mr. & mrs. chupp

merry & bright

2011-12-19T19:55:00.004-05:00

well, it's the week before christmas and although there is still no snow here in central ontario, we're trimming the tree, hanging lights, and baking delicious treats all the while our favourite christmas tunes are playing in the background setting the ambiance for all things festive!

while doing such baking this evening, i thought i'd share some of what we are listening to - hopefully it helps to bring that feel good christmas mood to your home this week while you wrap those gifts, sip cocoa by the fire or {hopefully} watch snow as it falls outside your window.

here's the link!

merry christmas to you all!

kyle & vanessa

the nieuwhof family

2011-11-14T12:30:00.001-05:00

last weekend we had an awesome time with this family taking photos and getting to be outside in the gorgeous weather we were having! you probably recognize my sis & her fiance jordan from their engagement shoot earlier this fall - well get ready to meet jordan's super sweet family! we've really enjoyed getting to know them all more & are super excited to share the photos we think reflect the closeness, love & mutual respect that really surrounds this fam! I had been dreaming about using this location for a while & the photos turned out just (if not better) then I envisioned! thanks for being open to a seemingly strange location with all the power lines and such! we really love how the photos turned out & hope you guys do as well! enjoy!

the lester family

2011-11-10T19:52:00.001-05:00

we were so excited to set this photo shoot up last minute with the lester family! the weather was

be-utiful this past weekend, and we couldn't pass that up this time of year! not to mention we've been getting to know this family better, and we were super pumped to take their family photos! they brought us to a secret hiking trail located not to far from where we live - sweet! we're always excited to find new places - plus, kyle's already brought our daughter hiking there since :) it was a great day all around. hope you enjoy these photos from their christmas mini session! be sure to check them out on our facebook page as well and become a fan to stay updated on our latest work!

the gratrix family

2011-10-27T10:05:00.000-04:00

what is not to love about this family? they are super spunky, full of life, and always so photogenic. especially when the kids get to make their super silly faces at the end of the shoot (their favourite special treat for being extra good during the shoot!) needless to say we always get excited when we get an email from the gratrix family wanting to set up a family photosession! we'd had this location picked out for quite some time, always keeping it in the back of our minds for just the right session. i tend to have a very large soft spot for old, run down buildings. the metal siding, the tiny windows, the brick, the fading print- ahhh it is love. and i simply adore how the photos turned out. it helps that the subjects are so beautiful :) okay enough babbling - go check out the gratrix family!

usually we end our shoots with the gratrix fam with a little silly face action. i could hardly hold the camera steady while Michael was making this face, i was laughing so hard. kids come up with the funniest stuff! he's got the wiggling eyebrows move perfected!

this time however, the kids pulled out their scooters (and polly pockets) and released some energy in the parking lot before heading back home! it was so fun to photograph as the kids scooted around kyle and i in circles!

i am always awed by the way kyle sees something happening and captures it - i am so lucky to work with (and be married to!) such a talented guy!

find our page on facebook here!

the cameron van amelsvoort family

2011-10-22T15:26:00.000-04:00

this family is so great- i've know them for what feels like my entire life. kirsten has been one of my closest friends & an honorary member of our childhood club (along with 4 other awesome gals!) since grade 4 when my family moved into this area. It has been so awesome to see this family grow and such a pleasure to capture on camera! check out just how great they are! {and beautiful- gosh!}

* check us out on facebook!

the lyon family

2011-10-20T10:02:00.001-04:00

what could possibly be better then photographing my beautiful cousin and her gorg fam? taking the pictures at their family's condo at taboo resort in gravenhurst! i have so many wonderful childhood memories at this place- spending time with my cousins, learning to waterski, driving a jetski for the first time. beyond all that the area is simply beautiful. i always get a little giddy hitting the highway north into cottage country. i think kyle is quickly falling in love with the area as well- soon we'll both be so giddy we can't stand it, excited to pass on the giddiness to amelia!

these pictures make us a little giddy too! here they are- the lyon family!

>>>>> be sure to check us out on facebook & become a fan for updates on our most recent work!

the dart grandchildren

2011-10-18T14:38:00.002-04:00

remember the shaw family from last fall? we were excited when they e-mailed us this fall to photograph their kids again, along with their cousins as a gift for the kids grandparents. how cute is that? kids are always challenging to photograph. no one child is alike or responds to the camera the same way- but thats what also makes it kinda exciting. it's capturing those moments where the child's personality shines through that we love the most when we get to work with kids.

thanks guys for an exciting and very active morning! we had a great time!

be sure to check us out on facebook and become a fan!

let it snow baby mini sessions

2011-10-17T13:04:00.001-04:00

it's that time of year again! each year around this time we've offered something special just in time for the holidays- & this year we are super excited!!

a little while ago i decided it was a good time to revisit the christmas itunes playlist on our computer. okay, it was in august. (i know. im sure your face looks something like this right?: :O ) i'm a bit of a christmas freak... the lights, the decorations, snow, and a warm drink by the fire.................................. sorry. i'm back to reality. (the rain, mud and mess of fall) but seriously, just thinking about christmas makes me so giddy!

so since kyle and i have already got christmas on the brain (he loves it too- but i think it's safe to say not as much as i do in october. definitely not as much as i do in august. hehe) and festive songs are playing on our itunes, we thought it would be the perfect time to start spreading a little holiday cheer with our "let it snow baby" mini sessions!!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the deets

mini sessions are perfect for anyone wanting some stunning photos, and a fresh, stylish christmas card design to send to your friends and family this year! couples, families, friends, roommates- whomever you want to get together and spread some christmas love with this season!

we will be immediately SCHEDULING these sessions to take place between NOVEMBER 1st- NOVEMBER 30th.
*** please ensure you allot for 5 business days for us to process the photos from the session, and 2 business days after you have chosen the photo for the card and email you your card. PLEASE get these orders to us in advance so you have the amount of time you require to send out your cards!!!

click this link to shoot us an email at chupp.photography@gmail.com to schedule a mini session or ask us any questions!

check us out on facebook!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> already had a photo session with us this past year?

awesome! we'd love to include one of the photos from your session into one of our photo card designs!

*you choose the design, the wording you would like to use, and the file name of the photo you would like to use from your previous session (or wedding photo!)
*we'll email you the final card in jpeg format. perfect for easily printing to send via traditional mail or simply emailing to anyone you wish!

WE ARE ACCEPTING PHOTO CARD ORDERS FROM PREVIOUS SESSIONS IMMEDIATELY UP UNTIL DECEMBER 20th. *** it is your responsibility to ensure you allot for 2-3 business days for us to receive, process the order and email you your card. PLEASE get these orders to us in advance so you have the amount of time you require to send out your cards!!!

now you can also pay for photo card orders (only) via pay pal! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the photocard design options

Here's the christmas photocard designs we are offering this year!
when emailing us, be sure to include the corresponding design no. for the photocard design you would like to have used.

the buck family

2011-10-15T11:37:00.000-04:00

doesn't this cute family just make you smile? we love these 3! kyle and i were so excited when erica and jon contacted us about taking some family photos. they are photographers as well which we always find exciting. it's a huge compliment to us when other talents want to have some pictures of themselves taken by us : ) the other reason to be excited about taking their photos was to finally get to spend some time hanging out! erica & i have a history, knowing each other since high school, but this was the first time our husbands were finally able to meet. erica and i were actually in the same photography class in high school and be friended one another over our shared love for all things creative & photographic. actually, the more i get to know her, the more and more i realize how similar our interests and tastes are {thanks pinterest! hehe} but the best similarity we've had in common is the due date of our first born babies. both erica and i found out we were pregnant and shared the same due date last year. however due to eli's eagerness and amelia's reluctancy, they were born exactly one month apart. Eli on Novemember 9th and Amelia on December 9th. so crazy eh?! at least i think so!!

Anyways, check out how adorable they are together. such a sweet trio!

guys, we had SO much fun - we cannot even wait to get in front of your cameras next - and get together for some hang outs and play dates {no cameras required :) hehe}

be sure to check out our facebook page for more photos of this sweet fam!

fall in love contest: the winning couple

2011-10-15T08:34:00.004-04:00

we are very excited to announce that JAYNE & CHAD get to fall in love with a FREE chupp photography couple's session!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

JAYNE & CHAD will receive:

* up to 90 minutes of photographic coverage by kyle & vanessa chupp within 100km of Orillia, ON
*an online viewing and print gallery
*a disc of retouched, high res images from the session

yay!!

thanks to all who entered the contest and voted!

