partnerships

Once our children began talking (and complaining...), David and I started a tradition of saying "thank you statements" during supper. We each thank various people (present or not) for whatever we are grateful for that evening. And with Thanksgiving only four days away, we've been "thinking about thanks" even more. These days (you can pretend you're at our supper table now) I'm feeling especially thankful for (in fact downright lucky!) to be in PARTNERSHIP with others...to have a marriage with David, a creative collaboration with Amy, relationships with my clients.

My most recent clients, Jill and Nate, were married at Les Bourgeois' blufftop at sunset on October 14 'caused they loved the view, the setting and the fact that Rocheport is halfway between Kansas City and St. Louis, where most of their families live. Jill wanted a more spacious spot to get dressed with her bridesmaids though, and so she booked the lower level of the School House Bed & Breakfast, just down the hill.

Jill was the first bride to take advantage of this creative partnership between Les Bourgeois' Blufftop Bistro, with its incomparable views of the Missouri River, and the School House B&B, which offers a place for couples to relax before (and after!) the ceremony. I sure appreciated the chance to photograph the wedding day activities at both locations!





















































































It's taken me a few weeks longer to finish this album. Where has November gone?! Nevertheless, here it is! This album is designed as a 14"x10" horizontal album, so you'll see some extra white space above and below the page designs. Just imagine you've got a black matted album spread out on a white table cloth. Enjoy!


CLICK HERE TO SEE Jill & Nate's Album!
~kim wade

bahamas bound

Spent a lovely hour with Lyndsay and Ryan this past weekend on a scavenger hunt to soak up the last of Columbia's Fall foliage. And just as I was thinking about the landscape transitioning from Fall to Winter, Lyndsay and Ryan called with some news: rather than marrying next May in Columbia, they've moved their wedding to the Bahamas in January! A summer wedding in January? Let's go! So . . . if after the new year you are in need of a little sun and sand yourself, check the blog for pictures and stories from Lyndsay & Ryan's wedding.
~kim wade

isn't she lovely . . .

2 things I will never forget:

When Paul's parents (Mike & Kathy Wagner) first came into the room after Avery was born, Kathy took one look at Paul holding that brand-new Avery and said,
"and NOW you know how much we love you"

When I awoke that next morning Paul was humming/singing and practically twirling (?) to Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely".
He confessed, with the broadest smile I'd ever seen on his face:
"every time I've thought of her, that song fills my head"

We've actually called it "Avery's Song" ever since.
And all of our kids can pick it out of a fleeting radio station scan or grocery store muzac in little over a measure.
"Hey, this is Avery's song!" they announce.

Each time I hear it, I find myself going back in time, seeing Paul's smile,
hearing Kathy's words
and
realizing that I understood exactly what she meant.

I love being with couples in love.
It lifts my spirits and puts so many other things in perspective.

But seeing Andy & Cindy Jira with Madison ~
even more powerful and perspective-granting.

Coincidentally, this shoot took place on Cindy & Andy's wedding anniversary.
Here they are November 2002:




CLICK HERE
to see
how they've
grown.

It's the Welcome to the World, Madison Jira show.

Those are some FANTASTIC parents you've got there, girl.

wondering
where-o-where
the time
has gone

~ amy enderle

Eryn & Mick ~ just right!

Spent a few hours today...get this: catch & release trout fishing at the park (with Tycho ~ thanks to a community clinic hosted by area fishermen.)
At nearly the same time, Kim and Sophie (with Avery getting a chance to hang out at Kim & David's & help out) made 4 pumpkin pies ~ from scratch!
Where am I going with all this?

We're beginning to catch our breath, I think.
Which means FUN and CREATIVE stuff is on the way.

Eryn and Mick were married in September at one of the most magnificent churches in the area. The light in the church on Westminster's Campus is unparalleled. The church was actually (re)built by Sir Christopher Wren in England in the 1600s and then moved across the Atlantic piece by piece and rebuilt on Westminster's campus. "What could be more beautiful than light?" said Wren. Sir Wren hit the mark with that statement AND this creation. Amazing.

Mick is a history teacher at Rockhurst High School and marrying in such a historic place seemed just right. In fact, so much about their wedding day seemed Just Right....from the weather, to Eryn's dress (which both her mom & aunt had worn ~ but Eryn had redesigned with one of the most beautiful necklines I've ever seen), to the apple pie that accompanied dinner.

A lovely wedding weekend for a genuinely lovely couple. Four of my favorite memories:

1. Eryn's dad getting so caught up in the filming & photographing of the rehearsal that he almost forgot to hand off the cameras and walk his daughter down the aisle. So cute!

