G's 1st Birthday! :: Preview

Maternity :: Carrie and Fam

If you know me at all, you know my love for babies! And I couldn't be more thrilled that my dear friend, Carrie, is going to have a little one of her very own! Last week we got to spend some time snapping shots of her cute little prego-self. I work with Carrie at Red Lobster, and it was so great to see her in normal maternity clothes (our uniforms aren't the cutest). She is so stinking adorable!

Thank you Carrie for letting me capture you in this amazing time of your life! I can't wait to meet the little guy!

We started the day of with some balloon shots, just because I think they're so fun.

This is one of my favorites. Ask Carrie, I loved that tree!
Her fiance, Tim, and his son, Gage, joined us. Carrie and Tim are just so sweet together, and he was such a trooper even though he's not a fan of being in front of the camera.
Another fave.

And I had to bring Gage his own balloon; it's only fair.

You can just tell how much he loves his dad.

Craft Night :: Adoption Fundraiser

Another Tuesday night festivity for us girls occasionally includes a craft or two. Recently, we worked on some center pieces for this really great fundraiser we're planning. Let me tell you about it.

You see, I have this friend who just happens to be my cousin, Teresa. We've been best friends from day 1; it's just how our parents raised us. And we've just done life together. I was her maid of honor, she was mine. We even share a living space, as it is that we rent the lower half of their duplex. It just works out so well.

So now, we've come to the next exciting part of our lives-families! And I couldn't be more happy for her and Eric to start theirs. And they've decide to expand via adoption. They are currently in the process of adopting a little one from the Congo! And I am so excited! (As are they, of course.)

And this Saturday, May 1st, we will be having a fundraiser to help them get there! It's going to be a grand event, it really is; and you should be there! But even if you cannot, feel free to follow Teresa through the process on her blog http://surveyofalife.blogspot.com/.

Anyway, as I was saying, we recently made some really terrific centerpieces for the whole ordeal, and I wanted to share a what this little gathering looked like...

Michelle with her mad cutting skills.

Brook, modeling what we could potentially use the airplanes for in the future.

Oh, and because they're so cute, I thought Gavin and Rubes should make a special appearance.

For updates on the fundraiser and how these center pieces turned out, tune in next week! (As well as later this week when I will share more deets on the event.)

Baby Emma

I am so excited to be an aunt (the favorite, no less) once again! Emma Allison O'Dell was born to my brother & sister-in-law on April 1st. I was hoping to be there for her birth, but scooted in just seconds after she was born. And from that first moment, she was absolutely one of the most precious babies I have ever met. She is just so sweet and cuddly.

Dana and Keri, I am so happy to be an Aunt to sweet little Emma. She warms my heart and I cannot wait to be a part of her life. As always, thanks for letting me taking 2 million photos of your family! It's my favorite.

Isn't she just so sweet?One of the only ones with Grayson actually looking at me... I guess that's your luck with the 3 year old brother.Now, I know this one of Aidan isn't so sentimental in how he's looking at Emma or anything like that. But, I just love his laugh and this is one of my favorites. I think this was the point where Grayson had hit Uncle Patrick with a pop-bottle on the head.

Uncle Patrick was there to keep things going. I love how much they love him.

And how he participates in doing hair when necessary.

Aren't these shirts the cutest?

To our oh-so-lovely family and friends:

Well, our year has been far from ordinary, to say the least. After traveling down to the blazing heat of Oklahoma for beginning of the year; we've already ventured back! In mid-February, we were both offered jobs at a church in Tulsa, OK; Patrick as a media guru and Katy as the children's ministry/office administrator. We were very excited about the adventure and were pleasantly surprised with the change.

Then came August, when we were met with unfortunate news that Patrick's position at the church was eliminated. It came as quite a surprise and after much deliberation, we decided it best for our family to return to Grand Rapids. It was a very hard decision, as we had grown to love our church and friends in Tulsa. Although the transition was bittersweet, we're very happy to call Michigan home again. Plus, we even brought back a new member of the family, our very dapper pup, Horace H. Wimp. (We tend to just call him Horace, although the "Wimp" part ended up suiting him quite well.)

The last few months have been spent getting settled once again. Our dearest friends, Eric and Teresa Johnson, shared their apartment with us while they completely remodeled a beautiful duplex on the NE side of Grand Rapids. We moved in during the beginning of the month, and are so lucky to call them our upstair-neighbors. We're very excited to venture to the farmer's market and all the amazing shops and restaurants over here! While there's plenty of decorating and the like to be done, we're quite happy to be home. Our new address is 715 Atwood St NE Apt 1 Grand Rapids, Mi 49503.

Patrick will be starting school this spring in pursuit of his degree in graphic design. While he enjoyed the video work, he found his great love for design while we were in OK and has decided it's a good venture for him. His beard has come in quite nicely, and his dance moves have never been better. Patrick is currently employed at Celebration Cinema, where we enjoy a bountiful amount of free movies and treats!

Katy is back at Red Lobster on the weekends, and spends the weekdays watching two adorable twin boys! She's still pursuing photography whenever she gets the chance (and a camera to borrow). Next up is starting school again for some night classes--we're thinking a nursing degree is a viable goal. (Her dance moves are shaping up quite nicely, as well.)

It's been quite the year, but we wouldn't have traded it for anything. As wonderfully naive as we were, we are now more than grateful for all that we have learned over this passed year and for

how it has grown us as a couple. God's grace is a beautiful thing.

And we certainly wouldn't have made it without all the great love and support from all of you! We wish you the very merriest Christmas and a new year filled with peace!

All our love,

Patrick and Katy O'Dell