Hudson Family

The baby trend continues! I have loved being able to document expectant mothers and their sweet families these past few weeks. This session came a couple Fridays ago when the weather gave us a slight break. I enjoyed being with these old college friends and their sweet little Mr. L, who is almost two. They are excitedly awaiting the arrival of a baby girl next month. We thouroughly enjoyed our session and I look forward to seeing how baby girl adds to the precious family! Happy viewing friends!

Love these with the belly...

Makes me smile every time...

Mr. L saw an airplane!

Pretty mama...

He wanted to fly like the plane!

Love Mr. L's face as they read about "baby sister" :)

Love this idea...The quote is John 1:16 "From the fullness of His grace, we have received one blessing after another."

More pretty mama...

Mr. L couldn't stay away from mommy any longer, he knows his days as the "only" are numbered, so he ran in for some snuggles and who could resist him?!

And a final sweet one of mom and dad...

Monday Confessions, Labor Day

I have to say, my hubby let me lay in bed today while he got up with the kids. Bless him!! It was a great extra time of rest for me that I obviously really needed. So Labor Day 2012, what are your plans today? The rain might be putting a damper on our picnic and pool plans but we shall see. 

1. Labor Day was created to celebrate the economic and social contributions of workers (I am hearing lots of politically charged comments in my head about the current value of hard work in our country but I will leave them in my head). Labor Day also now is also a huge retail holiday, due to people being off and it is apparently now only second to the Black Friday shopping phenomenon! I contributed with a little trip to the mall yesterday :) 

2. Labor Day is  also the symbolic end of the summer. I really do hope some fall-like weather comes soon! In high society, Labor Day is (or was) considered the last day of the year when it is fashionable to wear white or seersucker (in case you are in the company of high society soon....I, on the other hand, think the white jeans can stick around a little longer :)

3. In the course of a week, I myself ate an entire HALF GALLON of Edy's special edition smores ice cream. I was the only one eating it but it kept calling my name from the freezer night and day. I would eat a small bowl with one of my kids spoons to make it last longer (old diet trick).....but in the course of 7 days, I had eaten it all myself?!

4. It brought me to the conclusion that my booty might look like the one on Cinderella's evil step sister if I keep going in this direction....I won't be buying ice cream at the grocery store this week!

5. At that trip to the mall yesterday I had an interesting interaction with a 20 year old about a jeans purchase. Said tewnty year-old was probably about a size 4 and 6ft tall, wondering why I didn't want to try on the skinny jeans too in the dressing room at American Eagle (whole store was 40% off)? I was trying to gently tell her with my eyes that she shouldn't mess with a 30 year old who has had three kids, because I needed to stick with the style that worked for my body type! I humored her though because I was in a really good mood when the smaller size actually fit. Let me tell you though ladies, the "skinny kick" style isn't for most. Those had to go! I ended up going with a nice dark wash slim boot if you must know but the interactions in the dressing room were priceless.

6. My heart also lusted after the teaberry colored jeans but I refrained for feeling that I would look like someone impersonating a college student....I liked them though. Your thoughts my mama friends? Things you stay away from style wise? Or maybe it's just more about pulling it off with confidence...

7. We started watching Breaking Bad on Netflix this weekend. I have tweeted about it a few times but I am both intrigued and disturbed by this show! I cannot figure out how it is already in season five with the plot but it makes me want to watch some more to see what happens. At the same time, it's full of drugs, violence and all sorts of other maladies. I have been told to stick with it by a few....so we will see!

8. I just finally uploaded some photos from our trip to the carnival at the end of July. I sometimes laugh when people say Macy is a mini of me, because I don't always see it. I know we have blonde hair and blue eyes but I guess I just see her as her own person. She is naturally a whole lot sweeter than me :) This picture made me see what others see though :)

All in all it was a great summer! We got to the beach two different days, did a couple different carnivals, the Please Touch Museum, Philly Zoo, Ikea, Pump it Up....we packed in the fun! The preschool count down is 22 days :) Have a great Labor Day my friends! Enjoy your rest!

Neighbors and friends...

Our story began when we bought our first house, Andy And Stef were our neighbors. We became fast friends and enjoyed hanging out. Life progressed like it has a way of doing and they eventually moved but that didn't (thankfully) end our friendship. It has gotten harder to get together with 5 kids between us but we won't give up! I have had the honor of photographing them the last two summers for their annual family portraits. I love getting to be a part of capturing their family's memories! Their kiddos are precious and were great sports when we met up for this shoot at UD. This was another one of those sessions that had literally been rescheduled 3 times due to the crazy rain/storm/wind weather we have had this summer. Enjoy friends!