* kyle & vanessa

the kudar family

2011-10-05T15:07:00.000-04:00

we can't say enough about how much fun we had with this family! they wanted to go for a hike in scout's valley while we tagged along taking pictures - what a great idea! the kudar kids are so sweet, well behaved, and have such unique and friendly personalities. it is obvious that the characteristics of the parents really do get passed on to the kids! We're very excited to share some of our favourites of the kudar family! take a look!

thanks guys for SUCH a fun evening! enjoy!

fall in love contest

2011-10-01T11:01:00.000-04:00

now for the nitty gritty: rules, regs & how to's!

1. Grab the one you love & snap a photo of the two of you together, or choose an old favourite! be sure to show off your personality and couple style! creativity is always welcome of course!

2. EMAIL the photo to chupp.photography@gmail.com (one photo submission per couple please!)

the email submission must include:

a. your names and year of birth

b.your e-mail address

c. attached photo

we will post entries in a gallery on our Facebook page as we receive them!

3. chupp photography Facebook fans {people who like our page} will vote for their favourite couple by visiting our page and accessing the fall in love contest poll, and choosing the name of the couple whose picture they like. (only one vote per person will be counted! only votes by our facebook fans will be counted! be sure to visit our page and click 'LIKE')

to vote for a couple using the poll please follow these easy steps:
a. click on the 'poll' tab on the menu bar on the top left side of chupp photography's page on facebook. or click on this direct link
b.find the name of the couple you would like to vote for and select
c. click vote!

alternately, you may vote by sending us an email:
a. email chupp.photography@gmail.com
b. include 'fall in love contest VOTE' in the subject line
c. tell us your name
d. tell us the couple you would like to vote for

the poll votes and email votes will be counted together, and the couple with the most votes all together will win!!

4. enlist your friends and family to spread some love and give you their votes! the couple with the most love (aka votes) will win a photo session with chupp photography! voting ends at 11:59pm on FRIDAY OCTOBER 14TH.
5. the winning couple will be announced SATURDAY OCTOBER 15th

comment here or shoot us an email if you have any questions, or if you'd just like to chat :)

good luck to all entrants!

this promotion is in no way endorsed or administered or associated with Facebook. all information the entrants provide is to chupp photography and not Facebook. the photoshoot must take place within 100km of Orillia, ON. The photoshoot includes approx. 90 minutes of photographic coverage by kyle and vanessa chupp, an online viewing and print gallery, and a disc of retouched, high res images. all entrants must be 19 years of age or older to participate. this session cannot be combined or redeemed with any previously booked sessions or packages.

alex + jordan the engagement

2011-09-30T19:00:00.001-04:00

my little sis is getting married- what can i say, we're ecstatic! & we were so honoured when alex & her fiance expressed that they wanted us to be there on their special day, cameras in hand, doing what we love best- photographing weddings! there really is nothing that excites us more then getting to be a part of such a special time in a couple's life, cheering them on from the sidelines, celebrating the marriage taking place. and to be able to do that for your sister- gahhh i'm so excited! can you tell? :)

since they are hoping to have a vintage inspired carnival jack&jill we thought what better way to get into the carnival spirit and have a good time then to shoot some engagement pictures at the fair! what a fun time it was! we always have a good time with these guys, but there is a wonderful ambiance to the fair. magical.

and there is something magical about these two- the way they love and cherish one another is written all over their faces. there's no denying it- these two are the perfect pair. thanks you two for an awesome afternoon! okay let's see some pictures!! Click here to see more on our facebook page!

i have to say something about this beautiful ring. jordan had it designed and made just for her. it's gorgeous. and so alex. perfection. feel free to swoon :)

okay, so my eyes kinda tear up when i look at these black and whites kyle took. so romantic.

alex & jordan bought this polaroid at a garage sale for $3 that came with some film. we were hoping to have some polaroids of the shoot, but turns out film circa 1970 doesn't expose too well. it was worth a try for $3.

the mirco family

2011-09-23T15:34:00.000-04:00

we finally meet the mirco family! after trying to set a date last fall before i became super prego, and getting rained out each time, we were excited to hear from them again this summer saying they wanted to try for some photos this fall! we found what we felt would be the perfect location for their photos, and the picnic they wanted to have together as a family during the shoot. we were super pumped- everything was going great!

now i have to be embarrassingly honest with you. i kind of can't believe i'm about to share this but i just can't skip over it like it didn't happen. plus it's pretty hilarious. it's okay to laugh :) just as i was setting up the first group family photo i started backing up while looking through the viewfinder trying to line up the shot. in hind sight that was probably a bad idea. before i knew what was happening i was tripping over their picnic basket, feet flying up in the air, back on the ground. i imagine it looked like something out of a movie. all i could think was how glad i was that it was a little chilly that day and i had decided on wearing leggings under my dress. oh and how totally embarrassing that was. i'm pretty sure i was thinking about that. we laughed, took the pictures and everything went smoothly from there :) starting with a little picnic snack! we love when families want to do an activity together during a photo shoot. even if its just something small, it really makes people feel more at ease and relaxed doing something they already enjoy doing together. and it usually results in some pretty cool images too!

we love capturing people's expressions- especially the one's kids make. after becoming parents we've realized how special each little face they make is. you never really know when they are going to stop making that cute little side smile, or that face where they scrunch their nose up. so we like to preserve as many as possible so at least parents will have that to look back on long after those cute nose scrunches are gone.

it was also celia & bryan's 11th anniversary! how sweet is that? and how sweet are they together?!

thanks mirco family for a fun evening & for trying something a little different! we hope you love the images!

the meeder family

2011-09-15T10:43:00.000-04:00

during the looooong drive last week from georgia back to ontario, kyle & i were talking about our upcoming photoshoots this fall and how excited we were to start with the meeder family. the last time we took family photos of these lovelies jacob the youngest was so small - just a new baby! Since moving back to Ontario last fall we've seen the meeders in passing at church, but were excited to get reacquainted and see how all the kids had grown! one of my favourite parts about taking their photos is their beautiful backyard on the lake. what a perfect place to grow up and run around in. it's like a dream.

and rose & rob's kids are beautiful. each has their own distinct personality & i just love how they shine through and aren't afraid to be themselves. seems to me they have some pretty great role models - parents who are caring, compassionate & generous.

each of the girls had to show me their beautiful nails- so cute!

mary-grace found a millipede and the hunt for creepy crawlies was on! rob & the kids left no rock or log unturned as they searched for the perfect creature to hold on a stick. so fun! the kids were having a great time doing something they enjoyed - which we love! it's so great to get to take pictures of real life moments like that.

thanks meeder family for such a fun morning! we'd come bug hunting anytime with you!!

meet the chupp's

2011-08-24T11:49:00.000-04:00

remember how we were talking about the chupp chalet renovation project? well the first weekend of august everyone was able to come to pine mountain, ga, where the chalet is located. we thought it would be fun to get some updated family photos (that were not from one of the 3 recent weddings!) to frame for in the chalet. the town of pine mountain is so quaint and beautiful- it was nice to walk around and take a few shots here and there even in the sweltering heat. {at least i thought it was sweltering!} so, i thought we should introduce you all to the rest of our chupp family and share some of the pictures!

mama & daddy chupp : two of the most loving, selfless & giving people you will ever meet. they have raised 3 incredible kids and that to me is SUCH an incredible feat. oh! and this new journey they've begun together as grandparents? yup, they're rocking it. amelia is so lucky to have so many people who love her so much!

meet the sintosen - kyle's eldest sister erin & her hubby brian! you've probably heard us mention us talking about them and their own photography business in atlanta :) we took this photo inside the dish; a really unique soda shop that makes the best milkshakes i've ever had {we'll have to tell you more about it sometime} but seriously, how cute are they? you will never meet a more down to earth, easy to relate & talk to couple! and they sure are easy on the lens :)

im not sure who these guys are ;)

erin jumped in to take some of us- her first time using a nikon! not bad at all canon girl!

