My Grandma

First, I have to say happy birthday to my dad and thanks to my grandma for having him!!

I’m so excited to share my grandma with you! I’ve known her my entire life and she is one of the most special people I know! =) I am the youngest of four grandchildren which of course means I’m her favorite being the baby and all (kidding). I remember a lot of special times with my grandma growing up. I remember her taking my brother and me on walks to the playground, trips to the mall, bath time when we would play “beauty shop”, playing with cabbage patch dolls and a super fun trip to Italy with my mom and cousin when I was 11.

My grandma is now 91 years old but you would never know by looking at her. I think she is still as gorgeous as she was when she was my age! I love her so much and I’m so glad she agreed to do a photo shoot with me! She has a gorgeous backyard that made a perfect setting. It is full of beautiful flowers, fruit trees and tomato plants.

Here are a few of my favorites of my grandma and her amazing backyard!

My beautiful grandma…

Growing up, I loved playing in this yard! On the right where there is a medium size tree, there used to be a giant oak tree (I think it was oak) that had a swing hanging from one of the giant branches. My grandpa used to push us SO high (or so I thought as a child) we could touch the leaves.

Panther, the cat, loves my grandma so much! He followed us everywhere.

Aren’t the flowers gorgeous?

My grandma told me the chair she is leaning on was bought for $60 in the 1950′s. She has good taste. =)

Next, I wanted to take a few shots in “the jungle”. When the huge tree covered this area it really was like a jungle. My brother and I loved running around, making paths through this area.

Pretty light in the jungle and very appropriate that she has a banana tree!

So pretty! I hope I look this good when I’m 91!

My grandma’s caretaker Rebecca, is amazing! She doesn’t just take care of my grandma, she is like family.

A funny moment…

The jockey has been at the entrance of the jungle for as long as I can remember. My grandpa owned race horses and these are the Dante jockey colors.

This is my grandpa and grandma on their wedding day. It is a giant poster hanging on the wall that we all signed at their 50th wedding anniversary. Are they not a gorgeous Italian couple?!? On the right is a very special rose. When my grandpa passed away in 2003, we had 88 long stem red roses on his casket (he was 88). They were the most beautiful roses I had ever seen. I mentioned to my grandma that she should plant them and make rose bushes (not sure how she does it but it’s pretty cool). She did and now she has a bunch of red roses always blooming in the front yard! This is one of them…

Before my mom and I left, I had to get a shot of my grandma with the red roses… and Panther of course!

This is a new cat, Tiger. He was very entertaining!

Thanks to my mom for taking this one! And thanks to you, grandma, for letting me take so many pictures of you and being a super model for the day! I loved spending time with you and I will see you soon! Love you!

Photographers, I encourage you to do a shoot with your grandparents! This was such a special time together and the photos will always be cherished. If you’re not a photographer, I would encourage you to get photos of your grandparents! We always seem to get photos when we are young (weddings, babies, high school seniors) but I think it is just as important to have photos taken as we get older too!