vaca pics

over labor day weekend, i went to visit my bestie, sarah, in santa barbara. it was her wedding that i was honored to be a part of back in april in mexico, remember? now... she has a baby on the way! here are the pics from the trip.

i love you, sarah!! and miss you tons and tons!! can't wait to meet baby jimenez!!!

rest in peace

many years ago, at least 20 {geez, i feel old saying that}, my family spent a lot of time hanging out with my grandma's sister and her family. they all lived here in dfw and being that we were new texas residents at that time, spending time with the extended family was comfortable and fun. so the kids that were around my age were my mom's cousin's kids... that'd make them my 2nd cousins, right?? anyway, since those days all those years ago, we haven't seen each other. the cousin's kids, that is. not once.

until last night.

we all met again last night for one of those events that everyone hates but also one of those events that will always bring the entire family together.

one of the cousin's kids passed away this past weekend.

danny grogan had just turned 25. such a tragedy and such a loss to an amazing family.

i remember him as a little boy... i was little myself (7 or 8 years old) and i think he was 3 years younger than me. so in the last 20 years, i don't know the man he grew up to be. but from what i've heard from his family and from what i can read on his facebook page, he was a great guy. he had a good heart and was loved by everyone that knew him. he was a great friend and was a good listener. he had an infectious smile and loved making others feel loved. he had also served in the navy and will have a military burial this friday.

my heart aches incredibly for his parents and his sisters and for the other family members and friends that loved him so much. having now learned what little i know of him, it makes me so sad that our extended family didn't make more of an effort to spend time together and to stay connected.

i would have loved to know the man that danny became.

rest in peace, danny. know that you are dearly loved by so many and that you are missed incredibly by all that had the pleasure of knowing you. we all look forward to the day of seeing you again.

maternity photoshoot

my best friend from high school is was pregnant and i met with her and her husband for a maternity photoshoot! it was my first maternity shoot and leaving my list of pose ideas at home, i felt completely unprepared. but after getting home and seeing the pics, i was really happy with how they turned out! they were too, so really, that's all that matters!! we met to do the photoshoot at the vineyards were matt and keri were married alittle over 5 years ago. at the end of the shoot, we then realized that we were doing maternity pictures at a place were wine is made... hm...

anyway, here are some of my favorites from the session...

oh! by the way, ellison claire was born on 7/13 at 11:10pm and she is absolutely precious!!

pic post #4

in april, my best friend sarah got married in playa del carmen, mexico!!

my parents and donal and i flew down for the wedding... here are the pics!

the bride & bridesmaids

rehearsing

and now the real thing...

post wedding

pre-body boarding

our beach!

right across the street from our resort :)

sunrise

tulum - mayan ruins

xel-ha

a picture of a picture of donal and i cliff-jumping!