Merry Christmas 2015

From my family to yours, I hope you have a Happy Holiday season!

My Christmas card this year includes my new puppy, Louie (who I rescued from Mommy and Me Rescue in Shamokin, Pennsylvania in January this year. I did a genetic test for him since he has had a lot of health issues and learned he is a American Staffordshire Terrier and English Bulldog mix), and our 11 years old pug, Oliver. I design and print all of mine and my client's holidays cards personally, so please keep that in mind for next year. Best, Lizzie

Green Family Portraits for Holiday Cards

I have become close personal friends with this family through the more than 9 years that I have known them as I continue to photograph them at least once a year for holiday cards that I personally design and print for every client. I also previously photographed their engagement session, wedding, newborn session of their little boy, 1st birthday party for their son and all the years since. It has been such a pleasure and honor to share all these precious moments with them as we have become dear friends. Now on to the pictures!

We went to Messiah College, where the mom went to

school and I just loved this red covered bridge. Gorgeous!

Mom and dad are so in love and it just radiates in this photo.

All the kids

All the girls

Their youngest is a little ham always!

Inside the covered bridge for this one.

Ella Turns One!

I once again was able to travel to Fredericksburg, Virginia for the 4th time in one year to photograph this family (the mom is my paternal cousin)! I did their maternity session and baby shower, newborn session, Christmas portraits and now this "smash the cake" session for Ella's first birthday. This little girl was born very early and was the smallest premie and is a living miracle and we are all so grateful that she and my cousin ended up OK after the circumstances of her birth. I couldn't be more thankful to the Lord that He provided for this family such wonderful blessings!

Ella for her "Smash the Cake" session. So precious!

She loved the icing!

 Before Ella smashed the cake, we took some family

portraits with her mom and dad. Such a happy family!

 Two beautiful ladies!

Father and daughter. So sweet.

 Love the joy on both of their faces in this one!

 She thought the leaves from this oak tree were neat.

Out paternal grandfather handmade this rocking chair

for each of his grandchildren. Now we are photographing

his great-granddaughter in it. So special! And 

the sunflowers my husband grows for me since it

is one of my favorite flowers and I brought it along

with me. Sunflowers were also in my bridesmaids

bouquets at my wedding which my cousin held.

Betsy and Jason's Baby Shower

I went on May 30, 2015 to attend one of my dearest friend's baby shower. It is for her first child, a little boy, and it was called the Mustache Bash. Below are some of my favorite photos from the event. 

I took a few maternity portraits outside of the home 

that the party was held in before the guests arrived.

 Betsy and her husband, Jason

 Me and Betsy

Betsy with the two hosts of the party

 Betsy with some of her guests and their children

 Gifts for the baby

Congratulations Betsy and Jason! I couldn't be more thrilled for you both and know you will make excellent parents to your son! Betsy, we have been friends since 1999 and look at all we have been through together as friends and sisters. You deserve all the joy and blessings in the world!

Louie - 6 months old

Our new English bulldog/American Staffordshire Terrier puppy that I adopted from a rescue organization turned 6 months old on May 5, 2015 and he now weighs 41 pounds (he has gained 10 pounds a month since we got him 3 months ago weighing just 10 pounds). He has had some major health issues and he's been to two different vets and had lots of tests run to figure out what turns out to be a bladder condition that he might grow out of with time or he could have the trouble forever they just can't be certain. So I wait and hope it gets better (which I have already seen a slight bit of improvement so I am hopeful). Here are some puppy portraits I took of him in my back yard. He's just so darn cute! He smiles all the time and wags his tail (what I call his "happy butt"). He is the sweetest puppy in the world and I am so glad that the rescue organization found him and rescued him from a very abusive situation and that he went to a very good home where he has unconditional love from both me.

He just loves to play fetch and he's great at it.

U.S. Army War College in Spring

On April 18, 2015, I drove to the former military base where I used to work to take pictures of it during the peak season of the cherry blossoms blooming. Just like Washington, D.C.'s Cherry Blossom Festival, these cherry trees were donated by Japan and they are spectacular. It is one of the smallest bases (and oldest) in the country but it is also one of the most beautiful and prestigious. I loved my time there and I hope you enjoy these photos of this magnificent place.

One of the main signs when entering the military base.

 Long before it was a military base, it was the Carlisle 

Indian Industrial School.

 The cemetery on the base.

 The water tower and field grounds with cherry trees in bloom.

 One of two types of blossoms. There are white and 

pink cherry trees in bloom.

 My favorite, the pink, cherry tree blossoms.

Upton Hall

 Root Hall where the formal U.S. Army War College is housed.

A new sculpture outside of the War College 

presented by the 2014 graduating class. There is metal from 

all the wars our country has been a part of since 

the first settlers came.

Bliss Hall is the auditorium building for the War College

where all the speakers come to speak to the class of colonels 

and lieutenant colonels from all 5 branches of the military

along with representative officers from almost 50 

foreign countries.

The insignia of the U.S. Army War College. While here,

the officers receive a masters degree in peacekeeping 

and strategic thinking.

 Quarters One: home to the commanding general of the base.

 The Center for Strategic Learning (CSL)

 Small, old bridge on the base going over Letort Spring

Creek where there is trout fish present.

 Coren Apartments, the original apartments for the officers.

I liked the American flags hanging from the building.

 Wheelock Bandstand

 Quarters Two: where the second in 

command of the base is housed

 Thorpe Hall named after the famed Olympian Jim Thorpe

who also attended the Carlisle Indian School.

 cherry tree blossoms

Statue of Frederick the Great overseeing the grassy quad

 The fire house

 Home of the Hessian Powder Magazine from 1777.