Anniversary... Weather...A session special...

A couple of weeks ago I celebrated my 4 year anniversary of Stephanie Antshel Photography. It has been a great four years! I have met so many wonderful families and kiddos. Thank you so much!

I would like to extend a "sale" to my clients, both new and old... take $25 off a spring session. Email me for details and availability.

I don't know about you, but this weather is really getting me down. I hope many of you take advantage of the sale and we book dates that are more uplifting, spring-like and beautiful!!! Let's get this nasty cold/dreary skies out of here!!!!!!!!

My list.

Okay... here we are in the middle of April. A new season has recently started and slowly (not sure about surely, but slowly...) we're heading toward nice weather. Friends and neighbors are coming out of hibernation and the grass is indeed turning greener. 

At the turn of the new year I decided to make a list of things I wanted to accomplish, do, focus on, "fix", finish, start, etc...  I enjoyed listing my goals and it seems to have made me more aware of what I'm doing and where I'm going.  I've crossed off the items that I've accomplished. I've made good progress on some of the on-going items and have definitely already failed at a few (flossing regularly, cleaning the inside of the car weekly)!!! I'm excited to see what will happen the next few months... 

111 Things to Do in 2011

1.         exercise more  --started dec 31^st  - going strong

2.         paint addie’s room

3.         paint jack’s room

4.         re-do master bathroom

5.         finish the pond project

6.         re do garden around the pond

7.         make a 2010 picture book of our family  (ordered jan5th)

8.         floss regularly

9.         clean the car (inside) once a week

10.  clean out my closet

11.   clean the linen closet

12.   lose 5-10 pounds (UGH Why is this so hard?)

13.   organize the junk drawer

14.   write letters to long distance friends

15.   call friends more often (long distance friends)

16.   compost

17.   plant at least two veggie seeds

18.   plant dahlias

19.   go away for a weekend with Kevin

20.  meet Baby Andrew

21.   take a photography class or workshop

22.   buy an iPad

23.   take the kids to Strong Museum

24.   paint the hallway trim

25.   make a meal for someone jan11, msgrs

26.   get a massage

27.   take Addie to get a manicure with kate jan 28

28.   pray more

29.   have coffee in the garden

30.  have a glass of wine in the garden

31.   send actual birthday cards to family and friends

32.   go to the beach

33.   see a live band/concert

34.   organize photo albums

35.   get up early and take a walk

36.   organize/help organize the block party

37.   run 6 miles 7.1 feb 16!

38.   take a long bike ride

39.   bike ride with the kids on the Erie Canal path

40.  take the kids to have lunch with daddy at work

41.   buy organic produce at the Farmer’s market

42.   buy a new bathing suit

43.   clean the windows

44.   fix the front door

45.   touch up the cottage room floor

46.   paint the door in the back room

47.   have lunch with the kids at school

48.   spend some time volunteering

49.   soak up the sun

50.  make fresh lemonade

51.   make a fun summer cocktail

52.   have a party in the summer

53.   throw a fabulous holiday party

54.   dine al fresco

55.   switch to gmail officially

56.   buy more local products

57.   support small businesses

58.   learn how to make dvd slideshows on the mac

59.   make birthday picture slide show for jack’s 6^th b-day

60.  make a birthday picture slide show for addie’s 8^th b-day

61.   use reusable bags more often at the store

62.   walk and bike the kids to school

63.   make a new playlist for exercise

64.   go shopping in Rochester

65.   pick apples

66.   pick strawberries

67.   make a real Lenten sacrifice (failed miserably)

68.   keep exercise journal/calendar     (started jan 2011)

69.   go to Green Lakes for a winter hike

70.  go golfing

71.   try a new restaurant la cocina

72.   take a daytrip to somewhere we haven’t been in CNY

73.   get a new website

74.   send camera in for cleaning/maintenance (sent jan 5^th)

75.   organize Jack’s closet

76.   order two canvases that I have “on hold” ordered one jan 18

77.   clean out my wallet

78.   clean out my purse

79.   drink more water

80.  keep my “piles “of papers under control

81.   take the kids to a movie (Tangled, -- keep this ongoing, though)

82.   clean out addie’s closet excellent progress jan 18

83.   have an Elm St. parents night out this winter pappa gallo jan8th

84.   list unwanted items on eBay/Craigslist

85.   plant zinnias

86.   put extra $ into kids’ 529 plans

87.   clean PC files

88.   hook up wireless printer

89.   attend 20 year high school reunion

90.  go to the Thousand Islands

91.   run 10 miles

92.   make a new recipe in at least 4 of my cookbooks

93.   organize pots and pans

94.   go out to a diner for breakfast

95.   clean out my socks and undies

96.   help Jack work a hard puzzle

97.   turn the music up loud and clean

98.   buy a new workout outfit

99.  organize the kid’s artwork

100.   go the The Nutcracker

101.    go to Beaufort

102.    have an ordinary dinner with the fine china

103.    open the windows on the first warm day of late winter

104.    get a down comforter for Jack’s bed

105.    get a correct size hockey stick for Jack (Kevin cut his down his stick jan5th – now just need right handed stick)

106.   use the clinique potion consistently for 4 weeks that claims to minimize sun spots in 4 weeks didn’t work!started jan 1st

107.    get blinds for addie and jack’s room

108.    use the food that is in the cupboard

109.   use teeth whitener

110.   find the cords to the video recorder

111.    let people know how much they mean to me

A new baby.

