I mentioned to Leandra this afternoon as we were driving back from a walk at our favorite park that it seems like we both have been more acutely aware of every little step spring has taken this year. Usually, it seems like I look up during the first week or May or so, and realize that all the trees suddenly have leaves. But this year, for whatever reason (probably just because we’re *so* ready for some summer!) we’ve both been able to mark each bit of progress, from the ready-to-pop buds, to the tiny, tiny leaves and early daffodils, to the first few tulips and the slow “greening” of the trees in the distance as we drive out to the park. And the time we spent with Amy and Joe at Taylor University last Saturday was, to me, one of those landmark spring days–the entire campus was in bloom, the leaves had popped, and it was a beautiful, warm day. It was warm enough, in fact, that the visit to Ivanhoe’s (upon the insistence of Amy and Joe!) warranted a ginormous strawberry shortcake between the two of us.

Anyways… as we’re working through their pictures, we wanted to share a few early favorites. Enjoy!

We’ll have more of Quinton and Kristen’s proposal up soon!

Haley contacted us about a year ago, before she and Matt even had a date set, but as soon as she wrote to us with all the details of Matt’s proposal, we knew they were a couple we had to know and photograph. Just from her emails, the two of them seemed so in love and so excited about their life together. We met with them, and everything we thought was confirmed. Fast forward to last Monday– months and months since we last saw the two of them. Haley’s a nurse, Matt’s a teacher for Teach for America, and they’re still so in love. And to Leandra and I, “so in love” means that we’re so inspired. Add to that a beautiful (if chilly) evening in Lincoln Park, Old Town, and the North Beach, and you have a wonderful start to the spring. A few favorites…

Matt’s apartment in Lincoln Park had an amazing rooftop deck that overlooked the city.

Love these two…

Matt and Haley wanted to stop into the Twin Anchors tavern, which was featured in The Dark Knight!

Then we took a cab to the beach for sunset.

Matt’s request. Love it.

Oh, and this one. Love this one, too.

Chicago is so wonderful in that you can look one way and see the skyline, and turn around to look out and see the blue of Lake Michigan fade into the sky.

Haley and Matt, we said it already, but we enjoyed our time with you two so much! Enjoy the beautiful spring and have another round of the guacamole for us! We can’t wait for July.

We spent a lovely spring evening with Haley and Matt in Chicago yesterday, walking, talking, eating, taxi-ing, laughing, and yes, taking photographs. Doesn’t this picture just make you smile? It does for us.

I’ll be the other hand that always holds the line
Connectin’ in between your sweet heart and mine
I’m strung out on that wire

And I’ll be on the other end, To hear you when you call
Angel, you were born to fly, If you get too high
I’ll catch you when you fall
I’ll catch you when you fall

“When You Come Back Down”

Nickel Creek