maya's first birthday & finn's third

actual dates 7.21-22.12

we were going to be in louisville on maya's actual birthday so we decided to throw a party so the family could help us celebrate our little girl.  (and finn, since his was just a month before, but it was mainly maya's shindig!)

the weekend was going to be a little bit crazy. i was photographing my dear friends walter & becca's wedding friday night. bryan was leaving friday for chicago for his good friend vijay's wedding.  he'd drive back as early as possible on sunday for their party at 1.

but on the tuesday before vijay & pooja's wedding they called me asking if i'd be able to come shoot their wedding. their photographer hadn't returned phone calls or emails in a couple weeks. they'd driven out to her office & it was empty.  no furniture, no sign, everything gone. they'd paid in full (NEVER, EVER DO THAT!) i bought a plane ticket for first thing saturday morning.

walter's wedding was incredible. i stayed with them until we dropped them off at the hotel. 2am. my flight was leaving at 6. ugh. that all went well, except my equipment was in a special case that i'd checked & they'd decided without telling me to put it with the unusual sizes like golf clubs, etc. i waited as everyone grabbed their bags & left. nothing left on the carousel. finally i found someone to ask & there it was. thank the lord.

long story short... the photographer showed up about 30 minutes before the garba ceremony started on friday night. i'd hired someone to help me cover friday night, she drove an hour to help me/us out. total ridiculousness. apparently this photographer doesn't return phone calls because they don't have time. vijay asked them to leave & they refused saying they had a contract. so lane & i were extras.  i had lane still take pictures, just in case the photographer flaked on giving them to vijay & pooja.

i took pictures very casually throughout the day, just in case as well. but for the most part, we just tried to enjoy ourselves, which wasn't hard at ALL. it was my first indian wedding & i loved everything about it. the way the women get dressed together, the beautiful colors, the dancing, the music, the symbolism. it was beautiful.

 the oklahoma frisbee gang. we really miss these guys.

 seriously, beautiful.

we left bright & early for our 6 hour drive back to lou. we made it with just enough time to shower & help dress the kids. 

we owe mad props to my mom & sister who watched the kids & great aunt di, mimi & dee dee for doing just about everything for this party. from making cakes, to decorating, to setting up, etc. thanks to ya'll we had a great party for the babes! and thanks to ree & stephi for taking most of the pictures for me!

thank you, thank you, thank you!

we rented out the louisville nature center, which was perfect!
enough room for our crazy big families & friends. & we were supporting something we care about.

i'd imagined a hungry caterpillar theme & di had so much fun with it.  maya's cake!

meyer clan.

finn's train cake!

smooches on our girl!

a lil baseball...

some water squirters!

john & dad.

finn assaulting aunt kacky.   lil stinker.

aunt di & maya.

:)

get em ian!!!!!

lissa put up a fight!

opening a few illegal presents.

my dear friend erin & maya.

bryan & sweet catherine.

lil rascals not wanting to take a picture.

auntie!

grandpas & their grandkids :)

kissing bellies.

almost all the aunts & uncles!!!

trying to escape & not wanting to get in the car & leave.

such a great party. thanks so much to everyone who shared in their special day.

saying goodbye on the way to the airport. 

so sweet. couldn't imagine any greater grandparents!!

loves you.