Rexburg Idaho on Christmas Eve
Last night, Christmas Eve, a couple hours before everyone showed up for dinner (Taco Soup) I took the Gator down by the river. It was cold. 11 degrees. I was wearing gloves and a hat but still, by the time I got inside some time later I could barely move my fingers. Away from the house a little bit, down in the cottonwood trees with a couple Sandhill cranes and a handful of magpies, it was still. The river isn’t frozen over and that water, moving slow, was about the only sound. A near silent night.
Kids are involved, so it doesn’t stay silent forever. And later, back in the house, after dinner and chocolate cake, with the kids dressed up like wise-men and shepherds, we sang some holiday favorites. At one point during the second song, we sang on key.
This is Rexburg. This is the town where I grew up. It’s good to be home.
Six
Six years ago today my wife and I had our first child. December 18 is a happy day indeed. Here are pictures of him when he was 4 years old.
Here is a conversation with this little man that took place last week–
Him: What are you doing?
Me: Watching a video with photographers talking about how they do things. It’s helpful for me to see what others do so I can see if there are things I can do to improve. Because I want to be a great photographer.
Him: Do you want to be famous?
Me: Well, that wouldn’t be too bad, but that’s not why I do it and I can be a great photographer without being famous. Do you want me to be famous?
Him: Yeah.
Me: What does being famous mean?
Him: I don’t know.
Me: Do you know anyone that’s famous?
Him: Uh….Big Bird.
Happy Birthday, beautiful son.
Utah Portrait Photography – St. George
Cousins, photographed in St. George, Utah.
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Want authentic, classic photographs like this for you and the people you love? We should talk.
Brothers
My boys.
Family pictures
We don’t have any family pictures. I’m ashamed to admit it, yet it’s true. But here’s a recent picture of the whole family, taken by me. And I like it because see how thin I look!
The Girl I Love
She gets more beautiful every day.
My good fortune
I enjoy my job. And one thing that makes it even easier is that I’m married to someone that’s so supportive about what I do. That’s helpful. But here’s the thing I really wanted to mention. On days when I have a shoot, just before I leave the house, she calls out, “Take great pictures.” Not just some times. She says that every time. So if I’ve ever done some work for you and you’ve been happy with the results, you can thank my wife.
Thanksgiving
Portraits of the five nurses
In May, all five of these ladies will graduate from the University of Utah and become nurse practitioners. Can you guess which one is my sister? And here’s a one-minute slideshow if you care to see more pictures.
Autumn
Today we raked leaves.
Long Island
We rode the train to Long Island. Had dinner with Kristi and her neighbor Lou. Jordan and Janna were there too.
I don’t know how this happened but we slept until 11am so by the time we got up, Jordan and Janna had to head back to Virginia. See you brother. We’re going to the beach.
We took some pictures as the sun went down. It was chilly, but mostly you didn’t notice because it felt like paradise being with family and friends.
93 Years Old
Island Park, Idaho
I’m home now.
I’ve been out of the office for a few days.
I swam in the Teton River and rode a jet ski on Island Park Reservoir. Kissed my wife. Visited my grandfather and gave my two boys a ride on a four-wheeler. I ate fresh trout. Got some mosquito bites. Layed in a hammock. Had pleasant dreams. I didn’t see a moose, but I did see a couple sandhill cranes and a muskrat.
Now I’m home, so I’m going to email and call you back.
My sister, the doctor
Kristi graduated from the University of Utah medical school a couple weeks ago. We are all so proud. She’s the third M.D. in our family now.
Hey, who’s the hot chick?
And then a party at Sarah’s house for delicious Tacos, served by Carmen, pictured here. Sarah was also awarded her M.D. degree as well.
Spots
Pickle
The older boy
Growing
I think he looks older than four, here.
Four Years Old
Here are some snaps from last night’s birthday party.
Sippy Cup
Brothers – Bridger and Oscar
It snowed a couple weeks ago
One more day up in the canyon
My Parents
They still laugh together after 43 years.
How to get to Rexburg
We pulled off the road just past the Idaho/Utah border. I can’t remember if we had already passed Malad.
This is not my home town
I drove to Rexburg for the weekend. There’s a new Wallgreens on the corner, just below the hospital. The shop that sells wedding dresses is still there but the jewelry store has changed hands. The blacksmith on Main Street is gone, but he’s been gone for years. I wonder how many people even know he was there. Or that there used to be a seafood restaurant in the space the city offices now occupy. I had my first taste of shrimp in the same room where I later got my marriage licence.
Rexburg is small, so you can always been sure you’ll see someone you know when you go to the grocery store. So I went to buy some cookies but I didn’t see anyone I knew. All the people I saw were waving and talking to other people I didn’t know. And I wasn’t looking for someone that would hug me and tell me I look good. I would have settled for someone I hate. On my way out of town, I thought, this is not my home town.
Think back: 1985. The devil comes out at midnight, they’ll tell you, so you better be home before 12. But sometimes, you can stay out pretty late and avoid the devil if you’ve got some good friends and you know where to go. So we got a stereo and some cassette tapes and drove up on the dry farms. We pulled off the road, and drove to the middle of a potato field. There were six of us. Three boys and three girls. We put the stereo on top of the car and turned it up real loud. Then we danced. It was a little chilly, but that’s why you bring the girls.
Amy and I talk about whether or not we romanticize our past and what it was like growing up there. But it really doesn’t matter, I guess, because it’s changing, and there’s no going back to the way it was.
Amy portrait
