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The word Advent is from the Latin “Adventus,” which means coming.

Preparing for the coming of Christ…

Day 2: We are on our way with our Advent Calendar!  Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas but like most people in America, we follow it in our home starting the first Calendar day of December leading up to Christmas.

You can search Advent Calendars online and find many different options.  It is especially fun with little children to open up a surprise every day until Christmas.  We were given the above Wooden Advent Calendar and every day we can open it up and unwrap a magnetic piece that fits onto our nativity scene.  It was a bigger negotiation for our kids when they were younger on who opens the box and who places it on the board each day.  I recommend also getting some of the cheaper paper ones you can find at stores like World Market so they can have one of their own.  My kids have never opened candy or small presents in their calendar but I know some people do.

We also have (had?) the LEGO City Advent Calendar and that is fun to put a little figure together every day.  I think I was able to get it back in the box for a second year missing a couple of pieces and then I just had to let it go.  We live in a sea of Legos and there was no way I could keep them from playing with the little figures or getting them mixed up with our regular pieces.  Luckily the prices have come down so you don’t have to feel bad if it is a one year calendar.  There are a lot more fun options now too.  The Star Wars Advent Box looks fun for children older than 6 years old.  It is not too late to get one especially if you have 2 children – do it every other day so they each get to open their own.

If you haven’t done one of these before, get the less expensive one from last year – your kids won’t care.

I think I want to get one of the last two for me Kate.  She misses out on a lot because the boys wreck stuff we have been there and done that with the boys.

The nativity one will still be our primary one because it is just easier to keep your head in the right place and a great visual to talk about the true meaning of Christmas.

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ourtown photographer

Meet the September 2012 Our Town Monthly Cover family, The Thomsens of Vinings Estates.  With ALTA tennis starting today all around Atlanta, it was a great time to feature this fun tennis family on the cover.

ourtown photographer

We multi-tasked for this session.  Not only did we get a great shot for the cover of a magazine, we also marked the occasion of adding a new puppy to the family.  Rue, a little black mixed-breed, was adopted from a shelter just a few days before this picture was taken and is sure to be a long time family member.

Thirdly, we shot to have portraits of Grace with her new puppy and family.  Grace is graduating 8th grade this year and we plan on having some great images for her 8th grade feature page in the yearbook.

Photographer’s Tip: Even if your school does not feature 8th graders like hers does, you can mark that milestone of graduating middle school with a family photo session.   Think of how much he or she will change before the next time they get professionally photographed which is usually during their Senior Year of High School.

What to Wear: Grace has a wonderful unique style and she originally pulled together pieces from the new 2012 Adidas Adizero line that looked terrific.  The red and black that you see in our cover was a back up.  Because you always go with what looks best on Mom first, we decided that the yellow was too much and the black with a blue tennis court backdrop was the way to go.  The pops of red here and there add some color and most importantly it is a more classic image that they can hang in their home and enjoy for years to come.  You want to reflect your personal style in a classic way so that it stands the test of time.

 

ourtown photographer

 

At the closing table when they purchased their home in 2000 the seller leaned over and said “you don’t realize it now but the best thing about your new home is the neighborhood”.  12 years later Angie and Mark Thomsen agree that Vinings Estates, Smyrna neighborhood, has meant more to them than they could have could ever have imagined.

Raising children Grace (14) and Maxmillian (11) keeps the family constantly on the go. Participating in Smyrna Soccer, where Mark has served on the Board of Directors for 6 years, both children have developed good physical skills especially in endurance running as evidenced by Grace winning her age group at last fall’s Silver Comet Trail Half-Marathon….a path she knows well having regularly visited it since being pushed in a baby jogger by her Mom and Dad. The entire family has completed the Peachtree Road Race a combined 30 times.

Fortunately for Mark his position as a VP Business Banker with PNC Bank supporting their Cumberland/Galleria/Smyrna branches keeps him in the area most days and involved with community organizations including the Smyrna Optimist Club.

