Isabel + Matt #2

These two cuties came for a visit on the first of October, and we spent a morning in downtown Brookings taking some more engagement photos, as a continuation of our quick shoot back in July.

Matt and Isabel are so naturally classy and adorable, it made my job easy!

Little sister Maria came along to help, and the whole shoot was relaxed and lots of fun for everyone.

I can't wait to photograph their wedding next July!

Much love to you both!

Farewell for now

Yesterday Othman had to leave. We had such a wonderful time during his visit and it was hard to see him off, but I'm so thankful he was able to come!

Whenever someone who is visiting leaves, my family always takes farewell group pictures in the yard. Of course we couldn't break with tradition and took some cute ones before Maria and I took Othman to the airport.

I love these ones in particular!

During his visit Othman and I spent a lot of quality time together, bought a car, he met some of my colleagues and saw my workplace... all in all it was lovely, and a nice preview of what it'll be like when he comes for real! Fingers crossed that his green card processing goes quickly and well!

More fun in MN

In the afternoon Labor Day we headed to the Science Museum of Minnesota per the recommendation of Isabel and Matt who had been on a date there before. It was cute and educational too. We learned about weather, physics, dinos, and even past pseudo-science fads!

Othman even got to imagine himself as an astronaut.

It was a fun afternoon!

After that we were feeling peckish and went to a diner for some authentic American fare.

Awww, so cute.

While in the Cities we also had a lovely Sushi dinner with Isabel and Matt! It was a really lovely night and it was great to have a double date with them.

We loved our trip! We got back to South Dakota happy and rested from our little vacation.

A Morning at the Zoo

On Labor Day we decided to visit the Como Zoo in the morning, since it wasn't far and was a nice, small, and walkable. Plus neither of us had been to a zoo in years and years, so we thought it'd be fun!  

We laughed at the cute monkeys first.

There was a big family of Gorillas who were just beautiful.

There was also a super cute baby orangutan who was entertaining a big crowd.

We also saw some cool aquatic animals,

 and photogenic giraffes

and zebras.

We stopped by the gift shop on the way out and spent way too much money on gifts there, and then I had fun photographing some of the gorgeous water plants on the way out.

Next up: Labor Day afternoon!

New car!

It's so wonderful having my husband visit! Othman and I are having a really great time with my family, being silly and just hanging out.

Part of why I was so happy we was coming was because he wanted to help me buy a car! I've needed one since I arrived in July, but I haven't found one in Brookings and haven't had time to go to Sioux Falls to look for one. So it ended up that the day after he got here, this happened!

At the end of the day the car we bought is one that he has dreamed about since he was a kid, so it's really a car for him, not me. But it's a Subaru which means it's reliable and has 4WD, so I'm happy to drive it around until he arrives this winter! At that point we'll see if we need to buy a little commuter car as well, but this baby will be our main transport. It's such a cute car and we love it!

For the long Labor Day weekend we wanted to get away from SD and get to know our new car, so we took a trip to the Cities! More on that in the next post.

In which hubby comes to visit!

As we wait for Othman's green card, he has stayed in Morocco working while I'm living and working here. Being apart has been anything but fun, but luckily he was able to come to visit! The last leg of his flight was the same as Patrick's flight home for Labor Day, and they even got seats next to each other. 

Flying into Sioux Falls they spotted our old acreage, where the family lived for 8 years.

I picked them up at the airport and we had a fun drive home!

Mom made us a lovely family dinner to celebrate togetherness.

Happy.

Engaged!

This little sister of mine...

feels like this about a certain guy...

so not long ago this happened!

Which, of course, meant that when they came for a 24-hour visit this weekend I took them to the park down the street for a quick engagement photoshoot! 

We even took some photos on our road,

and in our yard.

When they come back for more extended visits we'll take a few more, because Matt is a good sport. And what girl wouldn't want a million engagement pictures??

Plus these two are so cute it just melts my heart.

Congrats again you two!

Home again

Finally I made it home after the smoothest flight sequence ever!

The past few days have been filled with relaxing, shopping, getting errands done, and just enjoying time with family. It's been lovely!

Smiles all around!

Tomorrow I begin my new job and a new chapter in my career! 

In which my dad turns a year older

Happy birthday daddy! Here's hoping this Friday the 13th is enjoyable, celebratory and full of good things for you.

I found this very natural, lovely series of you and mom on my computer today and had to post it! I barely remember taking these photos last summer but I definitely love them.

I'm so grateful to have you as a role model; thanks for all that you do! Wishing that this next year brings you plenty of good and as little bad as possible. Sending lots and lots of love from across an ocean!!

Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day today, and my mom must be rejoicing: she has the majority of her kids at home, her #4 just graduated college yesterday, and my grandma is visiting as well!

Grandma is my mom's mother-in-law, and they have such a beautiful, loving and respectful relationship that I've admired so much throughout the years. This picture of them from my wedding almost three years ago gives a sense of their bond and love.

Thank you both for being wonderful inspirations, and teaching me so much about life and love and happiness!  I love you both; Happy Mother's Day!!

Little brother graduates!

All the Braga-Henebry boys now have college diplomas!

Note the double tassels: Thomas impressively graduated with a double major in Geography and GIS—Geographic Information Systems, aka a large part of what my dad does. He also got a music minor! I think he has his three older siblings beat!

O and I couldn't quite get there (neither could Isabel who's in the midst of junior-year finals), but I'm happy our cousin John-Michael and Grandma made it out to help him celebrate! I stole all these pictures from JM's and my mom's Facebook pages.

I love this picture of the boys—when it's just them you can't tell how TALL they all are! Plus it's funny seeing my dad in academic robes.

Huge congrats to you Thomas!