Sam & Amanda | Engagement

I am so excited for these two. The fact that Amanda is my sister just might have something to do with it.

We braved the chilly freezing Minnesota weather to capture a few moments of them together. Reuben provided the snow.

Sam & Amanda, I can’t wait to see you two growing closer together day by day. Here’s to an awesome marriage for you two!

5 Responses to Sam & Amanda | Engagement

1. Amanda Lynn 
   January 22nd, 2013 at 6:04 pm
   I love these pictures more every time I look at them! You really are an amazing photographer, Erica. Thanks again so much for taking these! And thanks for the well wishes – it really means a lot to know that my family is thinking about me and excited for me.
2. Hannah 
   January 23rd, 2013 at 9:31 am
   These are AMAZING! You are so talented! =D Wow, this inspires me to go out and take some pictures of my own! =)
3. Kathryn Grace 
   January 23rd, 2013 at 9:48 am
   Awww, congratulations to them! Lovely photos. :-) I’ve only shot one engagement so far but it was so fun… I think the excitement and love and the fact that they play off each other makes it so easy to get great pictures!
4. Moriah Mari 
   January 25th, 2013 at 10:12 am
   Congratulations to the happy couple!
   Erica, thanks for sharing these. :)
5. garysgirl 
   February 8th, 2013 at 6:35 pm
   These are so cute! You’re a great photographer. :) Congrats to the happy couple!

My Year in Photos 2012 Part 2

And at long last, the second half of my 2012 year in photos…

See the first half here.

July

I had the privilege of photographing the C family kids. They are so photogenic.

My Kitchen Garden flourished.

We had a huge storm that knocked over many trees.

We spent a few weekends at the cabin.

Fun times at the family reunion.

Baby Susan gets more adorable each day.

August

More fun times at the other family reunion.

September

We finally announced to the world that we are expecting!

I had so much fun doing a mini session with my sister-in-law. See more photos on her blog here.

Elinor turned four.

Here I am at 20 weeks.

October

We had a beautiful first snow. Read more about it here.

I shot the C Family and my sister’s family.

Here I am at 24 weeks.

November

My favorite kind of day.

Frosty Morning.

Here I am at 28 weeks.

December

Good times ice skating. I chose not to skate because of the risk of falling.

Our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.

Christmas Morning.

Here I am at 33 weeks. I got very sick with a stomach bug, so I was unable to post at my regular 4-week interval.

And there you have our year in photos! It’s hard to believe that 2012 has already come to a close and that we’re so close to embarking on a new adventure as parents.

If you’d like to see my previous years in photos, follow the links below.

2011: PART 1 | PART 2

2010: PART 1 | PART 2

Here’s to a marvelous 2013!

3 Responses to My Year in Photos 2012 Part 2

1. Raelyn Nichole 
   January 17th, 2013 at 6:37 pm
   What a nice post series! I really enjoyed “seeing” your 2012. Your sister’s husband looks an awful lot like Reuben. Are they brothers?
   -Raelyn Nichole
2. Sarah G. 
   January 18th, 2013 at 4:36 pm
   Raelyn I was wondering the same thing! They sure do look a lot alike. Fun pictures!
3. Erica Lea 
   January 19th, 2013 at 3:57 pm
   Raelyn & Sarah: Yes, my sister and I married brothers. It will be fun to see how similar/different our kids look. :)

Lovely Things in the Mail

Posted by Erica Lea on January 15th, 2013 . Filed under: around the house .

Yesterday my order from David’s Tea arrived.

I am beyond excited for these mugs. I have been wanting some earthenware cups like this for a while, and I found them for a really good deal over at David’s.

Along with each order they include three free samples of tea. The Chai they sent was absolutely lovely.

Beautiful steam.

I had Reuben help me capture a cream-pouring shot and turned it into a gif.

What sorts of lovely things have you got in the mail lately?

8 Responses to Lovely Things in the Mail

1. Megan 
   January 15th, 2013 at 4:16 pm
   Love the cups!! :)
2. Samantha 
   January 15th, 2013 at 8:12 pm
   Those mugs are gorgeous!
3. Rebecca Lately 
   January 16th, 2013 at 9:31 am
   Absolutely gorgeous! If my cupboard wasn’t already brimming with mugs, I would purchase those right away.
   Love the gif :)
4. Peggy 
   January 16th, 2013 at 11:11 am
   Simply beautiful! I think I’ll have to keep checking on them since they are currently out of stock. We have a son who will be moving out on his own soon and these fit his personality and tastes perfectly.
   I recently received a BUNCH of different types of labels for canning jars and the cookbook “Food in Jars”… all of which were won on giveaways! I was so tickled felt like Christmas (or early birthday) all over again! :)
5. Lorraine 
   January 17th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
   I love those cups, but I didn’t see them on that website. What exactly am I supposed to click on?
6. Erica Lea 
   January 17th, 2013 at 1:43 pm
   Lorraine: Hummm…they must be out of stock right now. From what I can tell they are made by the Miya Company, but you can get them at Terrain as well. I got them for a MUCH better deal on David’s Tea – $19.50 for 4. Maybe they’ll get them back in stock!
7. Anna H. 
   January 25th, 2013 at 11:05 am
   I was not able to find these mugs on the website you linked to? Could you help with a link?
8. Aiza 
   October 26th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
   Those mugs are so amazing. Gosh. And that gif is a job well done!

Best Face of 2012 | I Heart Faces Entry

I had the hardest time deciding which was my favorite face photos of 2012, but I finally settled on this one of Judah. I love the way he’s pressing in his cheeks to make sure we know he’s smiling.

For the I Heart Faces Photo Challenge

5 Responses to Best Face of 2012 | I Heart Faces Entry

1. Cindi 
   January 8th, 2013 at 12:45 pm
   What a CUTE kid!! Totally adorable!
2. cindy 
   January 8th, 2013 at 1:42 pm
   SO ADORABLE!!
3. Samantha 
   January 8th, 2013 at 2:17 pm
   ^DITTO!
4. Megan 
   January 8th, 2013 at 4:25 pm
   Love it!:)
5. Life with Kaishon 
   January 9th, 2013 at 12:10 pm
   He is too cute for words. What a great picture : )