I’m going to go blog crazy for the next few weeks (it’s actually a medical condition for which there is no treatment) and post a bunch of stuff. I’m going to post some pictures from our first camping trip of the season which we took a few weeks ago. We went to our old camping spot near Red Feather Lakes outside of Fort Collins. In college we went camping there twice a year and on one trip brought 25 people. This trip wasn’t that big but we did have a great time and here’s a few images…

The weather was great but we still needed firewood. So we started by collecting trees (no trees were harmed in the making of this picture.)

Then we had to saw the trees. And the best way to do that is by making very strange faces.

Then we had to burn the wood.

Betty was waiting anxiously for her hot dogs and brats.

Greg being Greg…

Rob brought us some firewood (which was much easier than collecting it ourselves) and man can he make a huge roaring fire.

Jess creating a beautiful portrait of me. That’s photographer talk for Jess taking a really funny picture of me.

A beautiful picture of my beautiful wife.

Jess and Betty…enough said.

Another beautiful picture of my beautiful wife.

Me, Jess and Betty…enough said.

Greg again being Greg…the hat, the coveralls, the shovel…it just fits.

We photograpehd Briana and Dave’s amazing wedding yesterday at the Boettcher Mansion…there are so many more pictures to come including some of the funniest bridal party pictures. But in the meantime here’s a few of our favorites…

I just wanted to wish every dad a happy fathers day today. For those that know me you know how important my relationship with my dad is. I have an amazing relationship and friendship with my dad…it’s one that I think is pretty unique and something I cherish every single day. My dad (and my mom) is my only true hero. He’s someone I respect, admire and look up to. He’s taught (and continues to teach) me so much over the years and I’m thankful for every moment I have with him. My dad and I spend a lot (too much if you ask Jess and my mom) of time hunting and backpacking in the fall, something we’ve done for the last 20 years and it’s always my favorite time of year. Here’s a few pictures from one of our hunting trips last year…

Thanks dad for everything you’ve done for me over the years.

I love weddings where the bride and groom can’t stop smiling…I love weddings where the bride and groom both cry…I love weddings where the bride and groom keep giving each other “that look” all day long…I love weddings where the groom’s dad is his best man…I love weddings where the bride’s dad gives a heartfelt toast…I love weddings where God, faith and love are the centerpieces…I love weddings that are perfect…this is why I loved Emily and Paul’s wedding…it was amazing and incredible…they were by each others side all night…they are perfect for each other…they both wrote their own vows…they made each other cry…they love and care for each other…they are completely committed to one another and are ready to start their life together…thanks for letting us take part in such a magical, emotional and perfect day…

Great moment between Emily and her bridesmaids

WOW! Gorgeous!

I love when the groom cries.

This is my new favorite image that Jessica captured.

We had amazing light and Emily and Paul allowed us to capture some amazing images.

I love how she’s looking at him here.

I love how he’s looking at her here.

I love how she’s looking at him here…

and here…

and here…

Today is our 4th anniversary and it’s so amazing to look back on our life together and see how much we’ve grown and matured as a couple. What I think is so incredible is that every single day we’ve grown a little closer together and our marriage has been strengthened. There hasn’t been a time when things regressed or got worse (sure we’ve had challenges) our life together has only been made better by spending more time together. There isn’t a day that I don’t thank God for bringing us together and giving us the opportunity to live this life. I have no idea what the future holds for us or even what we’ll be doing in the next few months or years…but one thing I know for certain is that Jessica and I will always be with each other as partners in our life together.

Marriage is such an interesting institution because you are committing to spending your entire life with one person…and in some cases that can be 50, 60 or even 70 years together. What is so amazing is how the great couples keep growing together all that time. They persevere through life, the ups and downs, the good and bad, no matter what, they are constantly loving each other, committing to each other and becoming a better couple. And that to me is the true gift of me and Jessica…that together we are better than if we were apart…that with each other we become our truest selves…together we can accomplish anything that God gives to us…our goal in life is to continue building our relationship and to hopefully be an example to others.

We aren’t perfect and we have a (long) ways to go before we get to 50 years (or even 10 years) but the challenge is exciting to us. The chance to be together everyday gives us hope and faith in ourselves and our abilities to accmplish anything.

Jessica is an amazing person and I am a better man for having in her my life. So thank you honey for being an inspiration, a friend and the most amazing wife that I could have asked for.

Now here’s Jessica’s thoughts on our 4th anniversary…(in her own words.)

I remember the day we met. From the first conversation I knew that you were someone special. You were never intimidated by me, instead you accepted my every strength and flaw. You saw ME…not the me that most people saw, but a deeper version of myself that I didn’t even know existed. You saw me before I even knew myself.

I remember our first kiss – like a thousand butterflies swarming in my stomach. I still get those same butterflies today. I remember our first date – I was so nervous the entire way up to Denver. Little did I know I would meet my future in-laws! I firmly believe that one’s family plays an incredibly important role in the creation of a well-rounded person. Your family is amazing. Your parents are wonderful role-models of unmatched patience and unselfish, everlasting love. Your sisters have become the little sisters I never had. I cannot wait to see them interact with our children. (Don’t get too excited guys…we’re not quite there yet.)

I love the way you get along with my family as well. From making all of them laugh with your stories and never-ending humor – to being the crazy, lovable Uncle Andrew to our two amazing nephews…you have seamlessly entered my family.

