we took off last week to go to boston, maine, and marthas vineyard.  it was such a relaxing trip that we all needed.  we started off in boston and worked our way over to maine for laura and susie's wedding.  after the wedding we ventured over to martha's vineyard with jesse and whit!  that was a treat to spend a couple days with them.  there is nothing like  long walks on the beach, watching kids play happily, laughter, and enjoying a final days of summer. a blessing!  i am blogging backwards so here are a few from the tale end of our trip (maine and martha's vineyard).

meet katie and her family. we have been the best of friends for 6 years now.  katie is a wonderful mom and is in the business of selling houses and you may have seen her shooting weddings with me on the weekends if you are a bride.  their family is very special to me and i have been blessed to capture both births of her girls and now her sweet family of four.  their family and my photos have also been seen in the texas children's hospital ad campaign.  if you are having a baby at TCH, their face may be familiar! enjoy.

i am really trying to be good about taking a vacation. who knew that i would be hard to relax and not check my i phone every 2.5 seconds.  i don't really think i am that bad, but when you leave town, you feel like you still need to be working.  this week we are exploring boston, maine (where we shoot a wedding) and the vineyard with friends.   i am excited to say that we will spend much needed quality time together.   tomorrow we explore boston, ma and take stella to the aquarium. i know she will love that!  today's activities included shopping on newbury street, playing at the park, a swan boat ride, napping at the hotel, a merry-go-round ride for stella, dinner at a old school italian restaurant and finally ending the evening with a cannoli from mikes pastry.  it was a nice treat!  we are loving our boston tips from anne! 

oh, and we realized tonight that we are city people.  nothing like walking all around downtown boston. 

on an office note: if you need to contact us, please email roxanne@brokeschwabphotography.  she will help you with your questions until i return.  you may also call the studio number at 713.863.0100.

this song is so real for me.  so simple...and touching.   i heard it for the first time back in college, (a time when life was raw and reflective) laying in my bunk bed at young life camp.  ryan long was introduced to me at camp (summer of 2000) and i fell in love with his songs.   one song in particular really stuck out to me and i could not help but imagine my own daughter in it.  very strange because i did not know my daughter... but i would dream of her. don't most girls dream of their life with a family?!

friday afternoon (summer 2009) we were out taking photos of my sister and her belly.  stella wanted to put on her new dress on that my mom had bought her and tag along with us.  she was a sight to see.  my little princess had her shoes on backwards, her face was dirty and she wanted to be in on all the action!

it was not this day that i remembered my thoughts about stella and this song - but something did feel real when i snapped this photo of her running with flowers in her hand while she held her dress up.   to finally know my daughter...and remember this song.  very moving for me.