Facebook {Northern Virginia Photographer}

Do you Facebook? Well, I do and spend entirely WAY too much time there! It is like crack and habit that sucks you in and before you even know it, you are hooked. I love it because it gives me a way to connect with my friends and family near and far in one easy location. My parents are in California, my sister in London and friends are scattered all over the place. I love being able to connect with them through the miracle that is the internet. So if you want to find me you can either click here for my fan page (psst - if you become a fan you might win a session or a great discount) or click below for my personal page. I hope to see you there!

Dorie Hamilton Howell | Create Your Badge

San Juan Island {Northern Virginia Child Photographer}

One of the things we did while in Seattle was take the day and travel up to San Juan Island. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time. While on the ferry my husband picked up some of those tourism flyers that tell you what is on the island and where you can spend all your money. I, being the non-spontaneous one of the group, told him that we didn't need them. We had our agenda and we would stick to it. Well, he insisted we keep them and look at them and I am glad he did.

One of the flyers was for a Lavender farm on the island. I knew the the lavender was in bloom at home so I made a phone call to their store and asked if we could visit the farm. Well, not only could we visit the store, we could go to the farm which just happened to be in full bloom AND was having it's annual lavender festival. I was so excited. You see what my husband didn't know is that I had packed a dress for our little girl to wear just in case a great photo-op came up. And this was a GREAT photo-op!!! So our trusty GPS took us to Palindaba Lavender Farm. I could have stayed there all afternoon but the ferry beckoned us back, but not before I took almost a full memory card of pictures.

This little lake was across the road from the Farm. They were having children's sailing lessons while we were there.

Huggable {Northern Virginia Family Photographer}

We have had quite the busy two weeks on our household. We have traveled to Little Rock, Seattle and Portland. Along the way we have met up with friends and family and had a wonderful time. This past week, while in Portland visiting my 99 year old Grandmother, I met up with some of my friends at a park. I love Facebook (you can become a "fan" of mine here) but there is nothing like sitting down with a good friend face to face. I love this lady and her two adorable kids. Our daughters share the same birthday and being the over achiever that she is, she has had another one since then. Two kids under the age of two. Any woman who does that is my hero! Here are a few of her sweet, sweet little boy. He is the type of baby that when you pick him up he just cuddles right in. I could have played with him for hours. Thanks for a great afternoon, I hope to be able to do it again real soon!!!

We love how he is holding on to her "leash" here.

Energy!!! {Northern VA Family Photographer}

This past week we had the pleasure of traveling to Little Rock, AR to visit with some great friends of ours. We spent 5 days sweltering in the Little Rock heat enjoying the company and catching up on the distance between us. They have a little girl that has so much energy that she puts the electric company to shame. Don't you wish we could just bottle this stuff up and use it as we got older? I got tired just editing these pictures as I remembered the circumstances behind them. Whew!

We did a short family session at the Old Mill in North Little Rock. It was a photographer's dream with fountains, bridges, lakes, steps, a real running mill and foliage to spare. It was hot, hot, hot but I think we got some great shots. I'm not sure you will be able to tell from the pictures but the Old Mill was featured in the opening credits of "Gone with the Wind".

Thank you "M" family for a wonderful vacation. I hope we can do it again real soon!

Blessings {Northern Virginia Family Photographer}

I love these kids. They are so special. They walk in the door and the whole room's energy level gets a huge boost. We have been friends for several years and anytime I see them I can't help but smile and get pulled into their fun world. That world was shaken severely though when several months ago their father was killed in a sudden and tragic motorcycle accident in the District of Columbia. A family of 5 is now a family of 4. Something so precious was taken from them with no warning at all. Luckily they are a family of great faith. We may not understand why this happens but we know that God will provide for this family in ways that we can't see or fathom at this time.

If you would like to help them, you can send donations to the Mark Waller Fund, c/o McLean Bible Church, P.O. Box 9300, McLean, VA 22102. All gifts are tax deductible and truly appreciated.

If you are reading this, hug your family a little bit tighter and tell them you love them. We are never promised tomorrow but we can take a moment to truly appreciate the blessings we have today.

Freedom {Northern Virginia Photographer}

Yesterday our country celebrated it's independence. It is a time where we can reflect about the freedoms we enjoy and the price that many have paid on our behalf so we can enjoy them. My dear friend Erma Bombeck puts a pretty good spin on this day. (OK, so she isn't my dear friend but if she were still alive and we were neighbors, I know we would be great friends)

"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4th, not with a parade of guns, tanks and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think that you have overeaten, but it is patriotism."

I hope you had a wonderful day, doing something that you enjoy with people you love. God Bless America, Land that I Love