Josh and Kallie headed to Oahu for Kallie's sister Kaitlyn's wedding and commemorating this trip with their 8-month old son Carson with a set of family pictures seemed like a great thing to do.  So the morning of the rehearsal we got together for some smiles and a little bit of shade to beat the heat.

Their little boy has the biggest smile and I wish you could hear his giggles through the screen, it would brighten your day.

                     

The scenic backdrop made the theme song from Jurassic Park begin to play whenever you looked long enough at the mountains and watched the green seem to multiply before your eyes.  The heavy, warm air enveloped everyone in a heat that welcomed the quick spurts of rain that morning to lighten the humidity.  The flowers were getting set, friends were running around making sure the candles were on the right tables and the excitement was palpable as a romance that has been forming for the better part of the last decade was moving into the next big step.  Each person that flew the nearly 3,000 miles to Oahu knew long ago that Kaitlyn and Tyler were destined to be together forever, so did the couple.  And with their closest friends and family present they exchanged some of the most moving vows I have ever heard.

You see Tyler is a hero.  He's been a volunteer firefighter, an EMT and now owns his own coffee service, in Seattle, as if there wasn't enough competition.  That's right he can run into a burning building, bring you back from the brink of death and make a perfect latte in the latte capital of the world, he's a hero.  But he would be the first person to tell you it's the love that Kaitlyn has for him that makes him brave, that pushes him to strive further, try harder, and be better at everything he does.  At the same time Kaitlyn's eyes beam at the thought of spending her evenings with the kindest person she knows after spending her days in school studying the often unkind nature of the human condition pursuing her Masters in Counseling.  They look at each other with what feels like an old love, an experienced love and yet a love that could inspire the most forlorn and outlast the sun itself.

Their father's shared wisdom that spoke to not only them but everyone who listened through the sniffles of such beautiful emotion.  Their vows were perfection as tears flowed like the poetry written for each other promising so much more than sickness or health, but promising openness, spiritual oneness and the breaking down of any barriers resulting in fully abiding trust.  I could gush about the vows forever but in the end the groom got to finally kiss his bride and it was as if the ocean itself resounded an applause with those in attendance.



That is how the day ended, in bliss and harmony under the protection of a powerful mountain and wonderful friends.  But this, this is how it began...

If you ever ask Aaron and Beth where they're from they aren't going to tell you they're from the East side of Seattle or Washington or even from the U.S.  Now this isn't to question their citizenship or request a long form birth certificate from either of them but the truth is, they're from Fun Country.  It's a bit of an inside joke but Fun Country describes Aaron and Beth really well.

Their two boys, Nathan and Josh, have their very own fun and funny country literally pouring from their smiles, laughs and un-realistically perfect blue eyes.  These two can take a stick, a ball, a blanket and a plastic cup and an entire new world emerges with heroes and bad guys and secret hideouts.

So we spent the day dodging rain, having 'adventures' and eating Theno's ice cream.


  




 

The boys were all picking up the biggest sticks they could find, and then Nathan said, "here Mom, this is yours."  I think Beth was a little underwhelmed!



 A secret family meeting coupled with a 200 mm lens meant ready... set... go!