we’ll be busy here the next several days, and there will tons to post later…

but for now, here’s a few from our walk with latte yesterday…yes, yesterday as in middle-of-december. sunny skies and beautiful weather. it’s still so strange to me this time of year. someone, please enjoy the snow for me. i miss it.

(i so would have trimmed her hair weeks ago, but we’re gunna see where this not cutting it thing goes this time. two french braids is where i’m headin’. maybe by her fifth birthday?)

merry almost-christmas things!

words fail me right now.

…and all i can say is thank you to some very special people in my life.

i could give you the long version, but i am certain i wouldn’t stop rambling. pages & pages.

so, the short version is this.

i met the closest thing to a sister without a blood test to prove it when i came to florida. (okay, so i’m blessed to have a few of those)

and i went on a journey with her for years as she tried to have a baby.

and while she was going through all of that, she held my hand while i pushed and breathed and brought my own into this world. and she cried happy tears for us the moment lainey was born.

one year, two in-vitros and many tears/cheers later, kelly & david had lily.

and i was there to see her born…and what a day that was.

i loved her from day one and despite ironing out a few logistics, taking care of her while her mommy went back to work was a no-brainer.

and they thank me every day…and send me letters and notes and give me praise so far above what i deserve. because watching lily & lainey is like watching my own two girls. it’s natural and it’s easy and it’s perfect.

but, tonight they went beyond.

i casually met them for dinner and after a few minutes of small talk and getting “the girls” happy and settled in our booth, the hostess walked over to our table carrying a large box and said, “this is for nanny k.”

i opened it.

and inside was a note, and it said…

(first a lot of praise i don’t even feel worthy to write on my own blog)…
but then this…
everyone says you should write a book…
now you can tell them you did.

and underneath were five hard-bound books. real books. and my pictures were on the covers…and they are titled enjoying the small things, volumes I, II, III, IV, and V.



they took my blog…every word i’ve ever written from day one to 365 days later (just a few days ago) when it celebrated its first birthday…
and all the accompanied photos…
and they had it printed. in color. and bound. hard bound with glossy covers.

and i cried. and i couldn’t find any words. and the waiter had to come back three times to take our order because i was too overwhelmed to think about food.

and i came home and could not stop touching them. reading them. inspecting them.

my books. my words. my pictures.

i feel so complete and loved and unworthy.

david, kelly & lily…i love you so.

…enjoying the friends-who-are-like-family things. ~k

…and if you’re in the naples area and didn’t get a chance to read the following post, please do…

my last card order was picked up today (now get those to the post office, leah!), and we are officially beginning christmas break (cheers!).

i think i designed fifteen cards in two weeks, but i could design cards all day. i will upload them all to the card gallery after the holidays.

again, i am so thankful for all my camera gear and software that allows me to do this, and i am excited to take this photography thing to new levels this next year.

here are a few unposted favorites from the holiday madness…

(oh, how i love this next one…)

…and can’t leave out the winners of the many holiday photo attempts of my own…

to all the families i’ve photographed this season, thank you for the opportunity. i have made wonderful friends.

and finally, in being blessed in our lives and hearing so much sadness around us, i’d like to give back.

in this economy, i know you may know someone…a single mom working more than one job struggling to make ends meet, a family who’s experienced a tragedy, a parent who volunteers selflessly despite their own hardships. you may know someone who can’t afford photography but who would cherish the gift this season. you know someone who deserves a reminder of what is most important…their kids & their family.

please e-mail me and nominate someone in the naples area. i will choose the winner (with a little objective help from family) and gift them with a free photo session and a print package. please nominate before december 22.

e-mail me your story at: kascryder@yahoo.com

oh, that feels so good.

…enjoying the giving things. ~k