trying to make our best 'ellie' faces

carly & andrew! and lizzy :) carly is kyle's baby sister and one of the sweetest people- i just love this couple. don't let the short hair fool you- this the same carly & andrew from this summer's wedding. they are such a fun, optimistic couple to be around- carly is definitely my go to gleek girl to talk anything glee. yup, i admit it. im a glee fan. and the three of us chupp girls may have seen the glee 3d movie on opening night. maybe:)

that's us!

now time to get framing and hanging these photos on the newly painted walls!

an update on our little miss

2011-08-15T16:57:00.000-04:00

i was trying to think back to the last photos we shared with you of our little girl and i am ashamed to even bring up the fact that it has been, well, too long. {let's put it this way- her eyes have changed colour in the amount of time! no more baby blues just sweet dark browns.} you would think that a child whose parents are photographers would be on top of this sort of thing, but sadly it seems family photos always get pushed to the end of the pile. these 6 month photos of amelia have been sitting on our hard drive {along with many others of her previous...eek!} and stare me down, taunting me every time i pull it out to use it.

another somewhat unexpected factor came up & just days after taking these pictures kyle, amelia and i drove south to georgia {yes straight and through the night. lucky me i got the 12-5 shift. but thats another story... 'geeze focus vanessa!'} kyle's parents have been waiting for the opportunity to fix up their family vacation home and long story short, we had some free time, kyle needed to get his hands dirty & do some physical labour, and i was excited to let my creativity run in a different way for a little while.

so in the mess of a complete house renovation, with things starting to come together, i have forced myself to sit down and edit through these photos, as well as a few we took of her recently around 7 1/2 months old and share them with all of you!

it really is remarkable to me the differences that have occurred in just 2 months. well, ill let you check it out yourself. these first photos are when she was 6 months taken in ontario.

doesn't it look like she's telling her elephant a secret in this next one? cute.

these photos take my breath away- she steals my heart everyday. i just love black and white. i feel like these are the photos years from now her grand kids are going to look at and compare their own similarities to their grandma, you know? timeless.

another classic.

and here she is now, 8 months old! gosh this first year is going by so fast! i took these as she was crawling around in the loft just after the new carpet was put in. she loved all the space to move around with no furniture!

yup she's pretty dramatic. she can go from this > to this > to this in 5 seconds or less. kyle and i usually just watch wide eyed and stunned as she goes from laughing to screaming to smiling before glancing at each other with the same confuse/surprised look on our face and simultaneously mouth 'what was that?!'
i was pretty excited when i captured one of these exact moments on camera. these are the things we'll look back on and laugh i'm sure. :)

a few things about amelia lately:

1. she LOVES her sofie. especially since she is teething {ps - we've been pulling the teething excuse since she was 3 months old but... no teeth yet. i'm sure it will happen tomorrow.}

2. recently mastered is her talent of pulling herself up on the side of her pack n pack and peering her little eyes out the top. pretty adorable.

3. she can crawl!! yay! boo! im not sure which to say... it's so exciting to see all her new tricks and talents but it makes you very aware of how unsafe EVERYTHING is.

hope your summer has been fantastic!

cheers!

{visit the facebook page to see a few more photos}

baby cooper

2011-07-02T12:46:00.001-04:00

cooper jared brian chrysler. such a sweet sounding name for the sweetest baby boy. when darra emailed us the news from the hospital that their baby had arrived we were ecstatic! don't new babies make the world such a happy place? we got to meet him in person just 6 days later - boy did he melt my heart! {all 7 pounds of him!}

i love these images. i can almost hear that sweet sweet newborn cry & smell that delicious newborn smell just looking at them. and that sound makes my heart flutter. babies just grow and change too fast. darra & kevin, as hard as life can be with ~~a little~~ no sleep, cherish those cries and sweet moments in the night. before you know it you'll be reminiscing of these times and can't quite remember when exactly they stopped.

i think he's going to be a football player. i just love how he's all curled up the same size as the football.

i hope all these pictures capture the essence of cooper as a newborn for you so that you will always have something to look back at the first days of this precious life! congratulations again chrysler family! you have really been blessed with such a cute baby boy!

see more photos on the facebook page!

christine + evan

2011-06-28T08:19:00.000-04:00

life long love. that’s the kind that when you find it, it lasts the rest of your days right? christine and evan take that to another level. starting in elementary school, when their first real “crushes” started taking place, they were seated next to one another in class. after over coming the initial “boys/ girls have cooties” phase, they each in their own time began to see the other in a different light. years later in high school they began to seriously pursue one another {or was it christine who did most of the pursuing?? ;)} now years later it’s the morning of their wedding day and they couldn’t be happier.

the morning at the grey residence started out with an excited buzz. everyone was bright eyed when i arrived early in the morning and the tasks for the day were well underway. flowers were being picked up, waffles were being made and makeup and hair were getting done. but there was also a steady calm as the girls sipped on their cups of tea and the family relaxed together. oh yes, and christine got to eat fruit just as she always wanted to do the morning of her wedding day ;).

i’ve always liked christine. she’s a super happy & caring person. when you’re around her you just can’t help but smile. she’s also the kind of person who on her wedding day manicured all the girls nails, including her mom’s :) {at least once… maybe three times}she’s just that sweet. and radiant. i’ve never seen a more glowing bride as she got her hair and makeup done. you could see her anxious excitement on her face as the clock ticked nearer and nearer to two o’clock. So beautiful.

as soon as christine's sister taylor saw the thin red boarder around the top of the box she couldn't get into it fast enough knowing a pretty something from coach awaited her. i think she's a fan. probably an understatement ;).

over at the smart family farm the boys were put to work washing the truck they would ride in to the ceremony before getting ready. with a few moments to spare they headed into the barn for these photos. I just love how they turned out with the sun streaming in between the boards.

the ceremony was so sweet to witness- the tears of happiness shone in both their eyes. i always love these moments because it is one of the first times since the wedding planning buzz began that suddenly none of it matters. there is nothing but the bride, the groom and the words they are professing to one another.

these Cadillac's hold some pretty special memories for christine. her grandpa loved restoring vintage cars. some of her earliest memories of him included her in his lap behind these steering wheels. How perfect then that she included his sweet memory in her day as she journeyed to the church and later took her first drive as mrs. smart.

i love this photograph not despite the fact that you can see my lens in the side of the mirror – but because you can. it perfectly recounts the moment of christine & evan being chased by ‘the paparazzi’ while well-wishers honked and cheered as we convoyed through town to sunnidale park.

i LOVE this series. these spontaneous moments are exactly why we do what we do- i just love the expressions captured on christine's face as the wind picked up her dress creating these beautiful moments you just cannot orchestrate. love.

christine & evan entered the reception & the night blended into a chorus of good food, toasts, dancing and celebration. oh- and popcorn machine? check.

christine & evan, we had a wonderful time seeing this beautiful day unfold. thank-you for trusting us to capture the moments for you. we hope you are having a fabulously relaxing time away together!

see more on the facebook page!

carly + andrew

2011-06-20T16:14:00.003-04:00

we just love carly & andrew. not only because carly is kyle’s little sister, but because if you spend just a few moments with her you will understand. She is a super down to earth, au natural, beautiful {breath taking bride right?!}, summer loving, flip flops and sundresses kind of girl. as i have become a member of the chupp family I have also seen what an amazing person andrew is and how perfect he is for carly. he’s the type of guy who just knows all of carly’s quirks and loves her more for each one of them {he was sure to remember to remind the caterers the morning of the wedding how carly ‘prefers her food not touch’}he also knows just what to do when she’s feeling sad and how to make her smile. carly & andrew have a shared love for everything georgia tech {where they first met}.

it has been amazing to see (& hear from a distance) their growing relationship – and when andrew proposed we couldn’t have been more excited for them! the wedding planning fun had begun!

the morning of their wedding day started off with a relaxing atmosphere at the chupp residence complete with mamosas and a buffet of some of carly’s favourite brunch foods {which included brownies J}. the girls were beautified with hair and makeup courtesy of suzan and amanda {you guys rock!} i must say, i still can’t quite get the word ‘luminous’ out of my head it was used so much in describing your appearances{in reference to the makeup amanda was applying}!

