As I write this blogpost on the start of the Christmas season in my hometown, I get this warm, fuzzy feeling at typing out "hometown." It seems silly, but growing up a hometown is something I always wanted. Due to my dad's job and my parent's wanderlust, we moved often and all around the country. I went to three different high schools and looking back can never really claim one place as my "hometown." While I'm thankful to have had exposure to so many places and experienced regional culture all over the country, being an American mutt made me long to one day call just one place "home."
I moved to Loganville on New Years Eve of 2004. I had followed my family down here from Washington State, and having lived in mainly cities, I was completely unaware of what small town living was.
The first time I ventured out was on January 2nd and I stopped at Kelley's in Loganville (when it was in the old, small house) to get breakfast. I opened the door and walked in and the crowded establishment fell silent as the patrons tried to assess who this newcomer was. Welcome to Loganville! I ordered a biscuit to go and after three years in the Northwest where KFC is considered fine southern cuisine, a Kelley's biscuit was the best.food.ever.
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Fast forward six months. I had started working two jobs and made a few friends, one of whom introduced me to my now husband and the rest is history. After seven years (the longest time I've lived in any one place) I now call Loganville my "hometown" and am ecstatic to begin this Christmas season with my family.
I plan to shop local, and to start I began with Angie Kadow of Kadow Photography to capture our family Christmas portraits. The beauty of Kadow Photography is that we met at Fort Yargo to take pictures as opposed to a traditional photo studio. My two and three-year-old boys drove the last photo studio photographer certifiably insane when we tried that route, so wide open spaces at Fort Yargowas definitely a better backdrop. There's no walls that confine their random screams or "squeelsof delight" as those fortunate souls who don't live with toddlers call it.
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We dressed in our Christmas best and got stunning results. If you're looking for a local Loganville photographer to take your pictures this season, she rocks! Having lived here only a year herself, she's also working on calling Loganville her "hometown" and sharing her skills as a photographer is part of the big plan. Go like her page to take a gander at our Christmas pics!