Such a cute family, right?!

Watch out preschool ladies...

Miss P is cute and saucy!

Loved these flowers...

Kids wanted to climb in this awesome tree so thankfully mom and dad said "go for it!"

 She's almost two, can you tell? :)

Could just squeeze all her cuteness!

It all started with these two great people :)

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Monday Confessions, back to school

     Nothing says Monday like pulling an entire roll of toilet paper from the toilet because your preschooler thought that was a good idea or like taking your toddler out of the dog's water bowl for the third time. These are the times that I want to pull my hair out, but there are other moments as well. I watched Dean sit still and get his "back to school" hair cut today, although preschool doesn't start until late Sept. I was imagining all the fun he will have (trouble he will get into) as I looked on. I watched Max transform a bit today because he is cutting molars and with all the other changes, his haircut made him so much more of a boy than a baby. Parenting is a crazy ride of emotions isn't it?! So here goes, I confess...

1. I took all three kids to Ikea Baltimore on Friday and it went better than I expected. Twins got to go play in Smalland for an hour - GOD BLESS IKEA. I walked around with Max, chose a few fresh throw pillows and a new rug to spice up the living room. I honestly could've gotten nothing and been very happy. Who says you shouldn't drive over an hour each way to get free babysitting?! We even ate lunch there in the cafeteria, which was also a great experience even with kiddos. I think next time, I will go on a Tuesday when kids eat free :)

2. I am SO READY for fall...I think I am just tired of being HOT. When you have to put three kids in and out of the car with carseats on a daily basis, you know what I mean. I never leave the house without being covered in sweat and I am OVER IT. I also love the fall season, so much about it I adore! 

3. I am currently reading The Thirteenth Tale,  and am only a little bit in but it's good so far. It was recommended by a book club I am loosely a part of and thought I should take a stab at it! Will let you know how it goes :)

4. I have to say, Pinterest is great for ideas but 99% of them I don't try in real life. I do, however, try a lot of the recipes! Some I have tried lately to success are Chicken Roll ups (yummy and easy), Cinnamon Bun Cake (delish) and the crock pot maccaroni has become a favorite around our house! I love it too because I literally use the recipes right off my phone and never lose them in a drawer :) What are some good recent recipes you've tried? 

5. Speaking of food, What's for dinner tonight at your house friends? I have class tonight so I am thinking a yummy easy version of "breakfast for dinner" with a quiche, fruit salad and biscuits. Kids usually like it so I can cross my fingers there won't be the usual dinner stand off.

6. And yes, I mentioned class! It's my first class of the semester tonight, ready to meet the students I will journey with for 16 weeks. Hoping there are some real creatives, dreamers, and doers in the bunch!

7. Did I mention that my town is getting it's own Chick Fila and it opens in 3 days!! Not sure who is more excited, me or the kids?! 

8. So speaking of Pinterest and fall, what crafts are you thinking about doing friends? Any ones you've been dying to try? I am already thinking about a fall mantel. Just ready for the seasons to change! (Did I mention our PAINFULLY large electricity bill last month too? Hoping Autumn is kind to us!)

9. Along the lines of Max growing, I packed up his bottles on Friday :( He's exactly 15 months old today! He was down to a night bottle and I knew I needed to give it up before it became an issue even more. I think it's harder on me than it is him. He did ask for "ba-ba" but I gave him his cup instead. Hope he transitions well!

10. Over and over I keep learning the lesson to be thankful.... Days can be hard, moments can be trying or even long seasons of life can have you feel like you're struggling, but moment by moment there are ALWAYS things to Praise God for and be thankful. A good friend got great news today that her precious son is coming home from the NICU (he has been there over 4 weeks). It reminds me to continually be thankful and look for moment to step outside my own little world. 

Here are some pictures of the kids from last weekend cruising their tricycles (cutest motorcylce gang I ever saw :)

He's secure in his manhood and Captain America shirt, he can ride the pink trike!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!!

Baby number four! (not for me :)

A sweet friend has baby number four on the way and decided it would be a fun time to do a little family/maternity session. We got a beautiful night last week with reasonable temperatures and a pretty sunset to make this happen! They are waiting to be surprised so all we know is there is a sweet little sibling baking in the oven and due out next month :) Enjoy!