the beautiful mother of the bride.

isn’t carly the most breathtaking bride? my eyes kept welling up all day long she just looked so beautiful!

i love how her colours compliment each other. their bouquets just popped in front of their dresses.

the guys spent the morning helping set up the venue before heading to get ready. our brother-in-law bryan sintos from tin can photography was there to give us a hand and capture these moments since kyle was one of the groomsmen! {Thanks bryan for an awesome job!} i especially love the tie series he envisioned. i just hope i executed the final product well and did justice to the vision you had for these pictures!

cranes have been on our minds for a few months now while we folded one by one until their were eventually over two thousand cranes strung up and waiting for their big debut. it was so wonderful arrive at the millennium gate and see all of their planning come together. i was definitely eating up every detail!

the ceremony was simply beautiful- such powerful words spoken as life-long commitments were made.

memaw & pawpaw. these two just witnessed the last of their 13 grandkids get married. they have already been blessed with 23 great-grandkids, another on the way this month, and another sweet babe {hopefully soon} to be adopted. simply amazing.

the laid back atmosphere continued throughout the day as guests began to enjoy the food from carriage house catering while kyle and i stole the bride and groom away for some pictures together around the venue. i still get emotional looking at these pictures. they are just so sweet and loving to one another.

while carly & andrew savoured a few moments to themselves before entering the reception i stole some quick photos of miss mamie's glorious cheesecakes. i cannot even begin to tell you how delicious these were – and look at how pretty they are! she did such a good job decorating and presenting these - making this cake table beautify the reception area.

the bride and groom entered their reception as the rambling reck joined the party and went staight into their first dance setting the rest of the reception in motion.

carly & andrew- we just want to thankyou guys for asking us to be apart of your special day from this perspective. not only did we get to support you guys as family who loves you but we got to be involved in capturing every last detail and we would not trade that for anything. your wedding day holds a special place in both our hearts and we are so so so very excited for you both as you begin this crazy awesome journey of marriage. we love you!

{we also just wanted to say a special thanks to candace for stepping in as an extra photographer to help take pictures during the ceremony and reception so kyle and I could spend some time out on the dance floor as well as behind our lenses. thank you!}

the harbin family

2011-05-16T16:07:00.000-04:00

this is definitely one of our favourite families. whenever we visit georgia they are always on our 'must see' list. john and kyle have been super close buds and cousins for as long as kyle can remember. their pawpaw refers to them as 'salt' & 'pepper', not just because of the obvious hair colour comparison, but because they really are quite the pair. on our wedding day, john was there to stand up with kyle & support us, just as kyle had done for john & kara's wedding a few years before. as i entered the family i quickly saw what kyle loved about john & kara. they are both amazing people with huge hearts and a God-lead attitude towards life. so when we had the opportunity to capture this family on camera, we were excited to say the least.

kara is one of the best moms i know. there is something about her that makes mommy-hood look effortless {which i have discovered it in fact is not}. her love for her two girls is radiant & her natural beauty has definitely been transfered. i mean look at how cute their kids are! check out her journey through mommy-hood here!

john is also an awesome parent. he sure knows how to get his girls laughing and having fun. june & abigail- you are so blessed to have such amazing parents who love and cherish you.

i just love this series of photos- there really is nothing better then making your child laugh.

love & miss you guys! can't wait for our next trip {very soon!}

to check out more pictures from this photo session visit our facebook page!

The Ligers Family

2011-05-11T12:43:00.000-04:00

who knew that two teachers at my old elementary school would get married, create a beautiful family with two adorable kids, and that we would be taking their family pictures one day!

isn't their daughter, emilija, stunning? not a word i would usually use to describe a one year old, but its what i immediately think of when i see her in this picture- simply stunning. These next pictures make me so happy. There really is nothing quite like the love between a mother and daughter.

their son will is such a fun-spirited kid. i just smile when kids feel like they can be their goofy selves in front of our cameras; it always shines a unique light on their little personalities in the faces they make. those faces they make everyday are the ones we want to capture for parents to look back and cherish long after those moments pass.

and he is definitely his fathers son. wrestling must be in the blood. not to mention their shared love for black beauty. {yes warminster gang- the car is still kicking}

these next pictures were so fun. we were all trying to get everything ready and set up just so, in anticipation for emilija to start devouring her cupcake as soon as it was set down in front of her. however this little girl is a true princess, and eats her cupcakes as such. whith much poise she daintily picks up some icing and eats it, then slowly goes back for some more while saying "mmmmm ca cake". precious.

happy belated birthday emilija- we hope all your wishes come true. by the looks of that cupcake covered face, i'd say they did. i mean what more could a one year old ask for right?!

gillian's headshots

2011-04-05T10:05:00.000-04:00

it only takes a moment spent with gillian to get a feel for the truly beautiful person she is. her bright eyes and contagious smile make you feel instantly at ease. it didn't take long for kyle and i to start snapping frames, eager to catch her personality on camera for her business cards.

gillian first contacted us about taking some new headshots for her business cards & website {she's a real estate agent in the orillia area!} and expressed how she wanted a different look then the more traditional business card headshot. our natural, editorial style of wedding photography happened to be a great match for her & we were excited to work with her to put her vision into reality. gillian we admire your desire to do something different -- it was well worth the risk! you look stunning in the sun!

i just love this next shot series courtesy of my very talented husband! {have i ever mentioned how much i LOVE that i get to work with him?!?}

thank-you gillian for choosing such a nice warm afternoon for the shoot! we had a great time!

:: the kelsall family

2011-03-11T15:35:00.000-05:00

sharon first contacted kyle and i while we were in georgia visiting his side of our family. it just so happened that her family had been wanting to take family photos for a while & they had just discovered a time when everyone would be available { of course we were thrilled to be their chosen photogs!} she shared with us her vision to surprise her husband john for his 50th birthday & we were happy to play along. we came to their house a few weeks later, cameras in hand ready to take their family pictures. little did he know that while we were taking pictures of him, his wife and daughters, the rest of his family would be gathering in his living room waiting to surprise him when they went back in side! and he sure was surprised! after the initial shock wore off, choruses of 'happy birthdays' were sung, and hugs were shared the entire group joined us outside for more pictures.

what a fun group of people! we had such a good time with this family despite the cooler temps outside. the snow that was falling added a nice effect in the pictures as well - at least we were pretty stoked about it!

i just love the purple shades of their outfits against the white snow. simply beautiful.

i know, i know - such pretty blonde girls, right?!? meet the sweet grandparents responsible for so much beauty in one family {oh and aren't her mitts the greatest?}

they definitely rocked this winter shoot don't you think?

:: be mine

2011-02-14T19:23:00.000-05:00

xoxo amelia mae

skating in atlanta

2011-02-01T21:47:00.000-05:00

I got a Hippopotamus for Christmas!

On saturday we all went to down town atlanta to enjoy some of the beautiful sun shine and the 71 degrees. There was a outdoor ice rink set up in Centennial Olympic Park that somehow managed to stay frozen in the heat. Sintos was the only one with any real skating experience, so me and Vanessa got to laugh at everyone else from the sidelines as we enjoyed some nachos.

I was very impressed that all four of them managed to stay on their feet the entire time.

Saturday Ellie set a new state record for longest time spent outside. Her previous record in Ontario was almost 20 minutes. We spent most of the entire afternoon outside before heading over to Aunt Erin and Uncle Sintos' Loft for delicious homemade Spaghetti that night. It was an awesome day!

amelia mae

2011-01-31T18:47:00.000-05:00

we love her.

and these gorgeous baby blues

before heading to georgia for a visit, we had to take some pictures of ellie in this awesome antique shop find - an old baby scale from a doctors office.

her daddy loves her so much. love these sweet shots of the two of them together.

ahhh these little toes melt my heart. Amelia I love every part of you, down to your tiny toes.

visit us on facebook to see a few more!

on the day you were born

2011-01-07T23:31:00.001-05:00

:: jordyn

2010-11-29T11:29:00.000-05:00

my sister is beautiful.

jordyn's semi-formal was last friday, and kyle and i had to grab a few shots of her before she went... she was just looking so pretty!

and her true personality shines...

i love this girl!

