my anniversary | february 26th, 2009

I met Paul in the spring of 2007 while I was attending photography school at the Brooks Institute of Photography. We happened to be in the same LDS church, so it was easy and natural to begin a friendship. We became instant buds, going on bike rides and watching movies and taking midnight dips into the ocean or talking on the pier. This man I had just met soon became my entire world ... the person I thought about when I woke up, and didn't stop thinking about until when I was unconscious. And even then he would make appearances in my dreams! Talk about cheesy, but I'm not even exaggerating. I fell in love so hard and so quick it actually surprised me! Luckily Paul felt the same way, so it was easily the best friendship-turned-courtship ... a really natural transition for us.

Fast forward to the winter of 2009 when we tied the knot in Salt Lake City, UT at the LDS Temple there. Best day of my life. I felt so calm, like I knew I had made the right choice! Today, six years later, that feeling hasn't changed one bit. I now know I made the right choice to say yes to this hunk of a man! He compliments me so well in almost everything, and he's the person I look to in all things. I am so happy (and lucky) to be expecting a son with him and can't wait to see him as a father!

I love you, Paul Olson. Thank you for being the best husband and friend a girl could ask for!

Photos by the lovely Kirsten Ellis of Beaux Arts Photographie

george + mimi

It's not everyday I get to photograph the two cutest twins in all the land! These two interacted so sweetly with one another and I loved capturing tiny moments of that. Mostly they were so entranced with my camera they were having a hard time not looking dazed! It was darling.

lilac floral | utah wedding vendor

If you're looking for a fabulous florist in the Salt Lake area (oh, and she travels to Park City and Provo and Ogden and St George, too!) look no further! The company is Lilac Floral and you should really, really look into Becky's portfolio.

baby sophie

This little lady belongs to my sweet cousin and her husband, Rachel and Kevin. They welcomed Sophie, their second child, in early February and I was lucky enough to catch them on my short visit to Utah. This sweet little baby was so tiny and so sweet, and I loved meeting her when she was only 5 days old! And don't you love her brother, Sam? What a cute little dude he is with his baby sister. Love you, you two! Congrats on your growing family!

australia | cairns

I'm sad to admit I don't have many photos from my two days in Cairns!! Why? Well, I was exhausted from all my traveling and I wanted a little break from everything. I spent the majority of my time there enjoying the beach and water, both things that don't mesh well with a camera. So I used my phone, which you can see here. Forgive the not-too-stellar quality here!

The Great Barrier Reef actually took my breath away as we were flying over it, about to land at the airport there. I couldn't believe how bright it actually was! Neon, almost! I immediately thanked God for my being alive and for being in that spot at that moment. I felt so lucky to be seeing such an out-of-this-world natural phenomenon! It's definitely a feeling I'll remember for the rest of my life.

I snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, which was beautiful in every way. Colorful fish, enormous fish, tiny fish, and the actual reef that was diverse at every turn. I loved it, to say the least. Cairns and Palm Cove are two cities I would love to visit once again!