Another family passion is tennis ! Mark and Angie both captain several neighborhood teams, including Mixed and Men’s Doubles. Angie’s women’s team LOVE (Ladies Of Vinings Estates) won the ALTA City Championship last fall.

Angie is a Stay at home Mom, who likes to cook, bake, and entertain, she is Senior Sales Consultant for Thirty-One Gifts – a line of personalized tote products as a home based business. Who finds most of her time is spent driving and going to sporting events, since the entire family participates in several sports, sometimes it seems like a juggling act to get everyone where they need to be.

Both children attend Eastside Christian School and the family attends Trinity Anglican Mission church on DeFoors Hills Road in Atlanta.

Recently they acquired a black Lab/Jack Russell puppy (RUE) from Atlanta Humane Society who joins their mixed terrier (GIZMO) rescued 6 years ago.

— From Our Town Monthly | September 2012

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Marietta little league

Introducing Braeden Swilley of East Cobb.  Braeden has been named the 2012 Little League Good Sport of the Year and was recognized for his “spirited and dedicated commitment to the ideals and goals of the Little League program.” Braeden will receive an award at the 2012 LLBB World Series this summer and I had the high honor of photographing him for the National Little League Association.  One of these pictures will hang in their national museum. He and his family will attend the 2012 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. in August as guests of Little League.  I am so proud of him.  There are so many ball players in this world – if our children can be good sports…good people – what else could we want?  This is the nicest young man and I am so happy for him!  Also, his parents say that his great coach was a big part of this.  Here’s to all you little league coaches out there that give your time and are good, fair and make such a positive impact on our young boys.

East Cobb Little League, Marietta, Georgia

Press Release announcing Braeden as the national winner can be found at this link.

“For his exhibition of the core values of Little League, Braeden has been selected as the recipient of the 2012 Little League Good Sport of the Year. Braeden, along with his family, will be recognized at a breakfast and during an on-field ceremony at the 2012 Little League Baseball World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.  The 66th World Series will be played Aug. 16-26.”

I was excited to be the feature photographer for Our Town Magazine this month.  They have a cover story on one of my favorite clients, little Charlie-Bear.  His parents, Doctors Alex & Leslie Patrick, have a great Dental Practice in the Smyrna Vinings area.  It is at the corner of Cooper Lake and the East/West Connector.  I’ve gotten to know this family over the past year and think the world of them.  They are so professional and still very personable that I want to recommend them to all my friends.  You can tell them I sent you!

Check out my Our Town bio here.

I hope you find me at the Jonquil Festival this weekend in Smyrna.  I’ll be at a booth with Easy Edges displaying frames, albums and other fun stuff.  Above are some pictures of Easy Edges handmade clothing.  You know the Auburn dresses have to be my favorite thing.  I think the tie t-shirts for little boys are pretty cute too.

The Turkey and Pumpkin shirts are adorable (AND the Pants go with my Auburn shirt)!

Children grow up so fast.  I think it is fun to splurge on these cute custom made clothes while you can still get away with it.

Hope to see you this weekend.  It is supposed to be beautiful Fall weather and a great time to walk around downtown Smyrna and see your friends.  You might as well get a big jump on your Christmas shopping too. 🙂

October Our Town Magazine for Smyrna, Vinings and Vinings Estates

Meet the Eaton Family of Smyrna, Georgia.  You can read all about them in the latest issue of Our Town.  These images were shot early in the morning at Cobb Park near Campbell High School where the Spooktacular Chase will start and stop this Saturday.

The Spooktacular Chase is Vision Rehabilitation Service of Georgia’s signature fundraising 5K run (and 1K walk).  If you haven’t signed up visit www.spooktacularchase.com for more information.  I hope you get to meet VSR’s mascot, SeeMore.  He was a real hoot (ha) and my first session with a mascot!

Even if you aren’t a runner, go out and support the race and when you are done you can head over to the Jonquil Festival and look for me!

If you did not get a copy of Our Town this month, stop by Rev Coffee in Smyrna.  They usually have a big stack of extras.

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Lisa