Cute Big Brothers...

Sweet soon-to-be big sister...

Mom and Dad!

A favorite of mine...

Love this one with the boys hands on the "new baby" - it's all a suprise :)

Love this happy ending...

Baby in the belly!

It's always fun for me to photograph a couple anticipating a baby on the way, but it's especially fun when it was one of my wedding couples. I have known Devon and TC for years now, they are precious people. They were on of my pretty weddings a couple summers ago and needless to say, I was so excited when Devon contacted me for maternity and newborn photos. They have shared that they know they are having a girl and are naming her Harper. I know they will be wonderful parents and we had a great time shooting this sunset session! All the best to you Devon, TC and baby Harper!

Also, as a total photographer side note....there has been a ton of talk lately about cliches in photography. I totally agree that there are so many things that are "overdone" these days and certain ones make me cringe. I try to avoid them, sometimes even when a client requests them. Please notice, you have NEVER and WILL NEVER see a selective color image on my site (when everything is black and white except one thing in color). If you want that, I am not the photographer for you.

There are trendy things in art, just like in life. You never want to be the person who holds onto that trend for too long (think 80's perm and huge bangs...just not good!). I know things like sunsets, fields, props, etc are all the rage...but hey, sunset has ALWAYS been a beautiful thing to photograph. Pretty outdoor settings make WAY better backdrops than vinyl, my friends. A lot of "trends" these days aren't really trends at all, they are staples in the history of natural light photography.

I decided recently that even if you are approaching shoots in a similar fashion or style (which is hopefully your own personal style), it's ok to approach them that way because every couple has their OWN story. You are always telling a new story with each couple. Even in the case of this shoot, this is a couple I have photographed before but it's a NEW part of their story, the beginning of parenthood. As I approach each shoot, although some things I will approach in a familiar way, I will remind myself I am telling the client's story in a fresh way. The client is what is unique! Stepping off soap box now.... Enjoy the shoot!

Pretty mommy-to-be!

I thought that this was so sweet...they brought some of the bedtime stories they hope to read to Harper. It was perfect practice for bedtime reading and made for sweet pictures!

Love this one, Devon's sister made the inital for Harper's room!

 

 

Love this one and I think it makes for a happy ending...or really a beginning! Beginning of parenthood :)

Monday Confessions

Nothing says Monday morning like having to clean poop off a rug before 7 am or realizing ants decided to attack in your kitchen... It's only 8am and I have already been dealing with things like this!

The hubs was sick last week and yep, you guessed it...I had it by Saturday night. No fun but thank goodness for NyQuil to at least get some rest!

I feel if I were to make "confessions" today, it wouldn't be nice things. You know the old saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?" I am weak in my tiredness and not feeling well and having already dealt with so much this morning.  

I will leave myself and you with some wisdom on how to approach the day,

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
  in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5 - 6

Have a great week everyone!

Check back later this week for photo features :)

And if you missed the wedding of Alexis & Mike, it's getting lots of fun features. Today it's Delaware Online

My Fun Family

My grandfather turned 73 last week (alhtough he doesn't look it) and he has long been known for inner comedian. He told me what he wanted for his birthday is to finally get a good picture on the beach with his pretty wife before they "decay anymore." Mommom and Poppop, as they are affectionately known to all us grandkids and great grandkids, have been living in Lewes at the beach for nearly a decade already. They "retired" down there only to keep working :) I love it though, it says something about work ethic that kids these days just don't get. They still enjoy fishing, hanging out with friends and who am I kidding, they probably have more of a social life than me! Well anyway, Poppop wanted to do a fun take on the Ma & Pa in the classic American Gothic painting. He wanted "American Beach Gothic" - I told you, inner comedian :) We had a good time this last weekend creating this image and I have a feeling it's definitely a peice for posterity! Happy Wednesday friends!

And of course, I couldn't have my grandparents there with my kids and not attempt a picture! Just so you know, it's like my camera makes me invisble to my kids - they suddenly can't hear or see me. They ignore any requests I holler from behind it so this was the best we had...even with bribing with Dairy Queen Dilly Bars :) Hey, ice cream always motivates me!

Featured in Rustic Wedding Chic

So thankful for wonderful clients who put their heart and soul into their weddings! Alexis and Mike got married this past May at the Elkton Tea Barn and it was choc full of wonderful details. Today it was freatured on Rustic Wedding Chic blog, "the wedding blog of choice for brides planning a rustic or country wedding." Head over to Rustic Wedding Chic to check out full post!

