Eli

Eli was my cute little model while I set up some lighting to shoot Ryan and Ginger's engagement photos. He's usually pretty shy around me, but enjoyed hamming it up for the camera.

Oh, Christmas Tree

Stephen and I had a lovely time decorating our Christmas tree on Tuesday night.  Even though the Christmas tree stand broke, we were able to rig something up to make it sturdy. 

Or so we thought!  Wednesday night it came crashing down!  Luckily only a few of the ornaments broke...only my favorite ones of course.  This was taken after everything was mostly cleaned up.

Here is the before and after of an ornament Stephen made for me on our first Christmas together.  We'll still hang it on the tree of course; now there is another story to go along with it.

This one's for you

We get lots of really great light in our apartment at all different times of day.  This was at about 4:35 pm today.  The afternoon sun perfectly illuminates solitary objects in the apartment depending on the window it shines in.  Today, an empty case of Coors.  Isn't it lovely.  Stephen has been drinking just regular Coors lately.  This picture reminds of one my good friend, Keith, would take for some reason.  Maybe it's the light, or the composition...I'm not sure.  But Keith, this one's for you.  

Stephen...

...at the Black River.

...on a log.

...deep in thought.

Halloween!

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween!  Stephen and I had a really fun night with all of our Port Huron friends.  We participated in something called a Witch Hunt where our friend and upstairs neighbor, Matt, had to dress up like a witch and run around town to different bars while the rest of us, in teams of three and four, had to try and find him.  There were a lot of other rules involved which basically involved drinking beers and drinking more beers.  It was great!

Everyone dressed up, which was one of the rules, but it also made it really fun!  Here are mine and Stephen's costumes.  Stephen was blood spatter specialist/serial killer extraordinar Dexter Morgan, from the Shotime series Dexter.  I was a beehive, an idea I got from Martha Stewart, duh.  I set up a photo booth in my apartment and took pics of everyone who participated.  You can see them here!

Fun Fall Weekend

Stephen and I had a pretty fun filled weekend.  Here are some pictures.

Friday we went to see one of our all time favorite bands ever of all time...Wilco.  They were awesome!  Actually, they were better than awesome.  I'm really glad that we went because Stephen has been wanting to see them in concert since as long as I've known him.  The show was at the Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor which is where my sisters graduation from the U of M school of ed was.

Here we are waiting for the show to start.

That's Wilco.  A horrible pic, but you can kind of make out Jeff Tweedy in the middle in the black pants.  Did I mention they were awesome?

Stephen enjoying some Sangria at a delicious cuban restaurant in Ann Arbor.  We had these delicious pork tacos as an appetizer that had carmelized onions and pineapple on them.  Yum!  I also had a really delicious margarita...one only to be rivaled by the ones served at Agave in Newburyport.  

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On Saturday we went to the Michigan v. Delaware St. game.  I really did feel bad for Delaware St.  I mean, they essentially got paid $500,000 to show up and lose.  At least they were on time though.  When U of M paid Bill Clinton $500,000 to speak and my sister commencement he was 45 minutes late.  Classy.

The Big House.  This game set the record for lowest attendance ever.  Sad.  

My dad and I tailgating before the game.  It was actually really cold that morning.  Not the best tailgating weather, but we made the most of it.

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Sunday was a beautiful day.  Stephen and I took a bike ride around my old neighborhood.  

A park that I used to play at a lot as a kid.

My parents house.

We play a lot of games at our house.  Rack-o is a family favorite, even if my dad almost always wins, and then brags about it.  Here is the champ shuffling the Rack-o deck.

We also checked out the Detroit Marathon.  It was really fun.  

Here is one of my best friends, Liz.  She was in our wedding.  Sorry this is so out of focus...I was running along next to her so we could chat for a second.  She ran the half marathon and her husband, Josh, ran the marathon.  They are awesome!  

On a weird side note, I know the person who won the Marathon, I went to high school with him.  And I know the guy who won the Half Marathon, his twin brother used to date my friend Heather.  What are the odds that out of 19,000 people I would know both of the winners.  Crazy.

Anyway, it was a fuuuun weekend.  

Wine Making

Last Christmas Stephen and I gave our parents gift certificates to have wine made at a local wine making place here in PH.  A few weekends ago our parents finally came down for the wine tasting and purchasing.  We got to taste about 15 different wines.  It was so much fun having someone explain to you the differences in the wine and why you might like some more than others.  

I still usually prefer dry whites, but there were two or three reds that I loooved too.

All the parents involved purchased some delicious wines which I can not wait to taste in the near future.  

Garbage Dweller

The other morning Stephen went to go throw away some trash and this guy started hissing at him.  He must have fallen off the porch into the empty trash can full of stinky rain water and garbage juice (GROSS.)  Stephen rescued the little guy by tipping the garbage can over.  

