Cans for comments food drive is done!

Thank you so much to all of you who participated in our "Cans for Comments" food drive! As we will be leaving tomorrow for Hawaii to spend time with our family we have decided to split our donation into 2. Will donate half of our cans and non perishables to the Hawaii Food Bank in Honolulu and the other half to the Hudson Valley Food Bank when we return to New York!

Many of you who commented were first time visitors and we that you will become regular visitors to our blog!

Thanks again!

-Jaymie

Cans for comments food drive

Inspired from our friends and fellow photographers at Ohana Photography, Chris + Lynn, and Anne Ruthmann Photography From today until December 14, 2008 for every comment we receive on this blog entry, we will donate one canned food or non-perishable item to our local food bank. So make sure you leave some blog lovin and we'll be sure to pass it along! Also, don't forget to visit the other blogs mentioned above and leave some love for them too!

-The J Castro Photography Team

*Edit* Looks like this canned food drive is going cross country... Here's the list of other photographers from coast to coast also participating. Make sure you drop by leave a comment with them also!

Lori Miles
Bebb Studio
Blue Olive
CJ Scott
Erin Gilmore
Amber Hughes
Jamie Delaine
Tracey Heppner
Michael Wachniak
John Heil
Kristel Wymen
Alana Couch
Shandro Photo
Think Photographics
Jerk With a Camera
Christine Tremoulet
Perspective Eye
In The Moment
Delicious Juice

A birthday wish for my lovely wife

Audrey,

Sometimes the person you love most is the person you also take most for granted. You become so entangled with the day to day routine that you forget sometimes to say "I love you". I am guilty as charged. I love my wife, she is my strength. She holds me up when I feel like the whole world is crashing down around me. She is my hero, my rock, my life. She urges me to strive for more than mediocrity and to never settle for the status quo. I admit, that I am much resistant to her urging and even push her away at times.

Audrey, on this day, your birthday, I want you to know that I love you more than anything. Although I may not always show it, I appreciate you more you can ever know. Without you, there is no me. Thank you for always being such loving wife and mother. I would be completely lost without you.

There is a song by one of my favorite artists that I like listening to because it is a reminder to always do what is right and to never take love for granted. It's called Cherish by Brian Mcknight and I'd like to send out a dedication to you 1990's style with this song.

Loving you always,
Jaymie

Thanksgiving weekend. Addi is a year old!

Dearest Addison,

Your first birthday landed on Thanksgiving day this year. I thought it to be quite fitting actually, as your mommy and I are so blessed to have you in our lives. We are thankful everyday for the gift of life that God has placed in our care. Your Nana and Papa flew in from Hawaii to celebrate this milestone with you and we all decided to host thanksgiving in our home for the first time. Your Lola and Ankong (chinese for Grandfather) also came to visit and celebrate with us. We also threw a huge party for you on saturday, but I haven't even looked through those yet. Here are some pictures of the mini party we had on Thanksgiving.

Yeah! 1 year... you've grown quite a bit from your birth weight of 6 pounds 2 ounces. =)

It's tradition in many asian cultures to eat noodles on your birthday, you were no exception.  Birthday noodles anyone?

Here are you and Papa hanging out.

... You and Nana

Mommy's side of the family, Lola, Auntie Nikki, and your beautiful mommy!  Like her new glasses?

Ok, so here you are smiling at your birthday cake right? Well no, actually you are just starting to cry... Apparently the size of this thing sitting in front of you on your high chair kinda freaked you out. LOL!

So we had to remove it...

...and cut you a just a slice for you to tear apart. In the hopes of maybe capturing you trash your cake, I discovered that you are a neat freak. Yep, frosting on the mouth, frosting on the hands... But no where else. It was quite uneventful... but that's ok. Less clean up for your mommy and daddy right?

NOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM!!!!

My little cutie-pa-tootie!

Angkong and Lola

Papa and Nana

Your Unkie Dewey

Here are you, your Aunt Colleen and Aunt Nikki doing your best Home Alone impression.

Our Family... do I look fat from in these jeans?

THE WHOLE FAMILY!


I'll put up some pictures from saturday's official celebration soon. In the meantime, here are your latest milestones:

-You are walking completely on your own now. I love watching you wander around the apartment pushing on doors and just walking in circles enjoying your new mobility.
-You know how to ask for milk, cheerios, and any food for that matter by pointing at it and then using your hands to sign "more!"
-You've mastered facial expressions... you copy me when I frown, smile and even copy my laugh.
-You've got rhythm... whenever music comes on you stand up and start dancing! How awesome!

