“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”

- Maya Angelou

Personal: Thanksgiving 2012 | Analisa Joy Photography | San Diego, CA Photographer

It is my favorite time of year! As I am writing this post I am wearing a santa hat and listening to Michael Buble Christmas on Pandora. I am officially competing against Santa for, “who is the most jolliest” and I think I am winning. After a year of hard work it is fun to have all the holidays bunched together as the new year approaches. It is great to have a break and spend time with family and throw some elbows at the malls while trying to get that great deal. People who shop in Southern California understand.

Yesterday, I was able to share Thanksgiving day with my closest friends and my family. The morning started off with the annual Turkey Bowl at my high school where all the alumni football boys reunited to relive their glory days. This was my first time coming to watch and I had a great time photographing my husband and all his friends. When the game ended we freshened up and headed to my mom’s house for a delicious Thanksgiving meal. I call it, “Thanksgiving meal” while my mom calls it, “Thanksgiving dinner” because I don’t think anyone eats dinner at 2:00pm, but I guess we will have to agree to disagree. When hanging out with my friends that night before we all discussed our favorite Thanksgiving food and I was the only one to say stuffing. I don’t understand the world if people can’t agree that stuffing is the greatest ever. After we filled our bellies (with stuffing) we headed to our closest friends of 15 years of dessert. We call each other cousins now because we spend most holidays together and we like to think that makes us practically family.

This year I thought it would be fun to coordinate a family photo with both our families and let me tell you, the hardest family session to organize is always your own. We couldn’t find the “perfect” outfit, we arrived late, we were running out of light, my niece spit up on my sister, my brother kept disappearing, and us girls had to keep doing retakes because we didn’t like our hair/outfit/awkward stance. HOWEVER, we finally made it work and I think we found our favorite. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving with your loved ones. It was my first Thanksgiving as a wife and I think it was the best one yet. I ate so much delicious food, became lethargic from the delicious food, crashed at 7:30pm, and my husband carried me to bed. I am thankful!

My sister’s boyfriend. He is so sweet and isn’t this the cutest picture ever?

It’s kind of disturbing/awesome, but our Turkey took shape of a heart this year.

Marisa wanted to throw the babies in the air, but it became difficult when she
would only toss Ellie a few inches while my brother tossed Kylie a few feet.

Meet Annalisa

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