Wind-blown away

So yesterday we did a maternity/family photo shoot with a new photographer I found online.  (I really wanted my girlfriend, Jacquie, to do them, but unfortunately we are still a little too far apart.  : [ )  Anyway, her name was Alicia and she has a very similar style to Jacquie, in my opinion, which is why I picked her.  Haha.  She was very cool, though - young and easy to work with and made you at ease in front of the camera.  We went to a location called Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, CT.  It was our first time out that way and unfortunately we didn't do much sightseeing while there, but the park was really pretty.  There was a building with a really cool vintage carousel that we used as a backdrop for our pictures here.  Rieley was bummed she didn't get to ride on it because they were getting ready to set up for a wedding.  But I'm hoping the pics came out amazing!!!

Outside it was a really windy day!  According to the News weather, a Noreaster is brewing near Maine and we're feeling some of the effects over here.  The clouds were dark and grey (which made for great lighting and nice background) and it was extremely windy.  We're talking 20-25 mph winds with the occassional gust up to 45 mph.  I was constantly flicking my hair back from my face!!  The temperature was already in the mid-50's and the extremely high wind breezes made it feel like it was in the 40's maybe.  Haha.  Rieley wanted to hide out in the car for most of the shoot and who could blame her since her fingers were turning purple!!!  It was some crazy conditions for this Hawaiian-made family.  Despite the crazy winds, the camera captures only moments of time and I'm truly hoping that Alicia caught some of those and can turn them into amazing shots. 

I've never been to a mainland beach before and it was really cool to see the seagulls up close and the crazy awesome seashells that lay in the sand below the water line - it was a low tide period.  You don't see seashells like these in Hawaii...you have to hunt for tiny shells in Hawaii...at this beach, I found a clam that was almost the size of my hand!!!!  I took a few of my own pics of the scenery around.  I hadn't been up close to a lighthouse like those before and had to take advantage.  I take my own DSLR camera every time we head to a new town!!!  I hope you enjoy the pics we took and I will be sure to add some pics Alicia took as soon as she is done editing them and sends them our way!!!  : )  I've also included a couple of shots from our drive through Hartford and a really pretty colored tree we pass every day on the road that I'm obsessed with!!!  It is a neon red/orange and I had to try to capture the colors on camera before it was completely bare for the winter.

Enjoy!


The city - The castle-looking building is the State Capitol...isn't it HUGE!?!



Jacquie - if you're reading this, I know you have a shot similar to the shells above, but I just couldn't believe how many were just scattered like that on the sand!!!

Nutmeggers

Hello Folks,

Did you know that people in Connecticut are known as nutmeggers? Hehe. Well, I just wanted to stop by and write about life as a nutmegger so far. It's got its pros and cons like anywhere else. I'll start by saying that it's definitely not home. We are living in Groton, which is a tiny little town on the South Eastern coast bordering the Long Island Sound.   It's home to the largest submarine base in the United States and is where the first atomic submarine was built.  It's surrounded by many other beautiful towns that have all recently begun turning fiery shades of reds and oranges and yellows.  The weather has been primarily in the 50s and 60s and occassionally gets up into the 70s making it perfect fall weather.  I've already gotten to experience thunderstorms in the month or so that we've been here.  They are pretty cool to watch, but definitely a little frightening. Don't even get me started on the tornado warnings.

The entire state of Connecticut is home to a ton of Native American and war history.  Many a great American writers, leaders, and artists are from here.  The scenery is gorgeous and the rivers expansive. We can be driving around and out of nowhere you'll see a break in the foliage and there peeks out a little pond or river or brooke.  It's so pretty in that way.  It's a photographer's dream if you're into that sort of thing.  It also surprises me every single night that the sky is never truly pitch black.  Rather, light pollution from near but far cities maintain an almost pinkish hue.  Oh, and who knew how big of a southern influence there is over here.  I definitely did not expect such good country music radio stations and the awesome country singer concerts that come out this way!  SWEET! 

I absolutely miss the familiarity of the islands, though. This is a fabulous experience that I would not trade for the world, but as the saying goes, "you can take the girl from the island, but not the island from the girl." That's right, I still walk around with a flower in my ear and will refuse to change my rainbow license plates for a boring blue and white one. I miss the waves you can find down at the beach and the free admission/parking.  I miss seeing and smelling the extremely fragrant flowers home to the islands as well..the only flowers you see around here are garden flowers and shrubs.  Oh...and gosh, CT drivers are quite on the impatient side.  I expected the honkers glaring at you if you drive too slow on the interstate, but I was not prepared for the ones who pass you by on the right shoulder as you await the opportunity to make a left turn off a regular street. Not a single person brakes and waits.

Phew...but I'm not complaining about anyone here. I've had a pretty good experience so far and hope it keeps up. I'll surely be back with more quips as our journey continues here on the East Coast. Have a fabulous rest of your day!!

View of New York City from the George Washington Bridge.  Guilford Fair from the Big Wheel.  : P
 
 

Our day in Mystic, CT.  We went to the Aquarium and then hung out at a nearby park.


Apple-picking and sightseeing on the way to and from Ashford, CT.

XO,
Stephanie

Boys, Boys, Boys

Before we left Hawaii, one of my best girlfriends allowed me to take some portraits of her three rambunctious boys in her backyard...just to have a lil something to remember them by and well because she needed some recent pics of them, too.  Hehe.  I had fun, but boy were they antsy.  I had to keep things as short and sweet as possible.  These are just a couple of my favorites.

I'm baaack!

Greetings!  I am back from a hiatus!  Well, maybe not so much a hiatus, but life has just slightly gotten in the way of any recent postings.  Nonetheless, I'm playing catchup once again in order to update anyone interested in hearing about the goings on of our lives.  ; )  Since my last post, we found out that we were expecting and we are already counting down the weeks till his arrival...about 6 1/2 to go now.  Little Taytum Andrew Kei Elkins is expected to be due on November 18.  However, at the rate of his progress...I'm thinking it will be earlier...and I'm praying for it, too.  He's getting so big and I am just ready for him to be ready to make his appearance - God-willing he is healthy and able to do so.

Nonetheless, our adventures have slowed down a tad bit.  In the beginning of May, we celebrated Rieley's 3rd birthday with our dearest and closest friends and family with the exception of a few that were missing.  At the end of May, we took a mini-vacation to the Big Island, but kept it kind of hush hush so that we could fit in as much sight seeing as possible without having to shuffle back and forth between the family we have there.  In early July, Rieley and I also went back to Maui to stay with our family while Daddy was deployed on his last underway for at least 3 years!!!  And last, but certainly not least, we made a trip to Maui once more in the first week of September as we finally received our orders to move cross country to Groton, CT....which is where I am writing from at this very moment.  Below I have posted a few of my favorite pictures of these moments we shared.  More of the beginning of our new journey that we have since begun to come soon.

But, before I let you scroll down to those pictures, I want to clarify that due to surprising, but very happy, news that we received of the baby now on the way...our honeymoon is postponed yet again so Italy will not be an adventure posted on in the near future as I mentioned in a previous blog entry.  On the other hand, many, many, MANY more pictures will shortly ensue especially as we greet the lil peanut into this crazy world.  : )

Enjoy!
Stephanie

The partaayy!!!

Exploring Volcano, Kona, and Hilo on the Big Island

Maui No Ka Oi