Finn’s First Birthday

We celebrated Finn’s first birthday yesterday. We had a few friends over for sangria and cake. It was great fun!

Finn got a wagon from his grandparents. He got a kick out of pushing around his friend Hart.

My mom made an amazing banana cake with cream cheese frosting. Melody decorated with icing and fruit.

Cake face!

A kid who reads the card before opening the present. Mine?!!

My good friend Audra made some pictures at the party, too. The above image and the ones below were made by her. Thanks Audra!

Melody decorates the delicious cake.

World’s proudest grandpa.

Chew toy.

Iliana helps him with his first bite of cake.

Finn shared some cake with me.

He likes things that roll.

That’s my boy….

He doesn’t forget to walk his guests to the door.
Pre-Schooler

Finn started pre-school this week. On Friday, we brought him by during lunch to introduce him to his new classroom.

They have a cool light table that Finn really likes.
Old Country Dan

I had a shoot at Carver’s Country Kitchen today. Above is Dan, my assistant, standing in for a test frame. Keep up the good work, Dan.
First Grader

Iliana started first grade today. She’s holding her summer homework, a visual interpretation of the word ‘friendship.’ As I drove her to school, we talked about the ‘flutteries’ in her belly.
The End of Summer

We had rare Monday evening cookout and swim with some friends this week. Iliana started school the next morning… first grade.

Finn was satisfied to sit in the high chair for most of the evening.

Still patiently sitting an hour later.

Melody and I went to another cookout Friday evening. And Sunday. The above pictures is from Friday, though.
Cafe Versailles

We wanted Cuban food in Miami. This place was recommended to us by a Cuban-American. If you go to Miami and haven’t been here, by all means, go!

Mmmmmm…. the mojitos were amazing. Lime, mint and even sugar cane.

The food was amazing, too. I had pork, beans and rice, and fried plantains.
Arcade

The Arcade diner is the oldest diner in Memphis.

They have great coffee.

We wait patiently for our breakfast.
Memphis

Unboundary has brought me to Memphis to shoot for a FedEx brochure this week. We’re here thru Wednesday, then we go to Miami. I’m shooting these really tight faces of FedEx employees. That’s Dave, the designer from Unboundary.

Yours truly….

For dinner, we hit Gus’s Fried Chicken.

Checkerboard tablecloths, fried chicken and a jukebox.

Waitin’ for the good stuff.

We started off with fried pickles and topped off our fried chicken with chess pie. A real heart attack of a dinner.

We walked off dinner by the shore of the Mississippi River.

Cracked Mississippi mud.

The Mighty Mississippi is pretty dirty.

Hair cream.

Fishing tackle.

Life vest.

Garbage lines the shore here.

But the sun still sets in the west.