Clare

This past weekend we went to Clare and Farwell for some good times.  We watched a lot of football and just generally relaxed.  Saturday we took a nice, long walk on campus which was really fun.  Then on Sunday we went to the pumpkin patch.  A fun time was had by all! 

Here is Alden and Cassie on the wagon ride at the pumpkin patch.  More pics at my other blog.  I'll post more pics here later.  There were a bunch of animals there too...and yummy donuts.
 

Hooray!

My new website is finally live!  Cass, Shaina, Julie and a few others will see their adorable kids featured!  

I'm really excited about this!  I've always wanted to have my own photography business, and I really can't believe that it's actually happening.  I think having that break between when we moved from Massachusetts back to Michigan is what I needed to reignite my love of photography.  And since I lost one of my part time jobs this has been the perfect opportunity to get something going.

 Stephen has been awesome!  Since I'm only working at the Y right now while things get going things have been tight, but he hasn't complained once, at least not to me :-)  Plus he is really supportive and tells me the truth about stuff, which I appreciate.  Also, my mom and dad, my sister and my cousins Julie and John have been a HUGE blessing, so thank you guys.  I owe you!  

Anyway, check it out.  Let me know what you think.  My new business cards will be here in a few days, if you want some to pass out let me know!  I've got lots.

www.linseytaitphotography.com

Hey Spencer!

It's your birthday!  And you're nine!  Holy Cow!  

We hope all your tech deck and motor scooter dreams come true!  We love you!!!

New Photos!

Check 'em out!

Do we like one of these more?

Help a sista out

So, I'm looking for some input on a business card design.  I want something simple, playful and sophisticated.  I'm no graphic designer so I'm totally open to suggestions on colors, fonts...anything!  This is just sort of a starting point, but I'm trying to get them done ASAP so I can order them this weekend.  What does everyone think?  Please Help!  I'll give you free pictures ;-)

I should be folding laundry...

...but I'm blogging instead.  

So, Stephen and I had a fun weekend and my parents house.  Saturday, my mom and I drove out to Ionia so I could take some pictures of my adorable little second cousin, James (photos to come soon.)  While my mom and I were gone Stephen and my dad went golfing, as usual.  Then on Sunday I spent the afternoon reading magazines on my parents awesome patio!  Isn't it so cute?  

I also just launched my new photo blog today!  It's exciting, for me anyway.  Be sure to check it out and become a follower!  www.linseytaitphotography.blogspot.com      

Ok, now I'm going to go fold laundry...ugh.  

Even More Summer Fun

Summer is so great.  This one has been especially fun!  We've had so much fun time with family and friends.  I can't believe an entire year has passed since we left Newburyport.  Here are a few more pics.

Another beautiful summer day on the lake!

I've been cruising around on my bike a lot.  Especially since Stephen got me an awesome basket for it for my birthday.

In July there is a huge sail boat race from the Blue Water Bridge to the Mackinac Bridge.  The night before the race there is a giant party downtown.  Shelby and her friend Angela were there visiting Shelby's college roommate.  

Here are some of the sailboats getting ready for the race.  

Wedding Time

On Saturday we went to a wedding for two of the people on our softball team.  It was a great night!  It's fun to see everyone out of their softball uniforms and all dressed up.  

Sarah and Kate. 

Stephen with two of his friends and co-workers, Matt and Paul.  

The boys with the lovely bride, Katie.  

New House!

We helped Dan and Kim move a few weeks ago.  Here are some pics.

Packing up the old house.

The kids playing around the mulberry tree in their new yard.

Uncle Stephen keeping the kids occupied, or is it the other way around?

This is a trip to the E.R. waiting to happen!

Congrats guys!  Can't wait to come and visit!

Shelby and Caleb

Shelby and Caleb came to visit a few weeks ago.  They are teachers so they don't have to do anything alllllll summer.  Must be nice :-)

More Fun Stuff

Here are some more pictures from our "summer".  Right now it's overcast and 64 degrees.  Awesome.  

Since the Pier 1 I worked at went out of business last week my quality of life has improved greatly!  I've been able to pic up three freelance photo jobs in the last two days, I have free time, and I'm actually going to start my own photography business.  There will be a new website and blog coming soon!  

Fresh herbs on our roof!  Yum.

The dynamic softball duo: Taitor Tot

Here is our entire softball team.  We are having a great time playing with all our new friends in PH.  The playoffs start next week and we actually have a pretty good shot of winning the losers bracket, so we've got that going for us.

Me and some of my Pier 1 coworkers celebrating the end!

I love this picture of Alden with all the beans in his shirt from Grammy's garden.  I'm actually going to cook them up tonight.  We got to go to farwell for the weekend for Stephen's Birthday.  It was great to hang out with everyone in Farwell/Mt. P for a change.  I can't wait to camp out at Camp Tait in a few weeks.