Hi there! I’m so excited to catch up with you!

What I’ve Been Up To:

Right now, I’m about 75% through the busiest push of the year. September included 4 weddings and two gorgeous engagement sessions. I still have mini sessions and two more weddings before I close out my season.

I’ve had long coverage days, sometimes up to twelve hours at a time. Lots of editing. And recently, even issues with my contact form on my website that definitely lead to a crash out. School started for my son, which means that I’m now back to homeschooling three days a week (we do a university model school, so we have a unique setup). I can’t even pretend that I’m not tired.

Yet life is so sweet right now. Even though I need to reset my bedtime, and I will certainly need to prioritize rest and routine once my weddings slow down, I can’t help but be grateful.

In between massive rain storms, we’ve had perfect, New England weather. I got to see the Jonas Brothers with Dillon. I would say I was embarrassed about my (lack of) dance moves, but looking around at the concert, I’ve determined that I just dance like a Jonas Brothers fan. What we lack in skill we make up with crazed enthusiasm. My kids and I shared fun farm days picking berries and petting animals. We had a great time at Lake Winnipesaukee for our church retreat.

Fall/pumpkin spice season is one of the best times of the year, and I’m grateful that we fully embrace it. Whether it’s being outside with friends and family or capturing love stories, I’ve been soaking up all this time of year has to offer.

Definitely keep an eye on my journal over the next few months; the photos are all amazing!

What I’ve Been Reading

The morning of typing out this personal update, I just finished Emily’s Quest by L. M. Montgomery. Normally for the updates I’m only pages in to a book, so I offer very little commentary. I guess it’s time to switch things up!

Anne will most likely always be my favorite Montgomery heroine, but I’ve decided to double check.

Since the summer, I’ve been making my way through her catalog. I read the entire Anne series, including the spin off short story collections. Then I read the standalone novel, The Blue Castle, which is a definite hit. And then I started Emily’s series.

Whereas Anne holds on to a sweetness and camaraderie with her closest friends that is admirable in light of her dark childhood years, Emily broods. Emily still sees the beauty in life, but she’s quieter, more pensive, and plenty saucy while still being kind at the core.

I liked the first two Emily books well enough, but they weren’t my favorite. I can’t see myself re-reading them. But Emily’s Quest? That book put me through the emotional wringer.

There are two pivotal moments in the story that just make you want to scream in frustration. There are some well deserved victories for Emily that build from book one, so the payoff is extra sweet. Emily suffers brutally, and her final installment invites you to feel all the things with her.

Emily’s story is so much heavier than Anne’s. You constantly ask yourself why she goes through what she does. I think Emily’s Quest was the perfect final installment, and when I want to visit with Emily again, I know I’ll re-read book three. There must be something special about Mongtomery’s third book in a series; Anne of the Island is also the third and my favorite out of all 8 of the Green Gables set.

I think it’s worth reading the series for the payoff of Emily’s Quest. Also, I need someone to freak out with. Thanks in advance!

What I’ve Been Watching

It’s been so much Big Brother. Too much Big Brother! But the season ends this week, so I’ve almost made it.

Despite feeling overwhelmed with the amount of tv episodes, I am actually loving this season. It’s the first new era season I can remember enjoying the whole way through. The cast was exceptional and crazy this year!

It was the first time in ages that I truly don’t care who wins because I believe that from the final 5 on they all deserved it.

I’m looking forward to a break from 3-4 episodes a week. Big Brother is definitely a show I can only handle once a year. But this season was actually great.

What I’m Excited About:

My favorite monthly ritual! If you don’t look ahead and get excited about your month, I recommend trying it!

-My mini sessions! I always love seeing returning clients! And it’s even better when I get to see their tiny humans that didn’t exist when I met them. It truly reminds me of why I work these crazy hours at weddings. Each family’s story is truly amazing, and it’s an honor to be invited back into their lives time and time again.

-A Waverly Oaks wedding for the sweetest, most chill couple ever. They have the cutest story, and I can’t wait to share it all with you!

-A mix of a Cape Cod beach wedding with an intimate ceremony and a brewery reception the next day. This couple is also so sweet and chill. It’s going to be an amazing October!

-Attending a wedding as guests! I will be eating all of the appetizers. This is the only thing I feel like I miss out on as a wedding photographer.

-A weekend off to read and just relax. Dillon and I have been brainstorming a solo trip for me to take, but I couldn’t land on exactly what I wanted. Because what I really want is a weekend to just rest, eat all of my favorite takeout, take a bath, and read in my own bed. A hotel bed with a questionably clean duvet just won’t do it for me. So I’m going to stay home, do exactly what I hope for, while Dillon is off being dad of the year to our kids. This is exactly what I’ll need once my season wraps!

Until next time,

Christine