Monday Confessions

These Mondays come faster and faster as the summer draws to a close! I start teaching again in two weeks...it's hitting me, back to school!!!

1. This morning's fun activity was teaching the twins how to use safety scissors. I gave them scrap paper and told them to have at it. They loved it and it actually kept their attention for half an hour. To my great pleasure the only thing that got cut was the paper! It was a miracle, no clothing, hair, or other unsuspecting items got cut up! I am counting the days until they go to preschool :)

2. I am beginning to wonder if it would be cheaper to purchase, house and feed a cow than it would be to keep buying milk in the quantities we need it for 3 small kids?!

3. Although thoughts of back to school give me mixed feelings of joy and depression...I love school supplies! It's always fun to get those fresh notebooks and new pens. I am such a dork :)

4. I was going through some bloodwork for something I am being tested for and found out among other things, that my cholestrol was a point high. I was shocked?! Who me?! It can't be! I better put down the eggs and pick up the oatmeal for a while :)

5. I read the book Stolen Woman by Kimberly Rae, it's the beginning of a great trilogy. It's an interesting story about a Christian girl who was adopted to the US from Bangladesh. It's her journey to India and beyond. I don't want to give too much away but I definitely enjoyed it and am in the middle of book two. It's very based in Christianity, which was a fresh perspective for me when reading a novel. There's lots of suspense as she discovers the horrors of human trafficking and desperately tries to help. Pick it up if you need a good end-of-summer read!

6. I am sort of blind without my contacts and the hubs is also. We were talking about Lasik one day, curious if it was worth it? Any of you out there been through it? Pros or cons? It would be nice to be free of glasses and contacts! Our poor kids have no chance!

7. I have great clients and just want to say so. I got a wonderful email over the weekend from one of my recent engagement shoot's bride-to-be. It was such an encouragement to know that someone appreciated not only my work, but my demeanor while working with them and the creativity I put into it. This leads me to say, if you have something nice to say to someone - you should! They might need the words of encouragement that day :)

8. I am going to be a busy lady in the next few months (as if I have been on vacation the last few, haha!). I am just putting it out there so that if anything starts to slip with blogging, etc you will know why! I have to keep my family first for us all to survive and then business/teaching come a close second. Thanks for understanding as I consistently work on prioritizing in my life!

9. Have you seen the Thirty One bags?! I know they have been around for a while and a friend gave me one last year at my baby shower. I loved it and am thinking about ordering some more. What are your favorite uses for them ladies? I am thinking about some of the huge organizers for kids stuff and even camera gear.

10. Take a moment to stop and smell the roses somewhere along the way today...gratitude helps us all with contenment and joy. I am learning this day by day my friends!

Here's a sneak of a quick session I did with my kids during the past week... (And aren't the outfits precious? Check out Sew Adorable Too on fb & etsy.com)

Have a great week! 

Christine and Jack, crazy fun shoot!

I love getting to meet new people, it's a great perk of my job. Christine contacted me a few weeks ago in hopes of setting up an engagement shoot. She had written in her initial email, "What really drew me to contact you was not only your photos but all of the kind words others had said about you." I was instantly humbled because here was a potential client who not only liked my work but was drawn to me as a person, she took the time to check out my website and about me. This was starting our relationship off on a great foot and of course as soon as I met Christine and Jack in person, it was all good. Besides being adorable, Christine is very sweet and bubbly and I could see why Jack took a liking to her the first time they met. He confessed to "falling fast" for her, as they shared their story with me during our shoot. 

I also have to say that I love being a natural light photographer. This shoot was FULL of lighting/weather surprises as you will see and nothing was artificially lit. I don't have anything against artificial light and sometimes need it, but there ain't nothing prettier than a gorgeous evening glow...or in this case a wicked thunderstorm to go with it! All the best to Christine and Jack, so much fun meeting you!

(And of course, I definitely want to thank all of my previous clients for writing kind words section of my website!)

Outfit number one...just getting warmed up!

Outfit Change...sun is going down....

Christine totally has an inner-super model...she works it well!

And then the storm rolled in...I was loving every minute of the crazy! This sweet couple just rolled with it too and had a blast, despite the wickedness rolling in over our heads. I secretly think Christine talked to the weather gods in order to coordinate their outfits with the awesome colors of storm clouds :)

We took this one for mom with a more formal pose but somehow I hope that this image gets looked at some day by their grandkids. I absolutely love it!

