The Root Photography Blog

Amelia + Schuyler : Downtown St. Augustine Engagement Session

March 17, 2019 by Jensey Leave a Comment

It happened.

My baby sister is engaged. <3

I knew this day would come but I never knew the amount of love and joy I’d feel for her! This is my little sister; the kid my brother taped up in a box and convinced he was going to send her to Abu Dhabi, a la Garfield. The little girl whose hands and feet we’d hold and pretend to throw out the 2nd story window. Before you start feeling sorry for her, just know the bullying went both ways- I am, after all, a middle sister! ;)

We looked forward to mom’s Tuesday / Thursday shifts at the Disney Store every summer. Ah, sweet un-supervision! Would today be the day we convince Amelia she’s adopted? Would they lock me out of the house for two hours? The possibilities were endless!

But here she is, my baby sister, about to be a bride! We took their engagement photos around downtown St. Augustine where this fall, they’ll become husband and wife. And I’ll be standing by her side, eyes welling with tears, and deciding at what point during the reception do we tape her up in a box. <3

Fall Tennessee Trip!

March 13, 2019 by Jensey Leave a Comment

Personal photo week continues!! <3

Now, on to our fall family vacation : Home sweet home Tennessee. :)

We started off with a visit to our best friends in Nashville for a few days! 3 days in Nashville means two visits to the Nashville Zoo for this little Junior Zookeeper! <3

The petting zoo was a BIG hit!

It’s not Tennessee without some creepy decorations!

My favorite thing about the Nashville Zoo : The Kangaroo Kickabout! It’s the coolest exhibit ever where you walk through a fence-less exhibit and can pet kangaroos! :)

My boys <3 <3

Then it was off to a Gatlinburg cabin weekend with the bests, and this little gent in sweaters!

Revisiting the most special table in the whole entire world at the Dollywood DreamMore Resort. Because three years before this photo was taken…

… This photo was. It was during a mini vacation to this special place that I started filling out our adoption paperwork. <3

Cabin weekends used to be so fun! Now they’re filled with constantly freaking out about different ways for Ollie to hurt himself in an un-babyproofed home!

Y’all- Dollywood in October. I cannot wait to go back!!

Don’t judge his faces in this or the last photo… I promise he had a good time, lol!

HE FOUND HIS SHADOW! And wouldn’t step on it! It was the cutest thing ever!!

Ollie burrito! A sight we never get to see in Orlando! :)

Toto, I don’t think we’re in Disney anymore…

I bought this little outfit before Ollie was even born! It warmed my heart to see it on my walking dream come true! <3

Until next time, Rocky Top! <3

2018 Disneyland Trip!

March 12, 2019 by Jensey Leave a Comment

DIDNEYLAND! Our favorite place!!! I can’t believe this was Ollie’s second time in 15 months!! This trip was vastly different from our last, but I so loved watching him experience everything. Just like at our home park, Disney days look a *little* different than they used to- Less rides and more “Hey, let’s run around this random trash can for an hour.” Less character meets and more, “Hey, I’m gonna go flirt with this random custodial cast member for a few minutes.” I wouldn’t trade it for the world, even though photos are a *little* harder to get than they used to be!

And we were lucky enough to make this trip with our friends, so it was double the fun having the kids in matching outfits and watching them play. Of course they play at Disney all the time back home, but it really is different when you’re on vacation! :)

The epitome of Disney Ollie in the next two frames : Thrilled to be waiting in line and climbing on the rails…

… Kiiiiiinda hates the actual ride, lol.

LOOK AT THE EXCITEMENT ON THIS FACE I CANNOT STAND IT.

I. MEAN. <3

Just a little best friend hand holding during dinner. :)

The last time this photo was taken!!!!!! I knew this was the one I wanted to recreate!

Ok, as much as I love Disneyland, I’m also going to say we got blown off by *every* character we encountered. Like, it sort of became this depressing joke. I’d be heartbroken if this were my only time to interact with my favorite characters!!

One last spin on our beloved Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train! :(

The Pearly Band!! One of my favorite impromptu moments of our trip, and the only characters he wasn’t immediately terrified of! <3

See this? The thrill in his eyes and size of that smile? THIS was his favorite part of the entire vacation- Playing with and knocking on White Rabbit’s door! I think we clocked about 40 minutes in this little spot!

Do. You. See. His. Shirt!!! He was so so close to taking those first steps and I was willing it a little too much- I took my first steps in Disneyland and wanted the same for him!! (Alas, it ended up happening in Nashville a week later!)

Back on the first ride he ever did- Casey Jr. Circus Train! :)

That omg-I’m-up-three-hours-past-my-bedtime-smile!