what we've been up to...

I apologize for the lack of posts lately. Sticky and I have been incredibly busy the last couple of weeks. It has been fun, just a little crazy. We want to thank everyone for the awesome feedback and support that we have received on our ventures in wedding photography this season. I had so many goals set at the beginning of the season and I really do not think I would be as motivated as I have been without the loving response from everyone. I truly feel blessed to do what I love so much for a living and to be able to share some of that with Sticky is the best! We have lots more weddings to shoot this year yet (and already getting pretty booked up for next year, YEAH!) - I just wanted to pause and say Thank You to everyone!

Enough about us because we have a couple belated CONGRATULATIONS to go out! My cousin, Kyle, and his beautiful lady friend, Tiff, are getting married!!! Yeah! The big date is June 2 (we are lucky enough to be open that date and we get to shoot it) and they are getting married in the church right across the street from our house! Can anyone say pre-party??!! Kyle is such a great guy! He has the biggest heart and the kind of laugh that is just infectious! As far as Tiff I have pretty much loved her from the day I met her. We met at a wedding that Kyle was in and I offered to give her a ride from the church to reception. Well, about 5 seconds after we got in the car we looked to the right and saw another car hastingly backing up directly into us! We had nowhere to go and the look on her face was priceless (mostly because it was coming right towards her)! Luckily the car stopped right before we would have been hit! I think that when you go through even a tiny little incident like that with someone it helps you to get to know them a lot faster. I am so happy for the two of them - can't wait for that wedding. June 2007 is going to be such a great month with my cousin getting married and Stick's cousin Ed getting married as well. We are very lucky!

And we have another congratulations going out to Jay, Kiley, Tay, and Jayden Huelsman - they are adding another addition to their family!!! The date is Feb 23 (hmmm...isn't there something else happening that day?). We are so happy for you guys! And obviously you all will be missed so much at the wedding - it is still hard to believe that you guys won't be there! You will definitely be in our thoughts (you know, while I am walking down the aisle and all) and we will be so excited to get back home to see the new little Huelsman! An by the way Tay, Austin is pretty bummed out that his favorite girl won't be there! Congratulations Huelsman's!!

We also want to send out a quick congrats to Sticky's cousin Boone. He is now the HEAD CHEF at The Grill in New Bremen! You can read more about it on Ed and Amanda's blog! We actually got to catch up with Boone and his girl Jackie last weekend. It is always so great to see the two of them.

As for the pics they are just a couple from our quick trip to Chicago a couple of weeks ago. My friend Robyn was in Chi-town from Huntsville, AL for a family reunion. Sticky and I drove up on Saturday and hung out with her on the Navy Pier that night. It is always a great time in Chicago! I have not been to all the big cities in the US (someday) but Chi-town is my second favorite at this point. I must apologize for the lack of photographic quality in the pics. I just had my point and shoot and am just now playing with the firework setting which I do not have mastered yet.

Take care everyone!

austin dean.six years old

Well today is my nephew's, Austin's, 6th birthday (yes, we are getting old!)!! I really do not think that any one could hang out with this kid without having a good time. He is ALWAYS talking and ALWAYS being a complete and total CLOWN! He actually reminds me of his future Uncle Sticky a bit. As you can see Austin is a STAR BASEBALL PLAYER this summer and of course we enjoy going to every single game that we can catch! He has been so much fun to watch grow and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for him. Happy Birthday Austin!! Sticky and I cannot wait for the cake and ice cream on Friday!!

the fourth.kelley's island

Hello! Sticky and I hope that everyone had a safe and happy 4th of July! We spent the 4th strolling around Kelley's Island on our cruisers (well, Sticky's was a rental but it looked like he was born on the thing). My parents have enjoyed camping on Kelley's Island since last summer and kept telling us that we had to come up. It was everything they said and more. It has this great story book small town feel to it - like something you would see on tv and think "no one lives in a town like that". Another great thing about Kelley's is all the fun things there are to do. You can go camping, swimming, hiking, cycling, fishing, wine tasting, and lots lots more. I guess it is infamous for being a bird watchers paradise as well. The nature is great on the island - you will be riding around on your bike and all of the sudden see a deer about 3 feet from you. And while you are enjoying a game of horseshoe at the winery you may have a herd of cows as spectators. All in all it is a wonderful place. We are going back at the end of July to do some camping with my niece and nephew - CAN'T WAIT!

congratulations joe and erin

Hi Everyone! Whoa - two posts in one day! I guess we are trying to make up for our negligence! Sorry about that!

Well, here are some images from last night (and a couple from the weekend before). Stick's cousin Joe and the beautiful Erin were married. It was a fun Rammel wedding as usual. And it was also a nice little walk down memory lane for Stick and I (same reception hall where he wooed me). Of course EVERYONE wanted to make sure that we remembered that fact - but I can understand the thought of us remembering it being a little questionable. It was great to be back there - where it all started. And we are so happy for Joe and Erin! You can truly tell that the two of them are pretty smitten with each other. Congrats Guys!

First here is a couple of Sticky and I during our afternoon around Grand Lake St Marys last Sunday:






And here's some wedding photos:


Molly and her man Brian - a really nice guy, by the way.



The happy couple, Joe and Erin!



Ramers and Seth breakin' it down!!



Carl ruins a pic by being a clown, yet again!



John and Kay - so CUTE together!



Boone & Sticky



The first dance



It may be blurry but it is a funny one of Maddie and Daddy!



Uncle Sticky admiring Lexi.



Maddie is crawling!!! YEAH!!!


Boone with is beautiful and very sweet lady, Jackie.

Wednesday Doubleheader

Brandy and I had a day off on Wednesday, so we decided to cruise up to Detroit to catch a ballgame at beautiful Comerica Park. It was a smokin' nice day, especially since Justin Verlander and the Tigers blanked those loser Astros 5-0. Anybody that gets a chance to visit Comerica should do so. It is a great place to watch a game. Also, there is a good place to catch a beer and a bite called Hockeytown Cafe right across the street from the park.

On our way out of the Motor City, we thought we might stop somewhere for some vittles. Just then an idea popped into my head out of smoldering Detroit air. Why don't we call Collette and Dean, who live in Toledo, and see if the Mud Hens have a game the same night. Holy smokes, man, they did. Thus, we not only got to catch up with the Rhoades', we got to see another ballgame, too. Fifth Third Field was the scene. Mud Hens whacked the meager Charlotte Knights 7-2. What a day, what a day, I say.