We spent the weekend in Kansas City recently with Courtney and Gil. Beautiful weather, nice fall colors and great company! Planning a June wedding in Minnesota, they took time from their busy schedules for a little play time with me! Courtney is in communications but her passion is cooking and she's looking around for that great combination niche. Kansas City is one of the BEST places for that I would suppose. I know she'll find it soon. They took us to all the great local food places while we were there. So good! Gil (this comes from his last name, Gilroy, which I didn't know for a quite awhile) is a liver specialist at KU Med. If you need a liver, he's your guy! It takes a special quality to be a doctor and also to be a doctor's wife. Lots of sacrifices of your personal time are made - - and for people you don't even know. I'm always so amazed and impressed by their dedication. These two have that special dedication. Their time together is precious and they totally enjoy each other when the are together. I love the way he just looks at her and smiles, when she doesn't even know it. The way she just slips her hand into his as they walk. At first we thought we would go up to Lawrence but then decided to stay just a stone's throw from their hi-rise home and all the things they look out upon from their windows - the Veterans Park and the Train Station.  It was the perfect choice.

There was a government protest going on in the park with these shipping containers spelling out I.O.U. (These two are the modern day version of Mary Matalin and James Carville.) Thankfully, they just agree to disagree about some things. I think it's gonna work!

These two are getting married! Yes, it's Philbrook. A gorgeous mixture of old world and new. The perfect place for Kate and Blaine's engagement session.  It so reflects their personalities and sophistication.  Blaine is (you're not going to believe this) a rocket scientist. Yes, another one. Our third! There are a lot of really smart guys out there with beautiful women in their lives! While Blaine is hitting the books, Kate is helping patients feel better through medical therapeutic massage. A touchy-feely girl! I noticed a great balance with these two. Kate is no bigger than a minute (incredibly gorgeous!) and she just fits so perfectly next to Blaine. He pulls her close and you can just see the peace in him and the contentment and appreciation they find in one another. AND they just have FUN!  I was trying to get Kate to take a little foster dog home with her and she so wanted to take him.  A  bit of a negotiation with Blaine was going on during part of our session. (see if you can guess which picture)  Kate is a dog lover. Blaine is a dog tolerater but a Kate lover so it was close but the airlines nixed dog travel so it was a no-go. Breathe, Blaine. It was really so cute!  Planning a June wedding here in Tulsa but calling Wisconsin home at the moment, it's a bit of a commute for photos and wedding planning so I was excited they could come this fall for them. So looking forward to darling Kate's bridal portraits next!

This is my second military emergency engagement session this summer. Can you believe it? This one had an even smaller window of time to complete. Justin was just going to be home for a bit more than a week from Afghanistan. He and Kelsey are planning a red-white-and-blue July 2012 wedding! Good friends before falling in love,  these two aren't strangers to the long-distance relationship, but the military really puts it to the test! Before being shipped out, Justin arranged a geocache (like a scavenger hunt with GPS coordinates to follow) the last clue led Kelsey to an Altoids tin with a proposal inside! When she looked around, he was down on one knee! Isn't that the sweetest? We spent a little time around town - again, I'm sure his idea of R&R was NOT having pictures taken but he actually suggested a shot he really wanted (the dual focus classic) - - on the blog now :)  I loved watching him just watch her and look at her. Like he was trying to memorize everything about her before he has to leave again. He'd wrap his big strong arms around her teeniness (she's so stinkin' cute!) and she'd just melt into him.  They had such a great time together, they pretty much forgot I was around. We added their dogs into the mix for a few - Duke and Mac - big but very well behaved! Wishing you both the best of everything! Thank you Justin for your service. Come home safely and really soon!

 

A few weeks ago I got a call from Monica. She's engaged and needs an engagement session  in a hurry! She and Andrew are both from Kentucky. Yes, you heard right. Kentucky - Derby, Wildcats, Bluegrass. Andrew is a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and they are both grads of University of Kentucky. The Military is shipping them out . . .again. Next stop Ft. Bragg. Officers training is rugged under any circumstances but Artillery training at Ft. Sill in July? Really? Well, of course, with our military history and a great family love story at Ft. Sill (my inlaws were married there in 1945), I said yes! Monica said they could come to Tulsa - NO WAY. Ft. Sill is their Oklahoma home and they should have some pictures to prove it.  I also discovered they hadn't been to Meers for a burger! WHAT?! I felt personally responsible for remedying that situation before they left the state. So . . Roadtrip!   Packed up the hubs and my little Kato (also never had a Meers burger - slacker parents) and headed to Lawton, OK for the day. These two are going to be a great military couple. They can withstand a lot! Heat. Buffalo. Buffalo chips. Monica is so flexible and just kind of goes with the flow - (the military appreciates that).  Andrew - well the military is a good husband trainer because they learn to do a lot of stuff they don't really want to do and not complain!   It was 109 in the shade - did I mention Oklahoma in July? Our heat index was 114.  A scorcher by anyone's standards, but these two just sailed through, and Andrew was in his dress blues for a bit! I love Lawton and have so many wonderful memories there and at Ft. Sill that I'll have to admit, even with the heat, I wasn't ready to leave. These two are both avid Wildcat fans and have the cutest little pup - Skeeter - who hung out with us a bit too. The Wildcats don't mix it up with Sooners so we did a little tailgating just for kicks. They are scooting back to Kentucky to get married in October in the week or so the military will allow them before heading to North Carolina. Wishing you both all the best in your life together! Thank you for your service!

Thanks guys! We had a great time with you in our little familiar town!

Well, these two aren't playing  - doctor anyway. Originally set to marry at the end of 2009, their hectic doctor education and training schedules proved to be a bit overwhelming and put their marriage on hold. . . temporarily . . . because you just can't stop what's going on between these two! I am so excited to finally be able to reveal and celebrate with them as they will in fact marry next month. Yes, a small ceremony squeezed in between two busy doctor schedules still but they WILL MARRY! And no doubt help each other bear up under trying residencies and all that lay ahead of them both.  Lisa is the sweetest, kindest person with that darling dimple and long femurs! (We all know I have a long history of femur envy) Gorgeous in every way. And Nick, well, the world can always use another handsome doctor, right?  We took advantage of a beautiful afternoon to scoot out to Gilcrease for a little R&R. Nick brought a little picnic - the perfect remedy. These two will make great doctors but more importantly, they will make a great married couple!  Congratulations Lisa & Nick - on finding each other and for holding on!