I knew you were the one for me…my partner, my better-half and the love of my life very early in our relationship. Having lost my mother to cancer only 7 months before we met – I was wandering through life numb. I have very few memories of those 7 months – then I met you and life became so much more beautiful and alive than I ever remembered. You came into my life at the very moment that I needed someone the most, and for that I am eternally grateful.

The past 7 years have been amazing – and the last 4 years have been nothing but marital bliss. Thank you for supporting me through all of the ups and downs. I am incredibly excited about what the future holds for us. I know that no matter what comes our way, we will attack it with the same persistence and tenacity that we always have – working together as partners. I love you more with each passing day – more than I did 4 years ago today when we got married. You have my heart and soul – you have all of me – today – and everyday.

XOXO – Jess

Jessica is now officially “retired” from teaching and we are ready to start a new journey in our relationship and life. This wasn’t a decision that we made lightly…there was a lot of discussion and talking and praying to help us make this decision. Are we scared, are we nervous, are we excited? Yes. Are we crazy? Absolutely! There have been moments when we thought about changing our decision and just sticking with the “status quo.” But we’ve known this is the right decision so we’re sticking to it.

The bottom line is that while teaching Jessica was overworked, stressed, unhappy and didn’t have time to do anything for herself. Doesn’t sound like the best way to live your life. As she said a few nights ago she’s excited about “us, being us.” We’re both excited about having more time together, more time to build our business, work on other projects and continue to strengthen our relationship and marriage.

Yes we’re scared but we don’t want fear to cloud our judgment or allow fear to make our decisions. Are we giving up a steady paycheck every month and health insurance? Yes. But when looking at the big picture of life those things are trivial. What’s important is being happy and healthy because that’s what allows us to work on the important things. When we as a couple are growing and getting stronger we are more able to create change and in turn help others.

I see so many people on a daily basis that look or act unhappy. They complain about their jobs or their life or their house or their marriage or whatever…and we never want to be those people. We never want to wait and let life happen. We don’t want fear and money to dictate our decisions and our lives.

There will always be excuses to not do something, or wait until times are better or wait until everything is perfect. But the timing is never right, the circumstances are never perfect and if you keep waiting…you will wait your entire life. There is no better time than the present to make the change in your life that you want.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and leave us a comment. We are excited to share this journey with everyone, the ups and downs, the successes and failures, the mistakes and the good decisions. We have two great weddings to share so stay tuned for those.

I’ve been attending the Sustainability Series which is a networking group that brings in businesses to talk about how they are utilizing sustainability. It’s an awesome group and they’ve had some very interesting businesses and organizations come to present. The meetings are the first Tuesday of every month (that’s this Tuesday June 2nd) at The Wynkoop Brewery. This month New Belgium Brewery will be coming to talk about how they use sustainability as a core principle in their business. If you’re free on Tuesday night I would highly recommend coming downtown to The Wynkoop and checking out the group. I’ll be there and who knows maybe we can get some dinner together when it’s over.

6 weeks ago my grandmother fell and broke her hip. She had surgery, recovered quickly, started physical therapy and left the hospital early. Then last week she went back to the doctor to discover that she’d broken (her same hip) again. She had surgery again and it went very well. For an 85 year old woman she’s incredibly healthy and I think a lifetime of drinking milk and eating fruits and vegetables has helped her recover faster. She’s still in the hospital but is recovering quickly and will hopefully be going back home soon.

My grandpa has been by her side every single day for the last 6 weeks (and they’ve been by each others sides for 60 years.) Grandpa is slowing down and needs grandma to remind him when to take his medication; but both of them are amazingly sharp and have lived an amazing life together. They are entering a new phase of their relationship and life…grandma is going to need a lot more help. She is a typical woman from her generation…homemaker, laundry doer, breakfast lunch and dinner maker, caretaker to her husband and family…she’s an amazing wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. They are an amazing couple and they are such a wonderful example of what true love is. Love that lasts 60 years.

True love are the tears they shared right before grandma went into surgery. True love is the big hug and kiss they give each other everyday when someone from our family brings grandpa to the hospital. True love is helping grandma get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. True love is grandpa putting the fabric softener in the wrong place and grandma having to yell at him (no doubt a very funny exchange.) True love is grandma telling grandpa to call her if he needs anything (she said this from her hospital bed as if she’d be able to leave the hospital in an instant to help him.) True love is being by her side everyday and not complaining, eating hospital food instead of grandma’s home-cooking and doing it because he loves her and will do anything for her. True love is what they’ve shown each other everyday for 60 years, true love is a relationship that gets stronger and grows even after a lifetime together.

It is so amazing to watch them interact and see how they truly care and love each other. Their love is an example for everyone around them and whether or not they believe it they are wonderful role models. I don’t know what the future holds for them but I know that they love each other and that they will always be there for one another.

We are photographing Briana and David’s wedding in a few weeks and can’t wait. Briana writes a weekly post for the Elizabeth Anne Designs Blog and she’s been documenting her wedding planning process. She wrote an entry this week about us and it was so great to see some of our work on the blog. We love working with brides and grooms who are genuinely excited about their wedding day and who enjoy adding their own personal touches. We can’t wait for their wedding in a few weeks and I’m even more excited to share some of their images.

I’ve got a very important post coming in the next few days…it’s going to be titled “The most important thing I’ve ever written.” So make sure to watch for that.