{ see more picture on the facebook page }

Heartbeat

2010-11-24T17:35:00.000-05:00

"We are happy for you to have the baby whenever now...". She said it! This video clip is taken from our last midwife appointment before Vanessa's due date. You can listen to the Baby's heart beat from the doppler . The midwife says, even though she not growing a giant in there, it sure is one happy, healthy baby. I think we are as ready as we can be. I cant wait!

:: the shaw family

2010-11-12T07:02:00.000-05:00

kyle and i love meeting new people... especially when we get to capture who they are with our lens. the shaw family was no exception! 2 super sweet and caring parents, plus 2 energetic brothers makes for a lot of fun on our end!

we had been eying up the location for this shoot for some time, so when we got in contact with the owners of wildflower farm we were very excited! the farm is so quaint and charming -- i'll just let the photos speak for themselves :)

what a wonderful way to end our 2010 season!
thanks shaw family!!

Now to break from photography a bit and focus on the arrival of our new addition! it's so hard to believe i'm already 38 weeks prego! any day now....we can't wait to meet you little one <3!

{ to see more pictures from their shoot go to our facebook page! }

:: the maxwell family

2010-11-05T10:48:00.000-04:00

Last friday, we got to hang out with the maxwell's! Luckily the rain held off just long enough for us to get these family photos :)

I just love the awesome red colour on this old mill!

We can't wait to have another excuse to take some pictures in this area-- so many great spots bursting with character!

Thanks Maxwells for an awesome afternoon! It's always great when our clients invite us in for hot chocolate and brownies after a shoot-- Kyle is especially a big fan of the brownies haha :)

visit the facebook page to see more pictures from their shoot!

:: the gratrix family

2010-10-19T09:29:00.000-04:00

we LOVE the gratrix family!

this fall we got to get together with them to take some family shots! the colours in ontario are so beautiful this time of year - we definitely used them to our advantage to get some beautiful photographs of this beautiful family!

we love when families are comfortable and able to just be themselves around us during the photoshoot - especially when the kids have some fun too : ) it is so great to see their little personalities shine through and be able to capture that through a lens. just another reason why we love this family so much - they have such fun personalities.

and lets just pause for a moment to take in how ADORABLE the gratrix kids are...

i just LOVE this picture... as soon as we gave the leaves to the boys to use in this picture they both broke out in the singing of O CANADA. it was so cute.

and of course what fall morning spent outside is complete without playing in the leaves a little ??

and as promised ... we let the kids make some of their best silly faces for us at the end of the shoot to wrap up a wonderful morning! i think these turned out to be some of my favourites : )

thanks gratrix fam for an awesome time! kyle and i just love getting to know and hang out with your family! you guys rock!

scott + kara :: the wedding

2010-09-10T14:08:00.000-04:00

kyle & i first met kara & scott our first year of college together. kara & i started out in the same intercultural studies program and kyle & scott in the same outdoor leadership program. kara & i continued in the nursing program after our first year, and continued our friendship. throughout this time, kyle & i have loved getting to know kara & scott as a couple and watching their relationship grow. we were so excited when they asked us to be apart of their special day!

after much anticipation the time had finally come for us to make the journey north to grande prairie! it began with full of excitement & laughter as the girls gathered at kara's family home to get ready. thanks to her many talented friends and family kara's hair and makeup looked breathtaking- as well as the floral arrangements designed & created by her bridesmaid and now sister- in- law amy- absolutely stunning job!

it was so fun to capture all the moments of sweet anticipation for the day ahead!

i just love how relaxed, calm and beautiful kara was throughout the morning of her big day…

kyle spent the morning with the guys as they made themselves look their very best - as well as sneak in some video game action before it was time to head over to the ceremony site, O'Brien Provincial Park.

since the girls had some time to spare before the ceremony, i took off with kara and her girls (yes, in their awesome mustang ride) to visit a local greenhouse for a few quick pics. i just love the results!

after the ceremony we headed down to the river to get some shots with the wedding party. while scott & kara were off taking pictures with kyle, i got together with the bridesmaids and groomsmen to take pictures of "secret messages" they wanted to share with the newlyweds which will be revealed to them… NOW! : )

and of course what day is complete without a stop at starbucks for something delish - these two have such a fun, carefree spirit!

kara's sweet, soft spoken personality compliments and blends seamlessly with scott's creativity. their love for each other is so evident and beautiful - which shows in their pictures! { Plus, we may be biased but we love that scott's american & kara's canadian : ) it's so fun to see the differences in our cultures mix - especially when the families get together! }

i just love their simple, yet elegant style - definitely reflected in their wedding day. such wonderful details!

kara & scott - thanks so much for your many years of friendship & for letting us capture your beautiful day! All the best in this wonderful new journey of marriage!!!

cheryl + scott :: the wedding

2010-08-10T01:08:00.000-04:00

after weeks of anticipation, THE weekend was finally here -- cheryl & scott's wedding (although im sure the excitement for them was much more magnified then it was for kyle and i, we were VERY excited to say the least). not only would two beautiful people be committing themselves to each other in the union of marriage, but we would be able to be there capturing each wonderful moment for the first time as a team.

as the prairie flats gently rolled into hills, and eventually mountains our excitement also grew about the beautiful location the bride and groom had chosen for their special day.

the day started out with cheryl & her sisters taking turns doing their makeup and getting their hair done - an unmistakable edge of excitement filling the room.

while i was busy with the girls, kyle was out scouting locations and hanging with the guys before cheryl and scott would share a special moment together & take off with us around the mountain side for couple portraits.

the ceremony took place on the bank of a river bead covered with wildflowers and river rocks. cheryl looked stunning in her dress as she appeared over the bridge with sun shinning down in the clear blue sky - the look on scotts face as he witnessed this moment says he definitely agrees. this will be one moment im sure neither one of them will soon forget.

after the ceremony, the reception began in full swing with games, food, speeches and dancing. by the end of the night guests were lettin it loose on the dance floor & kyle and i caught on to the laid back feeling and had a lot of fun with the photos.

my favourite was these guys (and girls) who jumped right into the dance moves of 'Single Ladies' as soon as the song started to play -- we definitely struggled to capture the moment in between the laugher! These guys sure know their dance moves!

cheryl and scott thank you so much for asking us to be apart of your special day! we had a lot of fun and wish you both all the best in the wonderful journey of marriage! Hope you had an awesome honeymoon adventure-- ps cheryl where did scott take you on his surprise honeymoon trip???

we're havin a baby

2010-07-17T17:45:00.000-04:00

In March Kyle and I found out we were going to be having a baby!
An unexpected surprise quickly turned into such joy and excitement for
us both as we were surrounded by the love, encouragement and support of our family and friends.

Soon we found ourselves being awed and amazed by the growth of our baby from week to week with updates from the bump describing each new development in their growth and comparing their size to a fruit or vegetable to give us something tangible to compare to. Everything became more real to us as I began to start showing, when hearing the baby's heart beat for the first time, and when fetal movements were first identified

"there really is a baby in there! that was NOT just gas bubbles!"

{ 20 Weeks }

But for both of us, the most definitive 'wow' moment was seeing our little babe move on the ultrasound monitor and finding out 'they' were a 'she'. And man let me tell you our little girl is a mover! The ultrasound tech was having a heck of a time trying to catch her and get a picture before she moved haha.

Kyle and I can't stop staring at the precious images we have of her in awe and amazement. It is truly amazing how God works and how his plans for our lives unfold thinking back to months ago when i couldn't fathom having a growing baby in our lives ---- and now not knowing how it could be any other way.

We can't wait to meet you little one!!

Fishing

2010-07-14T19:31:00.000-04:00

finally we caught some fish in alberta!!

throughout our time living here kyle and i have gone to different places around alberta trying to catch some fish. for the first time last month we were able to find the sweet spot- about 10 minutes down the road haha.

the first time we went we caught our first - a rainbow trout : )

kyle went back again another day and brought home 2 more - both over 2lbs!

it is certainly exciting getting to catch, and cook them and they make for a delicious meal to be sure! yum!