I was so happy to travel to Ithaca to meet the younger brother of the world's most fashionable girl. I first met this wonderful family in 2009 when little (now big) sister was 18 months-ish. I am happy to hear that her most favorite part of being a big sister is dressing her baby brother. Of course.

mama love

had to include this one... i LOVE it.

big big boy

A is SUCH a great big sister... love her little guy!

Thank you so much for having me over to see your beautiful family. Great way to spend the morning.

It is good to be (almost) one.

When I went to this cutie's house on Monday it was snowing. Yes, snowing.  In April. Of course... that is what we have come to expect living in CNY.
I am happy to report that as I write this blog post the sun is shining brightly in an almost cloudless sky. The temperatures have warmed up suggesting that the end of winter (even though it is spring already) is here (or near??!). I have hope!

But, onto more important topics such as this C.U.T.I.E.

I can't get enough of this image. Love his expression!

I want to squeeze him he's so cute!

Thank you so much for a fun session. Happy Birthday month to the cute little guy!! 

Sweet William

I love it when clients appreciate my work so much that they gift it to one of their friends. It is one of the highest forms of flattery for this business in my opinion. So, when one of my clients asked if I would photograph the baptism of her friend's new son, of course I said yes!

Baptisms are very special in my mind. I love the ceremony and the prayers that are said - especially when the parents are blessed. I love the anticipation of the water being poured on the baby's head - everyone is always curious as to the baby's reaction. Young children are always in awe when watching a baptism. And, I especially love the relationship that is formed between God and the baby. 

Sweet baby William had a great baptism. He slept through most of it! After the ceremony at church, a fun and very festive party took place at L'Adour restaurant. I truly enjoyed being a part of the special day.

sweetness!

adoring mom and dad

Father blessing the parents

Now it is time to celebrate! Shots, anyone??!! Love the happiness on these two faces!

Grandma enjoys a quiet snuggle with the sweet baby boy.

I love this image.

Don't you wish he didn't wipe off the mustache. SO glad I was at the right spot at the right time for this! Love it!

Thank you so much for allowing me to celebrate your day with you.
Many blessings!!

Three

 A special family welcomed a new baby girl into their lives just over a week ago. I was thrilled to be able to meet her and her super cute, super silly brother and sister.

Speaking of super silly sister... our session day just happened to a special day for her  - her birthday!!! Doesn't she look so happy to be turning 2?! I love how her hair looks a little crazy in this picture - she certainly was a nut. I'm still laughing about a very funny incident that happened while I was there... I'm sure Mom is still laughing, too!

Doting brother. Apparently he is already such a great big brother. Such a sweetheart!

I love yawning babies! It is so quintessentially "newborn." 

I love this one of Baby A taking a snooze.

And, here they are... not sure of what the other is doing, but they are lovin' it (in the words of my daughter who is helping me type this blog post!)

So, thank you, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your family during this great time. Enjoy your beautiful children every day!

Baby Stella

Mom and Dad have a special little love gesture -- I'm sure Stella will grow to love it, too!!

Sometimes you just have to cry along with the baby!!!

She is so loved!

Curious about the world. already. Love her polka dots with her star blanket. Too cute!

I was so excited to meet this little girl who was welcomed into the world about a month ago by her adoring parents. Mom and Dad and I had fun at the maternity session and I enjoyed visiting with them again. So easy going and ready for life with Stella!! She's absolutely perfect - enjoy every minute with her. It is amazing how quickly they grow. Thank you so much for inviting me to share your joy!

Up to...

I have been enjoying a much slower pace of photography sessions the past few weeks and been doing so many things around the house. Here are some things we've been up to.

**Painting. Addie's room. Mom and Dad's room (and trim), Jack's room (and trim) AND downstairs hallway trim. Whew! I'm about finished with paint! I figure I'm trying to get all of the inside house stuff done before the weather turns nice and I will be beckoned outside to work in the garden.

**Skating. The kids LOVED going to the pond to skate this winter... Jack got to be quite the little hockey player.

**Visiting family. We took a few days to visit our new baby cousin, Andrew, in Ohio. We were lucky to be able to attend his baptism and Addie was THRILLED to be an altar server for the special occasion. 

**Award. Addie was one of three kiddos chosen in her school to receive a "giraffe" award for "Responsibility!" So proud of her.

I've also been tackling my 2011 list of things to do and will update you on my progress in the next week or so!!
And... I have been working on some business things. Will post about that in the next week, too. Looking forward to meeting Baby Stella this coming week and Baby Issac soon, too!!

Cheers!