Last shot of the evening and a great way to end..the thunder and lightning were so close we thought we better take cover!

Nikki & Danny, Engagement contest winners!

Remember their story from our Love Is In the Air Contest earlier this year? They met when they were 15, but it wasn't happily ever after. Nikki wasn't officially allowed to date yet but they snuck in a friendly double-movie "date" at her house. Nikki's mom, clad in her flannel duck PJ's caught them smooching on the porch and according to Nikki, "my mom first and middle named me while Danny took off running into the snow." Fast forward lots of time, up and downs, and here we are today with them happily engaged and looking forward to a 2014 wedding date! 

Thanks to all of you, the readers of the blog who chose this couple for me to capture. We literally had to reschedule 3 different times due to the crazy summer/stormy weather we have had this year. It was either 110 degrees or thunder and lightning. It was fine with me though because the Sunday evening we finally met up for the shoot, it was nice and breezy (or at least felt that way without the intense heat!) Danny apparently was joking that every time we rescheduled that he had more time to practice his "America's next top model eyes," but it ain't no joke....he definitely had the eyes down! I really genuinely enjoyed being around these two and capturing their love! Enjoy the epic post friends and start thinking of who you want to see enter the contest next February?!

 

There's those Top Model eyes..

Monday Confessions

Do you feeel Like Monday comes too fast? Wishing the weekends could slow down...

1. Fall Mini Sessions are currently SOLD OUT! Thanks for the response on this and if you were hoping to get a mini session this fall, please feel free to shoot me an email about it. I am currently booked for weekends but would consider a few select weekday shoots for those of you that were hoping to get in on the fun!

2. Parenting has been throwing me for so many loops, I feel like I am living on a carnival ride. Here's a quote that gave me pause today..."Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.  ~Robert Fulghum" This is humbling because I can try to say all the right things, but what they see me DO leaves the biggest impression!

3. With potty training, did any of you other parents start having the crack-o-dawn wake up call when they started staying dry overnight? We have been up at 5:30am like clockwork to go potty but they're doing pretty good with staying dry overnight. I am so not nice at that hour though...my poor kids. (See quote number 2, I am in trouble)

4. We took the kids to the beach for the day yesterday. Our conversations when considering this go like this:

Me, "It's August, we have only been to the beach one other day this summer." Hubs, "but it's so much work with the kids." Me, "honey, everything with the kids is an intense amount of work. If we went by that, we would never leave the house." I have to say, it was a whirlwind getting out the house after breakfast but it was worth it! At least two beach days under our belt this summer :)

It was great because between last time we went and now, Max has started walking. He loved the freedom to cruise around and check out the beach!

 5. Who are some of your Olympic favorites? I have loved watching all different sorts of events and even the kids have taken a liking to it. Dean keeps asking me when swimming will be on again :) There's something fun about watching the best of the best compete.  I think it's certainly a nice little escape from all the current political drama around the world too, just fun to see the athletes meet in one place to perform what they have been training all their lives to do! (In case you missed it on twitter, Dean wants to play professional hockey when he grows up. He told me this while watching Olympics and then Macy piped up saying she wanted to grow up to play hopscotch :)

6. I feel like I am always cleaning something that will inevitable get messed up as soon as I turn around. Anyone else feel like this? Sometimes I get why people live in dirty houses, cleaning can feel pointless with kids :) Before 7am yesterday we had a milk "situation" with the twins and today before 9am I had already cleaned up a hair spray/nail polish issue that arose when Dean was going to the bathroom "all by his self."

I have some engagement sessions to blog this week, lets hope I can be efficient and kids take good naps! Seriously, lets hear it for all moms...my hat is off to ALL of you! I don't know how we all do it and stay sane...or maybe I am slipping into insanity and don't know it yet?!

Have a great week!

Mini-Sessions are here!

Hey friends, details below on how to get in on Fall Mini-sessions! As you will see, it's a limited time/place and first come, first serve. Please email me with your request and I will let you know of available time slots. If the demand is high, I will consider adding a date. Thanks friends and future clients!

Monday Confessions

MMy confessions might be lame today because I am still not feeling well. Started with a virus (will spare details but it requires lots of bathroom visits) on Friday night and it has plagued me off and on all weekend through this morning. SO..