Backtracking :: Calgary Zoo

2010-07-14T18:36:00.000-04:00

okay, so im backtracking a bit. things have been crazy, posts have been missed and now i am having to play catch- up. please bare with me!

while in my second nursing practicum back in june, i had 5 days off in a row around my birthday - which actually coincided with kyle's days off : ) it was an awesome break from the stress. kyle and i have been trying to make sure we do things around alberta this summer that we haven't gotten a chance to yet before moving to ontario in the fall. one of these things was to visit the calgary zoo.

thanks to "lays chip trips" and my consistent craving for chips, we got a nice discount : )

this is my elephant friend - my favourite animal at the zoo.

it was a beautiful day, nice and sunny but i kinda forgot about fridays being the ultimate field trip day for elementary school kids and the place was packed with kids running around everywhere! Despite the screaming kids we were still able to have a really great day together, and see a bunch of really neat animals : )

Blog ReVampage

2010-07-14T18:20:00.000-04:00

we've updated our blog : )

{chupp photography} is undergoing a lot of revamping these days as kyle and I attempt to merge our creativity and styles into one that is uniquely ours.

we have been talking about joining photographic forces since we first got married and finally all our ideas, designs and dreams are starting to see a taste of reality. it's exciting!

we are still busily working on a number of different projects such as our official website, soon to be released : ) as well as anticipating our first wedding shoot together on July 24th. {Remember Cheryl & Scott?? }

We'll keep you posted on when our website is finally released! For now, enjoy the new look our blog is rocking!

Smith Family Photoshoot

2010-03-15T00:44:00.000-04:00

Today after church we got together with Ryan, Kate & their super cute daughter, Lucy, to take some family pics-- It was windy, which made it feel pretty cold despite the beautiful sunshine, so we shot through the 'shot list' as quick as possible.

2 Locations:: Total Shooting Time:: Approx 15min.

Kate & Ryan have been awesome friends to Kyle & I since I first met Kate in my 1st Semester of Nursing. She has been like the ultra role model for me as I have witnessed her power her way through our first year of school, finishing in time for Lucy's beautiful face to be brought into this world. As I watched her defeat her struggles I knew this strong willed girl was one friend I definitely wanted to keep close! It has been so awesome to see both her & Ryan become first-time parents; AND getting to cuddle and play with this adorable babe is not half bad either ; )

I mean, check out how cute she is!!

So yeah, it's obvious that you guys are a {BEAUTIFUL}, {AMAZING} family & we love you to bits!

Thanks for the wonderful {windy} afternoon!

To see more of their photoshoot visit our website:: www.vanessamariephotography.smugmug.com

::Cheryl & Scott are Engaged!

2010-03-09T23:03:00.000-05:00

And their pictures on up on Smugmug!

This past friday the weather was so beautiful outside we could not pass up the opportunity to get some good pictures -- which was exciting since Cheryl & Scott had scheduled to get their Engagement pictures done! At lot of the snow has moved on, and it was warm enough to go without a jacket so it made for some good early spring-time shots.

Cheryl & Scott being farm kids, it was fun for me to scout out some locations that would speak true of who they are individually as well as together & that allowed for their love for one another to shine through! They were both incredibly fun to spend an afternoon with--they seemed super easy going and natural in front of the camera, and it shows in the photographs.

I just love capturing the beautiful romance & true love between a couple like Cheryl & Scott-- it has been awesome to see how God has brought them together & I am excited for the things He is doing & will continue to do in their lifetime together.

Thanks you guys for a fun time! Looking forward to the Wedding in July!

Check out the rest of the pictures at www.vanessamariephotography.smugmug.com

On the Farm

2010-03-09T22:31:00.000-05:00

For the past couple of weeks Kyle has been helping out some friends at a cattle farm owned by a family who goes to our church. It has been a really awesome time for him. I was able to go out for a day to visit the animals & take some pictures the other weekend & it was super fun! Here is a photo collection of our day on the farm : )

Learning to drive standard with this cute pup on my lap the entire time!

Kyle's Awesome Photo-- I love it! He's got talent!

Breakfast Time!

"Any day you get to drive a Tractor is a Good Day"-- what Kyle says each time he comes home.

Zip & Dart- the cattle herding farm dogs ! They are super cute & like to cuddle on your lap in the truck-- it's awesome!

:: Kara & Scott are Engaged!

2010-02-12T14:57:00.000-05:00

We are so excited! Some of our dear friends from our Explore/Discover year at Prairie are engaged & will be tying the knot this August!

Last week Scott came for a visit, so we took advantage of the only {VERY} sunny-blue skied day we've had in a while to get some shots of the couple together. Everything looked so majestic with the blanket of snow covering just about everything.

It was so fun capturing Kara & Scott's fun-filled energy & sweet love for each other. Looking forward to capturing it again on their wedding day this August.

For more pictures from the shoot visit my website:: http://vanessamariephotography.smugmug.com & click on their gallery {Kara & Scott Engagement}

::everything is best in three's

2010-01-28T20:00:00.000-05:00

... or any arrangement of odd numbers that is. it is one of the easiest rules of composition- one i learned in high school art class but felt that surely it had been natural instinct to me all along. i just like three the best; simple, yet powerful.

i was feeling in a bit of a creative mood this afternoon and went on a bit of a still life rampage... just thought i would share a few of my favs.

i love the shade of periwinkle blue:: and the blurr ; )

hot chocolate? yes please! especially when the rule of three's would require me to have three marshmellows! {yes, i did take precious time out of life to make a heart on the marshmellow out of chocolate sauce-- that stuff is hard to work with!}

oh, and on a random side note... it has been 4 months since our post about making grape juice, so kyle & i have been greedily consuming the delicious treat this week after a long wait {sharing with some of our friends of course! ; ) }

::well i'm off to enjoy the last of my hot chocolate... nighty nite!

Infinity Yumm's for this Curry Recipe

2010-01-25T00:03:00.000-05:00

Since gaining a love & interest in cooking I have begun labelling recipes I try out according to 'yumms'. 1 yumm says 'that was good- i'll probably try it again sometime, but maybe make a few changes', 2 yumms says ' that was delicious- definitely something I would make again!' and 3 yumms, which is the highest, says 'wow! I loved every bite- this is a recipe to make regularily' (which says something cause I like to try so many different recipes that I rarely make the same thing twice in a months time).

Now that you know the background information on my food ratings, there is a second background history you must understand before I unveil the meaning behind this post's title.

Since returning from India I have been actively seeking for THE perfect curry recipe... meaning Kyle has had to endure through roughly 15 or more different curries since we have been married. Now, it is not that the past 15 have not been good-- or 1 or 2 yumms-- it is just that I have had a certain one in mind since I tasted it in India, and none have been able to recreate it.

However, last night I found it. As I was making the recipe I had a feeling that it would be THE ONE. I went ahead and altered a few things in the recipe (manly to make it spicier)... and it turned out amazing-- just as I had recalled.

So for the first time ever, I give this recipe infinity yumms because I know that I will be making this regularly for the rest of my life!

Here is the recipe (with my alterations):: it is a MUST try

Coconut Chicken Curry

Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
3 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 large red onion, chopped
1 red pepper, thinly sliced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 TBSP olive oil (I used coconut oil and it worked wonderfully, but this would be fine as well)
1 (400ml/ 14oz) can coconut milk
1 TBSP corn starch
3 TBSP fresh basil (or 2 tsp dried basil)
1 tsp grated fresh ginger

**serve over thai coconut rice (recipe below)

Directions:
CUT CHICKEN into 1 inch pieces. Place chick in a medium bowl. In a small blow stir together the curry powder, salt, black pepper & chili powder. Sprinkle mixture over chicken & rub evenly to coat. Cover & chill for 1-2 hours to allow spices to penetrate meat.

IN A LARGE nonstick WOK or skillet, cook & stir onion, garlic, & peppers in hot oil over medium-high heat for 2 min. Remove onion mixture from WOK. Add 1/2 chicken to WOK. Cook & stir 3-4 minutes until no longer pink (you may need to add more oil). Remove from WOK, repeat with 2nd half of chicken.

COMBINE coco milk & cornstarch. Carefully add to WOK. Cook & stir until slightly thickened & bubbly. Return chicken & onion mixture to WOK. Stir in basil & ginger. Cook & stire about 2 minutes or more until heated through. Serve over rice!

