’ll post those pictures later - but for now - some of my mom and I.
My mom was playing with the mint wrappers - making bride and groom finger puppets.
My mom was my assistant for the afternoon - it was so fun to hang out with her.
Nice close-up Mom - This close-up shows the appliance that I am wearing on my bottom teeth. It isn’t nearly as obvious as I feel it is.
I have posted some pictures of Mauser before - Mauser is my Aunt L’s puppy - Saturday evening - he was all about giving me kisses - but I didn’t want any of it.
So he propped his sad little face on my legs - just waiting for me to give in. When I wouldn’t he ran to Uncle Bob to complain.
He is a cute little pup.
Friday night I headed home - to Athens - to attend my cousin’s baby shower - shoot a wedding on Saturday - and hang out with my family. Jared stayed in Mansfield b/c his company had their summer picnic on Saturday - which I was bummed to miss out on. When I got to my parents house on Friday night - I noticed two bunnies in a cage - turns out my mom’s friend found a tame bunny on her way home one night - ‘cus people always drop off animals on farms in the country - and she took it home with her. It was pregnant - with eight babies. So my mom and dad took two of them home. Smokey and the Bandit.
Bandit - she loves to run around the living room and try to sneak under the couch.
Smokey - he loves to chew - and hates going back in his cage.
Smokey - he would have ate my shoe if I had let him.
I have a kindred spirit. I have written about her before. She is a strong, Godly woman whom I admire and respect greatly. She is one of my biggest supporters with my photography and life in general. She is a mother, a wife, a daughter, a child of God, a soon-to-be grandmother … She is my Aunt L. She is one of the smartest women I know and love.
Every year our church has a picnic in August - and of course I took my camera along this year.
The kids collected apples and then I arranged them in stacked piles - mostly because I LOVE organization. One of the deacons in the church and I got into a conversation about geocaching - something that I didn’t know existed.
This baby bird was at the base of a tree by then pond - I thought at first he was injured but as soon as I took the lens off him the first time - he jumped up and stumbled off toward the water. I don’t think he liked having his picture taken.
At Tanglewood - they have a pavilion with an old fridge and stove in the back - I LOVE the old appliances.
Every year at the Troy Fair and Tioga County Fair - NCA has a booth with peach shortcake - and LUCKILY there were leftovers. Make sure to get to one of the fairs next summer and have some shortcake - SO GOOD.
Another beautiful sky …
The rest of our vacation pics - again in no certain order -
Brandon - our SCOPES guy - at work.
Goofballs …
We rescued a Marine …
Me and my beach “boyfriend” that you may have read about …
Last year we decided to do the Mafia and Flappers … this year - Pirates.
Goodbye Ocean City - see you again next year - ???
Barden family beach portrait 2007.
Barden family beach portrait 2008. Thank you Brandon.
I love comparison pictures. A year ago - I think we look so different. Dr. Robinson tells me that the shape of my face will change with this device - I hope so - look at the difference in my face from 1 year ago - my weight isn’t any different but my face is shorter and chubbier. I am hoping to get that defined jaw line back. Nonetheless - this is one of my FAVORITE pictures of Jared and I together.
My vacation blog stopped short on Day Five - which I think was Wednesday. Thursday I didn’t feel too good - the heat, the sunburn, my jaw, and my fluid filled ears - all conspired against me. Jared and I spent the afternoon inside watching a X-Files marathon to get ready for the movie. Friday we spent ALL day on the beach - the last full day. Saturday we left around 10 AM - driving out of OC i got a migraine so I tried to sleep most of the car ride home - which took about 10 hours. We stopped at a few outlets and then to grab a bite to eat around Thorndale PA. We got home and unpacked - threw a load of laundry in - and went to bed. We slept in and recuperated Sunday morning - then spent the afternoon with Mara - who missed us like CRAZY! Our Second Annual Barden Family Vacation had come and gone.
I am posting the pictures from Jared’s camera first - ‘cus it is much easier than trying to organize them with mine.
Jared and I our first night on the beach.
It seems to be that moms are always in control.
Dinner on the Boardwalk - it is so nice to sit out in the fresh air and enjoy a meal with those you love.
Will someone PLEASE tell me what the deal is with these sunglasses!
Hanging out in the living room - watching a movie before bed.
OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE - Jared’s favorite place to eat - home or away.
The BEST onion we’ve ever seen.
Mom and dad enjoying the sun …
Trying to get a picture of all of us together …
Dinner at Seacrets - mom and dad’s favorite place to eat in OC MD.
Thrasher’s fries - a MUST HAVE on the Boardwalk.
Please note the AWESOME tan on half my forehead. It was all over my head - but the peeling began.
My AWESOME tan gave way to slight tan underneath - but I have learned that I need to actually wear an SPF now.
So - I have mentioned it before but I will say it again - I have the BEST family ever. My family, friends, and church family have blessed me with their love and kindness. I have a TMJ Relief Fund - thanks for the name to Jessica (my sister-in-law) - that people have been contributing to. I am amazed and so humbled by what people have given me thus far. I am not only talking about monetary gifts - but prayers and kind words. As an update for all of you who keep up with what is going on in the region of my TMJ life - I had my second appt. yesterday with Dr. Robinson. He hooked me up to a TENS unit - an electrical stimulation device - to help relax my muscles - for about 70 minutes. He then took molds of my bite to send out to make the device that I will wear all along my bottom teeth. August 19th is the appt. where I will be hooked up to the TENS for about 45 minutes and then have the device fitted and in place! I can hardly wait. I will have trouble speaking for the first few weeks - or so I am told - but I am willing to sacrifice that to feel better. I sometimes get overwhelmed when I think of the life that I will be living in a few months - God willing. I have the calmest peace about this device - I truly believe that THIS is what God has in store for me - for us. Again - thank you to all of you who have given or are giving of your time and money to help me in this endeavor. I cannot even express to you in words what it means to me to know that I am in your prayers and that you are willing to help me in this purchase. I would love to make a little graph on the side of my blog that shows how much I need and where I am in that goal - but I don’t know how.THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU.