Hellooooo, November!!!!! This month, I am *so* thankful for my family and job that allows me to have a little bit of free time. A couple weeks ago, I went on a road trip to visit some of my favorite people in the whole wide world. Convenient, though, that they all live in the Dakotas… :-)

1. Coffea with my BFF, Jill!! Okay, so I was *really* excited about my Charlie Brown latte art and catching up with Jill, that I forgot to take a picture of the both of us. Next time, friend, I promise. :-)

2. Isaac – my younger nephew is a fan of hula hooping. It’s so much fun to watch him try over and over again until he gets a good spin (which he frequently does).

3. Jonas – my older nephew would be happy to read and play video games all day long.

4. My mom – I spent most of my road trip vacation with her, and here she is showing off a recent quilt she made.We spent hours upon hours visiting (until her Masterpiece Theater show was on and I had to be quiet), we baked numerous cupcakes, we shopped for fabric + antiques, we spent 10 hours together in a car and created stories that ‘you just had to be there’ for them to come across as funny on the internet.

Also, not pictured in my fun-filled road trip vacation were my husband, his parents + sister, my brother (who was totally surprised by our arrival for his birthday) and sister-in-law, my cousin and his wife and their little lentil (due April 2014) in Bismarck, and my aunt and uncle from Dickinson!

Fall finally showed it’s colors *just* in time for Pete + Angi’s wedding!!! It was a gorgeous day full of sunshine, smiles, and happy tears. But first things first… let me introduce you to my new friend, Jimmy Choo. :-)

I know it isn’t the easiest way to get into a wedding dress, but I think ‘up and over’ is my favorite to photograph. ;-)

This, my friends, is why I LOVE first looks – pure, happy, candid moments.

Angi also had a first look with her father and it was *so* sweet. I may have gotten the back of my camera a little bit teary…

While it’s my goal to get to know my couples during their engagement session (as well as take some pretty pictures), I love it when their ceremonies include personal stories that help everyone get to know them better as a couple – and cause a few giggles. :-)

Pete + Angi – Thank you so much for choosing me to be your wedding photographer! I truly enjoyed getting to know you and spending your wedding day with you. You are both such wonderfully fun people and I wish you all the happiness in the world! :-)

This past month has been busy with weddings, engagement sessions, and one, giant snowstorm. So this month I was more ‘thankful for everyday blessings’ than ‘loving the latest chocolate bar or nail polish I found.’ Although, I am super excited for all my favorite TV shows that are back on the air – Parenthood, Modern Family, New Girl, The Mindy Project… :-)

– Electricity. During the snowstorm, we lost power for a little over 24 hours and were snowed in for almost 4 days. I never realized how warmth and hot food makes me a happier person. But it was fun to ‘camp’ in our house – heating soup over a propane space heater, spending time together talking (and shoveling snow), and going to bed when the sun went down.

– Sunsets. With the change of seasons, the sun no longer sets behind our neighbor’s house. Instead, we get to see it set over Rapid City. The above photo is the view from our front porch.

– Fall. And everything that comes with it – the cozy clothes, baking to warm up the house, and especially the beautiful colors of the changing leaves.

In the midst of our cold + wet fall we’re having here in the Black Hills, clouds parted and the sun shone down on James + Katie for their wedding day in Deadwood… and it made for the most b-e-a-utiful images. Pinterest, eat your heart out. ;-)

Look at these two – so excited to see each other and get married!!! :-)

Can you say *major hotties!?*

For the past few months, these two bikes have taken over James + Katie’s lives, and I think Nahla may have gotten a little bit jealous. :-)

But don’t worry, sweetie – mommy loves you!

I love me a sweet father-daughter moment!

James + Katie – I was so honored to be your wedding photographer! What a wonderfu/gorgeous/happy day it was!!

Matt + Kate were one of those brave couples last weekend who wouldn’t let a snowstorm/blizzard/snowpocalypse stop them from getting married! (For those of you unfamiliar with the outrageous storm we had in the Black Hills last weekend – 2-5 feet of snow blew in to the hills on 50+mph wind gusts and left many people stranded and without power for days. Not the kind of weather anyone plans to get married in.)

But no amount of snow + wind + power outages was going to keep Matt + Kate from exchanging vows and having a small reception with their friends + family who had gotten to town well before the storm started. I imagine it was a beautifully intimate ceremony and fun evening all around!

However, with most roads being closed in the hills, Matt’s parents and I, among many other guests, were unable to attend Matt + Kate’s ‘winter wonderland wedding.’ So on Monday, as soon as I was plowed out of my neighborhood, I called these two lovebirds and we set up a ‘just married’ session up in Deadwood. And what a treat that Matt’s parents stayed an extra day to be a part of the ‘reenactment.’ :-)

I wanted to re-create a part of their ceremony, so I had them face each other as if they were exchanging vows and I told them to think back on that special night they got married. Just then, Matt pulls his vows out of the pocket of his jacket. :-)

Matt + Kate – Thanks again for allowing me to come photograph you in your wedding attire! I think it is so beautiful that after two years of planning your wedding, the most important detail of the day was that you two became husband and wife!! Congratulations again, and hugs to you both! I know you will have the happiest of ever afters!