Thai Coconut Rice
{i use a rice cooker & cook according to it's directions using 1/2 water it calls for and substituting the other half with coconut milk-- using seasoning like normal. the following is directions for on the stove.}

ingredients:
2 3/4 cups water
2 cups white long grain; jasmine; or sticky rice
3 TBSP Clubhouse Thai seasoning
1 cup Coconut milk (comes in a can)

directions:
COMBINE all ingredients in sauce pan. Bring to boil on medium heat. Reduce heat to low. Cover; simmer 25 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Fluff rice with fork. Makes 6 cups.

ENJOY!

Jackie & Shane :: Engagement

2010-01-13T13:03:00.000-05:00

Jackie & Shane are Engaged!

Last weekend I had the pleasure of shooting some engagement pictures for this fun-filled couple. Even if it meant tromping through the snow, this couple was up for anything I suggested-- making it a really great experience for me!

To check out more pictures from the shoot visit their gallery on my website::
www.vanessamariephotography.smugmug.com

Thanks you two for an awesome morning!

Christmas Break in Review

2010-01-12T19:28:00.000-05:00

Kyle and I had an excellent Christmas Break this year, with the opportunity to visit both our families. Although this meant for a busy break and lots of travel time we both thought it to be a huge blessing to spend our first Christmas as newly-weds amongst our families.

I have to admit I did a terrible job documenting our time through photos:: luckily my mom picked up the slack in Ontario and our sister Erin {as well as our mom via her iPhone} did like-wise in Georgia! (check out Erin's blog for her posts of our Christmas holiday:: Click Here for Erin's Blog)

Here is a little photo recap::

Mom had planned a surprise for the family which took us, along with the Robertson Family to Toronto where we skated at the Nathan Phillips Square

Check out Kyle's Early Christmas Present:: Hockey Skates!

We were able to stick around long enough for the Beaver Tails Shack to open up before taking off for the next part of the surprise:: Kyle's first taste of the deep fried, sugary, cinnamon-y wonderful-ness!

The 'Crystal Tree' at the Eaton Center. I was expecting the actual tree to be one big crystal, this one looked like a gigantic version of mom's tree at home which is also decorated in silver.

Last on the list was a visit to Black Creek Pioneer Village for a Christmas Candle Light tour where we saw people create decorations out of tin, tasted turkish ''delights'' {although I wouldn't necessarily call them delightful in the least}, learned how much work went into print publishing, and heard an array of beautiful music-- my favourite being the music of the cellist.

Two days before Christmas Kyle, Alex, Jordyn and I all decorated this yummy looking gingerbread house:: it only looked like this for the few moments after it was done while I insisted on taking a few pictures of it before the candy pieces began to mysteriously disappear. {I took no part in the sad disfigurement of the ginger house ; )}

Christmas morning! Kyle & I in our Canadian Olympic gear which we both love

Hippopotamus {without noodles on his back} likes to drink Soda Pop:: We gave him to Al for Christmas

The whole gang with Nana & Papa before heading to the airport:: Loving my new hair cut from my wonderful Aunt Dana

Off to Georgia for 2nd Christmas!!! {PLLLEEASE check out Erin's blog... as I said before I did a terrible job at taking picture this Christmas!}

The four of us {Kyle, Me, Erin, & Carly} on a hike with the family in Sweetwater Park:: it was a beautiful afternoon for a hike!

Playing a really fun game with the fam:: this was one of the challenges to see who could last the longest holding a chopstick between their nose and upper lip. It's harder then it looks and really works your lip muscles!

Finally a taste of the infamous Birthday Cake Icecream from Coldstone that Kyle always talks about after an early morning at an REI Garage sale. It was definitely "Gotta Have It" good.

Thank you Bell & Chupp Families for an unforgettable Christmas! We miss you all!

Photoshoot with the Gratrix Family

2009-12-28T23:38:00.000-05:00

While in Ontario over Christmas Break, I had the opportunity to go out and shoot some family photos for a really fun, friendly and enthusiastic family who attend Connexus, my hometown church. A few teaser shots are now up on my smug mug website :: www.vanessamariephotography.smugmug.com

Thanks Gratrix Family for a wonderful afternoon!

Where Are You Christmas?

2009-11-18T12:34:00.000-05:00

I am desperately awaiting Christmas... and snow. Things around our house this past month have been pretty crazy- Kyle flying lots trying to prepare for his commercial exams, and I have finished a whole semesters worth of modular courses, and exams (which I passed, yay!) and am currently in the middle of another set of courses which i will be finishing right before Christmas break. Ideally, after my first set of courses, our class would have been going out for an acute care practicum, but with the H1N1 pandemic, nursing programs all across Alberta have been canceling their current practicums including ours.

Shortly after my last post I began my new courses, which have since been consuming my life: Maternity, Pediatrics, Psychiatric Nursing, and Graduate Nursing. These are the courses I have been anticipating since starting the program, and although I would prefer to have longer then 5 weeks to learn about all these topics, I have been diving right in to gain as much knowledge as I can. However, it appears that this has had an effect on other areas of my life (blogging perhaps?).

(Side Note: I have been trying to get Kyle to blog about his new love of duck hunting... but perhaps he needs a little encouragement from all of you!)

As much as I LOVE learning about Pyloric Stenosis, Rickets, Esophageal Atresia, and the numerous other diseases, conditions and disorders that can effect pediatric patients (and most importantly what I can do to help people in these conditions).... I really want it to be Christmas.

Hopefully it will snow this week! : )

Christmas Sessions are Here!

2009-10-17T16:19:00.000-04:00

A Message from VanessaMarie Photography:

Christmas time is quickly approaching! This year I will be offering special mini photoshoot sessions from Oct 19-Nov 29.

This package will include: a 45 minute session for up to 6 people, an online album to view your final photos (up to 30 images), a CD with your 15 favourite pictures to print as you wish, and a complimentary Christmas Card designed by Jaime Schultz (7 styles to choose from) with the photo of your choice from the session in JEG format included on your photo CD! Perfect for this years Christmas Cards!
This package is $60.00

Here are some samples:

Also, if you would like to order just a Christmas Card with a photo I have previously taken this is available for $10.00
Please contact me via email for any questions, or to book a session!

vanessa.marie.photography@hotmail.com

-Vanessa-Marie

The Meeder's

2009-10-13T22:42:00.000-04:00

While in Ontario this summer I had the wonderful opportunity of capturing the beautiful faces of the Meader kids on camera!

The photos of their smiling faces are now on my website:
www.vanessamariephotography.smugmug.com

Enjoy!

Rachel & Jarod Griesbach

2009-10-12T21:26:00.000-04:00

Rachel & Jarod tied the knot on June 26th 2009, and I had the privilege of capturing this exciting day through photos for them!

Rachel and I have been going through the nursing program together (in Three Hills, Alberta) and have in turn become quite close friends, discovering new things each day we have in common (we are still trying to figure out if we were in fact separated at birth... one year apart). Since we started spending a ton of time together, it became obvious that our fiances at the time would have to start spending some time with each other too, if they ever wanted to see us! But in the mean time Kyle and Jarod have become quite the pair as well... last weekend they went duck hunting together, along with another fellow nursing student, and good friend's husband, Ryan.

So, it was no surprise that Kyle and I both cheered this couple on as they said their vows to one another almost 4 months ago... me behind my Nikon D80, and continue to cheer them on with each month into their marriage!

The photos of the day are now on my website: www.vanessamariephotography.smugmug.com

Enjoy!

wordle fun

2009-10-10T00:10:00.000-04:00

First Snow

2009-10-04T20:35:00.000-04:00

Well it has officially 'snowed' in three hills for the first time this year... although not enough yet for it to actually make it to the ground. As much as I love the cold, and the snow, there are a few realities that come with this time of year that are putting a damper on things: mainly that our furnace in the trailer is not wanting to turn on this year. Kyle and I are okay in terms of keeping ourselves warm; we have lots of warm clothes, have just purchased a warm duvet for the cold nights, as well as a small space heater to help us keep whichever room in the house we are in at a decent temperature. Our only concern, as it begins to drop below freezing at nights is that pipes will begin to freeze. Please keep this in your prayers!

On a different note, please keep Kyle in your prayers this week as he studies and takes 3 different exams toward his written commercial license testing!

And Enjoy!... 4 Months from Now

2009-09-29T13:47:00.000-04:00

This past weekend Kyle and I made Grape Juice! We got the recipe from one of the cookbooks we received as a wedding gift, which was actually quite simple : )

We had purchased the concord grapes from the local grocery store (on sale!) ,2 2L containers which was enough to make 14 1 litre jars, earlier in the week.

Here is the recipe (these grapes are only in season once a year so grab this opportunity while you can!)

Prepare your jars as you would for canning:
1. Wash jars and lids. Place jars on rack in boiling water canner; cover jars with water and heat to a simmer (180 F/ 82 C).
2. Set screw bands aside; heat snap lids in hot water, NOT boiling. Keep jars and snap lids hot until ready to use.

Grape Juice Recipe:
1. In each jar place:
1 cup concord grapes
1/4 cup sugar

2. Fill the jar with boiling water, up to 1/2" from the top.
3. Seal and process in hot water bath for ten minutes.
(center your snap lid on the jar; apply screw band securely and firmly- until resistance is met- do not over tighten. After jars are in canner with hot water-covered by at least 1 inch of water- bring water to full rolling boil).
4. After time has elapsed allow water to cool and remove jars. Store in a cool, dry place. Inspect after 24 hours that jars have sealed properly. (Sealed lids curve downward and do not move when pressed. When a jar 'pops' it has sealed).

and enjoy... 4 months from now!

(Store for 4 Months before using)

Now we just have to wait until January 23rd! (we already have it marked on the Calendar!)

estimated costs: $6.00

Married Man

2009-09-27T19:23:00.000-04:00

Everyone asks: how was you first birthday as a married man? Totally and completely awesome. Waking up to the smell of deliciousness and trying to stay in bed but drawn into the kitchen to what was cooking. There is Vanessa making banana, chocolate chip pancakes with strawberries and bananas and whipped cream on top. We bring a big pile back to the room and have breakfast in bed.

The whole day was so good, including the weather outside. Warm weather in Canada must be taken advantage of so it was out with the tarp, and the hose and the soap to make a slip and slide in our backyard. That night I got to dig into my first Skor dessert which is a layered dessert with brownies ( my favorite) chocolate pudding, whipped cream, and skor bar crumbled and sprinkled on top. We spent the nigh with friends just talking and laughing together. Life is good!

Its not uncommon for people to be excited about of how many years they have been married, but the years they have been alive - for some reason that's a different story. I'm proud of each candle on my cake and each gray hair on my head( i already have 3 or 4 : ) because with each comes many experiences that I can take with me and share with others. I also took the advice of my best friend Mario and enjoyed some time with God being thankful for the fullness of joy that he gives me. How awesome it is to now live in it with the love of my life.

A Wedding DIY: Poms

2009-09-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

One of my bridesmaids gave me this idea to add a little colour to our outdoor wedding. As I began making them, I had a lot of fun and soon a mountain of pompoms had developed! We hung them from tree branches, used them to decorate our getaway mobile, etc.

A fun, inexpensive way to spread your wedding day colours around your ceremony/ reception sites!

Here is the How To:

1. Grab your supplies.

1.cutting mat 2. twine 3.craft paper (if you want to add leaves) 4.assorted tissue paper 5.scissors 6. floral wire

2. To create the tissue paper pom poms:
Accordion fold 7 sheets of tissue paper together with 7 folds, each about 1 inch wide. Find the center of the stack and wrap floral wire around the center to create a divide. Fan out each side of the tissue paper and carefully pull out each layer of paper until you have a ball.

3. Attach the wire from your pompom to the twine and hang.
You can use various sizes of tissue paper, and various lengths of twine to hang each at different levels/ sizes.

Grab some Friends and have fun!

Corn Shucking

2009-09-20T19:27:00.000-04:00

Me and Vanessa brought in the rest of the corn today that we hadnt eaten already to shuck, boil and freeze for the winter. I stumbled across some information i thought everyone would like to know. The corn plant is both male and female. The top part of the plant is the male part.
The female part is the part that you often see coming out of the top of the cobs of corn. The tiny silks catch onto pollen from the males up above them.
Each silk leads to its own kernel inside. Sense it pollenates this way, it is better to plant corn in squares (atleast 3 rows deep) instead of long skinny rows.
Then inside is the delicious sweet corn. Corn, more than any other vegetable, is best when its fresh of the stalk. The sugar in corn starts turning very quickly to starch right away and after 3 days half is already converted. So its best eaten right of the stalks. We both love it!!
Folks used to have ( and might still do somewhere) corn shuckin festivals where theyd pile all the corn from the fields into a big pile. Then on one side of the pile lined up everyone to shuck the corn. The fastest people sat in the middle, quickly digging their way through the pile of corn and eventually dividing the pile into two. Now the teams were established and whichever team made it to the bottom of the pile first had a jug of moonshine waiting for them as a prize. And so the festivities carried on celebrating the harvest with dancing and having a good time.

Our New Home

2009-09-16T13:12:00.000-04:00

We are finally (almost) settled in! On friday we had a bunch of our friends over after Kyle smoked meat all day (waking up at 4am to start it- finishing at 7pm!) so I hurried around taking some pictures of the different rooms of our house that were clean and pretty much done : ) WE LOVE OUR COZY TRAILER!

Let's start the tour from the front door. If you walk straight ahead you will arrive in the kitchen!
(view from the front door)-->
If you turn right, just before the kitchen you are in the living room!
... See my Tabblo>

2009-09-16T00:22:00.000-04:00

It was only a few months ago that Lush made its big appearance in Red Deer. I was just shopping around town, minding my own business, when i stumbled upon this treasure and had to go inside. Instantly I was excited about what Lush had to offer... handmade, organic cometics. The sent of the bath bombs and lotions, the fun, creative style of the shop (it kinda reminded me of a farmers market where everything was set up and labeled on its personal mini chalk board), and the friendliness of the people who worked there.

A few months prior, one of my friends from school, Raye, and I got together and learned to make our own bath bombs and bath salts. I LOVED it, had a blast, which further intrigued my interest in this store.

I can't wait to go back for another visit soon! Maybe for some of you lucky ducks out there it may be the source of future gifts!

if you would like to browse their store online here is the link!

http://www.lush.ca/shop/

Welcome Home Katrina & Paul!

2009-09-13T23:34:00.000-04:00

After our honeymoon, Kyle and I went up to spend some time in Ontario before the wedding of my very dear and best friend, Katrina. Katrina and Paul were married on August 28th; a wedding that definitely reflected their relationship, personalities and true love for each other. After a week in Virgina and then a week in Costa Rica, they have now returned to move into their apartment in Waterloo where Katrina is finishing up her schooling. Yay! Welcome Home... hope you guys had a wonderful Honeymoon Annunziello family!

The Honeymoon

2009-09-11T01:40:00.001-04:00

We were admitted! It was definitely an adventure flying to Bermuda... or at least trying to get on the flight from Atlanta. Kyle and I didn't know what was going on, but the woman at the counter trying to get us our tickets kept mummbling about things not looking good, even writing a big VOID on our printed tickets. But- a true answer to the prayers we were both praying in our heads- she without a word handed us tickets, and we dashed to security to get on our flight. A few short hours later we were in Beautiful Bermuda! ... See my Tabblo>

Wedding Photos by Erin

2009-09-10T13:01:00.000-04:00

We are thrilled with the photos that Erin, and her friend Arnold, took at our wedding... and want to share them with you!

Visit Erin's Photography website to view the amazing photos she took that capture our special day perfectly... even down to the last detail.

www.erinkay.smugmug.com
Go To 'CHUPP Wedding'

Thankyou so much Erin!!

New Beginnings

2009-09-09T19:33:00.000-04:00

Today marks a very special day- our new blog! We really hope that this blog can be used as a way to keep contact with all the special people in our lives living around the world (updating more frequently then in the past :S).

The past month has been filled with new and exciting beginnings... so we thought, what better time then this to join forces to share a bit about our lives!

So sit back, relax and get ready for the posts to start flowing in! We've got a lot to catch up on!