It's hard to fathom that you've only been with us a year. Seeing how much you've changed makes me all goopy sappy inside and am filled to the brim with joy at watching you grow. You are an amazing little girl and your mommy and I love you oh so very much. Always stay sweet, and remember to smile! Happy birthday little angel...

Mommy and Daddy

The wedding of Stephanie and Bill Part II

So as promised here are more of Stephanie and Bill's wedding. Stephanie and Bill were married this past Saturday at the Marist College Chapel. Although the skies were clear and the sun was shining, it was FREEZING outside! Regardless, Stephanie and Bill were such troopers we couldn't help but take advantage of that and do some awesome bridals outside of Mills Mansion in Staatsbrugh, NY. On with the pictures!

Our associate photographer, Izzac met Bill at his home in Kingston, NY. Being the awesome jock and all around cool guy that he is, he pulled out his Yeah-I'm-Hot pose for Izzac.


Stephanie had her hair and make up done at Rapunzel Hair Design in Hyde Park, NY.


Happy Bride!


"Yeah... I'm Hotter than Bill!"


Mom helping with the dress.

True to their spirit and defiant to wedding day tradition, Bill and Stephanie saw each other prior to the ceremony to do their bridals.... OK it was wasn't really defiance, it was more "I want to eat right after the ceremony!"

OK, it looks warm in this picture, but trust me... it was 28 degrees with a windchill in the teens.  If you look very closely, you can see that Stephanie's toes are turning blue from frost bite.  =)

This place is soooo awesome.

Awesome site, awesome couple, frozen bouquet... what more can a photographer ask for?

ummm... pay no attention to the no access sign.

We do!

Here's Mom and Dad saying goodbye to their beautiful daughter.

Father/Daughter dance... these really get me.  I'm a sucker for happy moments like these.

Finally married and standing out in the cold.

Here I am during the bridal shoot, I've got on at least 4 layers here. =)

Poor Izzac was even colder than I was.  Here he is during a lighting test, I've been in the Northeast now for almost 8 years, and Izzac just moved here from Texas not too long ago... so sorry dude.

Unfortunately, Audrey wasn't able to join us in our antics this day, so I brought along a very good friend of mine.  He may become a permanent fixture on our team very soon... meet Ben!

To Stephanie and Bill,

You two are such an amazing couple. Being able to meet you and your family was truly an honor. Not to mention, you guys rock for letting us have some of those awesome Red velvet cupcakes... OMGSOOOOOGOOD! Enjoy your honeymoon!

-Jaymie, Izzac, Ben, and Audrey

You can view their slideshow here

Stephanie and Bill Slideshow

The Wedding of Stephanie and Bill

Just one teaser... More to follow soon!

Addison is 11 months old.

Dearest Addison,

Yesterday was your 11th month of life with us.  We are so excited to see how much you've grown in this time.  It seems only yesterday you were still laying face down on the ground barely able to lift up your head.  Now, you're starting to walk.  You took your first real steps a couple of weeks ago.  We were sitting in the living room watching you play with your toys when you suddenly stood up and took two steps towards me and your mommy.  We were so overjoyed that you did it all by yourself.  Apparently, you were overjoyed as well, being that you started clapping your hands and laughing so hard you fell back on you bum. =)

This month starts the holiday season for us, and to kick it off we took you apple picking at Dr Davies Farm in Congers, NY. We had an interesting day to say the least. You were not in much of a good mood. Anyhow, here are some pictures.

A neat little tractor.

Here you are smiling at mommy with your first real pumkin!

In the orchard... apples apples everywhere....and only two teeth to eat them with.

This is the face you had on most of the day.  Unfortunately you were not in the best of moods that day.

But we did get you to laugh... once.

My little pumkin... 

Here you are at the dinner table making faces.  You really crack me up sometimes... =)

No seriously... 

 

This face is something you learned from your ninang (godmother) Riela... oh the things you learn sometimes.

Here's your ninang for comparison.

This is a picture you mommy took of you one day when you discovered the properties of a glass door.


My dear, I've learned some really neat things about you these past 11 months that makes me so proud to be your daddy. You are quite the comedian, I think you got that from me. If there is one thing in life that you should never forget, that is to never take yourself to seriously. Kick back, stop and smell the roses, and never forget to smile. You have a ways about you that brings a joy to others in ways that I have never seen or experienced. You are my little angel and I adore you more than anything in the world. As we prepare to celebrate your first year of life, I want you to know that we, your mommy and daddy, will always be here to support you and raise you to be a strong, independent, and compassionate person.

Love Mommy & Daddy