2. The sun setting Friday night over the Missouri river while Eyrn & Mick and their closest friends and family members sat & talked & laughed outside of the Les Bourgeois A-frame.

3. Eryn's absolutely adorable niece and nephew. Being near these two was such a delight!

4. THIS SONG: how fun & festive! ~ having it play while hugging ceremony guests...again....JUST RIGHT.

ENJOY THE SHOW : Mick & Eryn's wedding album

~ amy enderle

in the neighborhood

Just a block from our house is a gem of a little neighborhood park called Stewart Park. It's been my kids' favorite spot for impromptu soccer and baseball games, picnics, hikes along....or in....the creek, wildlife sightings (including a very large snapping turtle!) and leaf tossing. Elliot and I spent one warm May afternoon on his 6th birthday sitting on a large flat rock by the creek reading Harry Potter and seeing if we could actually CATCH a water strider (the answer, after experimenting with several different 2-person techniques is...yes!)

Lindsey and Kevin agreed to meet me at Stewart Park (on a very VERY crisp Saturday morning) for their engagement session, and wow! Stewart Park is ablaze with Fall. I am excited to document Lindsey & Kevin's wedding next July. Amy and I are so very lucky; we work with amazing couples; and making pictures of Lindsey & Kevin last weekend, I was reminded of this all over again.

~kim wade

g r a t i t u d e

didn't someone say:

Life is partly what we make it,
and partly what is made by the friends we choose.

Amen to that.



Paul and I met in college.
A college class, actually: Dr. Candy Young's (Truman State) Public Administration seminar.
That was (gasp!) 15 years ago.
Avery was born about 2 years thereafter.
(I was a college senior when Ave was born; BTW that's not a path we would recommend but has worked out pretty well here...)

Many of my dearest friendships were born in those days, too ~ Nikki Phillips (now Isemann), oh, and her husband Jim! Brenda Goering (now George), the best roommate anyone could ever hope for! . . . Jeff Milke, Rita Hiscocks, oh, and of course, my husband, Paul Wagner. And Tracey Wolff (now Westfield) ~ oh, how I love Tracey Wolff!! and the unflappable Jena Carter!!! This list could go on and on....Joe Bambenek, Debi Weaver, Teri Brickey, and how lucky am I?! - my now sister-in-law, Debbie Wagner. And I would be remiss to not mention Margarita Heisserer...the most special kind of friend & mentor (she was actually my scholarship/work-study boss.) I'm including Dr. Young on this short list as well and have felt especially supported over the years by her husband, Larry, an amazing sculptor. OK, now that I'm thinking of those whom I admire and have always felt so supported/loved/encouraged by: thank you, Elise Gaber!! ~ who started out as my college advisor and soon became cherished friend.

Isn't it funny, some of the people I've just rattled off I haven't spent time with in years.
With others I've been more lucky.

I will, with no exaggeration, be forever grateful that last week Jena & Brian opened their home to welcome Avery and I as Avery (and I) transition into the teenage years. Not only did we spend quality, memory-filled time with them and with Tracey (who lives and works in DC, too); Avery now regards Aunt Jena & Aunt Tracey as friends of hers, as well.



On the flight home, Avery and I started looking at pictures we made. Avery, Jena & I took an afternoon Photo Safari class (it's fun! - you should do it if you get the chance!) so many of these images were created by Avery using her photo-safari discovered techniques. Pictured below, David, photo safari founder/instructor, instructing our classmates:



The Enderle - Wagners are never very good about quickly getting thank you letters in the mail, but are hoping that THIS FUN SLIDESHOW STARTS TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE for the many memories. Of all the slideshows I've worked on, this one, that Avery and I did together, may just be my favorite.

Enjoy! ---- all of it, all of it was able to happen b/c of relationships with wonderful people, wonderful friends.

~ amy enderle . . . oh! and thanks to Google: above quote is by TENNESSEE WILLIAMS, who went to college just blocks down the road at the University of Missouri - Columbia.

New Things :

1. being the parent of a teenager
2. hair, me: curly. (Kim's daughter, Sophie asked: "how'd your hair get so CRAZY?"; see #3)
3. Carla, my kid sister (aka "Aunt K" ~ who, many would argue, is one the very best stylists in town) has relocated. For NEW salon info click here, or see below to find out where she indeed made my hair curly-q
4. postcard DESIGN; I did this, both photography and wording/layout/design stuff without (believe it or not) any assistance from Kim or Brooke (our FABULOUS designer friend who owns Originals Paper Art and makes all of our Originals Box Sets and Authentique albums)

Can you see those curls? Hmm...this was our first day, and the only rainy day of our recent D.C. adventure ~
October 27th, Avery's 13th birthday: