A New Cousin - no babies, it's a grown-up!!

Waaay back when I was in Med Tech school, I got to do my lab clinicals at Centrex Labs at St. Luke's Hospital at home in Utica, even though I was living and going to school in Binghamton. So I lived at home for 8 weeks, and in the meantime, managed to secure a weekend job bartending at The Hook, Line & Sinker, where I used to wait tables before moving away. (You know, before Dick Zdyb sold it to a Dunking Donuts franchise and they frigging tore it to the ground, leaving lots of my friends and family jobless....but I digress.)

While bartending with my Mama on weekends (we made an awesome team, by the way), I met Ashley, one of the servers there. She was actually pretty awesome and I really liked her.

Fast forward a few months when I hear the family talking about my Cousin David's new girlfriend Ashley. I had no idea they meant Ashley from The Hook. When I realized it was her I was ecstatic!!

Now, I should back up a bit here in regards to my cousin David. We've always been very close, and when we were little we hung around each other so much (and both had the same blonde hair), that people thought we were twins. We've always just called each other "twin", and it has since then represented our bond.

That's the 2 of us in the middle, my brother on the far right, and my cousin Jamie on the far left.

I don't just accept anyone to marry my twinsy, but if I had to choose it would be the one person he chose for himself.

I got to take their engagement photos before moving to TX

I love Ashley. She and David make a great team, and I'm so happy they found each other!

I am so thankful she is family now. Not that you really need a marriage license to make you family...but it makes it legally harder for her to get away from us now ;)

Remember Ashley: we are all related by birth, we can't help it. But you chose us, and now you're stuck in our big, crazy, wonderful family.

Welcome to the Family.

I managed to get home for the wedding, (by myself because I didn't want Aidan to miss any time from his first week of Kindergarten). Ryan got a few days off and was able to stay home and play Daddy Daycare so I wouldn't have to miss the wedding. He was super bummed he couldn't go though. Back in our younger, crazier days in Utica we had many a "fun" (aka drunken) nights out with my twinsy.

It was really nice to get together with our family for a happy occasion, seeing as the last time we were all together it was for Dad's funeral in February.
We had an absolute blast! I love love loved seeing everyone!!! XOXOXO

Lar, Sandra, our Cousin Rich, and his girlfriend Christina.

Me & my bro.

Me & my Sister in Law, Sandra <3

A pre-wedding toast to the happy couple! Love my family.

With my Auntie, my Dad's twin sister.

with Auntie & cousin Melissa

A trip home always means I'm in high demand for photo sessions, and I LOVE it.

My first night in town I stayed with friends in Syracuse and got to do a cake smash/first birthday session for their little girl. Was it really only 2 short years ago I was doing her big brother's first birthday photos too??

I love spending time with the Parker family, and I almost always try and stop in for a quick visit when I'm home!

The next night I got to do my "little" Cousin's Breana & Kara's senior photos as well. 

Bree asked me months ago if I was going to be home soon and if I could do them for her. It worked out perfectly that I made it up for David's wedding and was able to do them!!

I had to make her do her own location scouting, and she wanted a field of sunflowers, and she found one!! The photos came out amazing. The field was perfect!

Breana

Kara

Gah how can they be so grown up already?

I hope to be able to get home again soon to spend a longer time with family!