Carnival

A Carnival Baby Shower for Jackie & Matt

/ Jodi / 48 Comments

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Oh what fun we had planning, preparing, and celebrating the soon-to-arrive Baby Ben with our McHendy daughter and son-in-law, Jackie & Matt.

I was designated the “official” photographer, so get ready for lots of photos.  I was so busy worrying about capturing it and so busy just enjoying it, that it is just now hitting me, after I shared the photos with Jackie (and she posted on her Facebook page), how close I am to being an “almost” grandma!

When Jackie shared the photos, she wrote:

Matt and I have always hoped we could welcome our baby boy into a community of people who will love, encourage, and support him. On Saturday, we were shown a million times over that we without a doubt have that for our baby boy, Ben. Thank you to everyone who braved the snowstorm and made it out to the shower. We are so blessed for all of you (and for all the people who couldn’t make it)! A special thanks to my mom,Jill Henderson, my mother-in-law, Carol Kallis, my future sister-in-law, Becca Cura, and my second mom, Jodi McKinney for throwing us one creative, awesome shower!!

So for the past half hour ( I am drafting this Sunday evening), I’ve been bawling happy tears and cherishing these very special moments.

I hope you enjoy viewing these photos as much as we had in creating and being a part of them.

(If you click on the first – or any one of the pics – you can scroll through the photos in full size.)

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Rompin’ around @ Cranberry Township Community Days & Fireworks

/ Jodi / 1 Comment

Cranberry Township Community Days is a big deal in our local community, and it was a fun opportunity for me to romp around a take a few pictures this past weekend.  Marty, on the other hand, is a wee-bit tired as he is tasked with assuring everything goes right with electricity for the hundreds of food and vendor booths and the variety of bands playing at the outdoor stage, as well as assuring that traffic operations cooperate with the influx of activity in the area.  It was the first year he was able to remotely coordinate the traffic lights to go into “flash mode” after the fireworks show when over 10,000 people are trying to get out of the park at the same time.  It was a great day, and here are some pics to give you a flavor of our local culture.

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loving all the locally knitted artwork on trees and this quaint bridge that crosses a small creek flowing through a part of the park

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adorable face painting and plenty of fun with bubble-blowing and catching

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Art in the Park comes in many forms

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funnel cake wantin’

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a spot for everyone

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We had the BEST Pork BBQ Sandwiches, Homemade Chips, and Coleslaw from the Cranberry Rotary Club’s booth. I so should have taken a picture, but was too busy enjoying it and forgot!

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bubbles and tattoos and popcorn and delightful precious young faces everywhere

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I’m not sure this darling little guy likes the look of that hot dog on a stick

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Momma joy and love

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this little sweetheart had the best seat in the house for the #BonJourney concert

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just wanted to pinch those sweet cheeks on this little guy enjoying his soft pretzel in the grass

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this young guy is just chillaxin’ amongst the activity all around him enjoying the concert in the park

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riding a mini ferris wheel at dusk

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Oh these sweet little ones enjoying the thrill of a three foot dip in the snake roller coaster. I love how big brother in the last seat is watching over little brother who looks completely thrilled (and a teensy bit nervous), the bravery of the one with her hands in the air, the “I’m not so sure about this” look on her seat mate, and the perfectly poised young lady with her stylish glasses smiling at her family in the front. The joys of childhood captured in a split second.

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Carpet Slide Racing

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I ADORED this knit covered bridge

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My first go at trying to capture fireworks. We were RIGHT UNDER THEM. It was a great show!

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laying on a blanket on the ground as the fireworks lit up the entire sky above us

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Another great show from #Zambelli Fireworks!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi