first day of kindergarten

Well, we're already starting our second full week of kindergarten tomorrow and AJ is just loving it! I meant to post this picture up here sooner... he was so excited to be posing for pictures on this proud day that he gave us some of his amazing smiles, not his goofy faces. AND he kept asking me to take more. On the second day of school, he even asked if I was going to take pictures of him again.

beauty is… mama says om

I thought I'd dig up this picture from my stay in Italy back in 1999. My uncle had decided to elope with his then girlfriend (now wife) while I was studying abroad in Firenze (Florence). They flew me from Firenze to southern Italy where my ancestors are from to a town called Bari. It was such an amazing experience, really what you picture Italy to be like - unlike the more urbanized Tuscany. Though I absolutely love Firenze, something about our experiences in Bari will never leave me.

One afternoon, during siesta, we were wandering through the streets of the town. All the families were home, eating meals, enjoying each others company. We passed one "casa" that was blaring the Beatles "Let it Be" — another family invited us in (I can't believe we declined the offer).

Then, we came upon one little girl standing on the street and I just had to take a picture. Well, then the mother sent out another little girl and another. After a series of shots — this is what I had.

Beauty IS!