1. I have been laying on the couch thankful for the Olympics as my entertainment because of feeling bad. I missed a girls night with friends on Friday night that I was super bummed about...even a girlfriend from out of town was here! Isn't that always the way?!

2. In good news, my sweet friend Jay from last weeks maternity session I blogged had her baby early on Friday. You never know why you're compelled, but we were so glad to grab these shots before baby Maddex showed up later that week unexpectedly. Prayers appreciated for Mommy's healing and baby Dex as he is hanging in the Nicu a little while (as many preemies do)!

3. My hubby has been great trying to keep the ship afloat and help when I needed help while not feeling good! 

4. It seems the kids all have different touches of the same icky sickies but hoping it's on it's way out!

5. Who designs those olympic uniforms?! Some are insane. I always feel bad for the gymnists having to pick their wedgies in front of a watching world..but who cares right? USA women's gymnastics are going to tear it up!

And in case you missed these shots from the "carbi-bal" last week with the kids...enjoy!

That's all for now friends..hope to get to actual photo posting later this week when I am on the mend! 

What I am working on...

I love what happened at last night's shoot...the weather went crazy on us! It was great light and fun to capture and I just wanted to share a quick sneak peek of what I am working on next (among other things)!

Allie & Les, a Philadelphia Engagement

They met on sort of a lark thanks to a friend, isn't that always the way?! Who knew it would lead to a wedding! I have known Allie for a few years now and she is a sweetheart. We met up for our session in Rittenhouse Square last week when it had finally cooled off for a little bit. We started there and the light was gorgeous and the energy of the city was evident. We then moved to the famed "boathouse row" at Philadelphia's Farimount Park. We had such a blast and a special thanks to Allie's mom and sis who came along to style/assist in any way needed. I could get used to having such a good looking entourage :) Allie and Les, can't wait for your February wedding!

Something about this one, I just love. It's a fav for sure!

 

Maternity Session...before the rain came

You might remember this sweet friend of mine from her other maternity session with her first son. She is a precious friend and is expecting her second son next month! Although, things are always different with the second, we didn't want to miss an opportunity to get a few belly shots before little man's arrival. We had a whole lot of ideas to try but unfortunately a storm was brewing and only got about 10 - 15 minutes for this entire session before we got POURED on! This crazy weather has not been kind for business but I take it one day at a time lately, enjoy :)

This was a fav of mine, her little cutie Cayden posed for us!

Monday Confessions

Another week to start afresh...we started our day at 5:45am because of little people ready to be awake! Any of you out there suffering from this too?

1. I confess, I am not nice at 5:45. I put them back to bed with books for a little bit. An hour later, I took a brisk run to wake myself up and attempt to come back in the house a nice person. Truth is...I am just exhausted :)

2. Any of you other work at home moms have great advice on how to divide up your time? My business primarily gets done during naptime, weekends and evenings. I am definitely looking forward to preschool this fall for the twins for lots of reasons! I will still have Max man but somehow one doesn't seem as daunting as three, but I am sure I still deceive myself on my potential productivity!

3. I have been BUSY with photography which is exciting for me. Creativity gets me out of the slumps of the daily life activities like laundry, dishes, and poo duty. I had an engagement session last night that I just feel in love with and I made a new friend...I don't know his name but he introduced himself to me with a little lick and nible :) Can't wait to share the actual couple with you, they are precious people and we had a great time! 

4. Another session tonight and Thursday....drinking iced coffee just thinking about it :)

5. I rarely take stances on issues considered "politcal" on here because this blog is not about that...it's about me, my work and my life...but sometimes issues just happen to collide. I would dare say that most Americans are finding our lives very affected by the policital decisions of others, be it economy, health care, or otherwise. We don't exist in a world where other's decisions don't affect us. I was so saddened, like the rest of the US, to hear about the tragedy in Aurora, CO last week. It broke my heart to think of all the people in that theater who just thought they were going out for an evening's entertainment. I cannot even imagine their terror or horror that they faced or will continue to face or what the victims family's are facing. It pains me to even consider it.

I say all this to say that I believe as strongly as ever in the second ammendment, that we have the right to bear arms. Everyone is making this situation out to be about guns and sadly it's not. Ill people that have the desire to hurt others will do it any way they can, guns or no guns. I think it's only fair to allow the rest of us to properly protect ourselves if we so desire. We can't undo horrific acts of terror done to people...but I can't help but think if at any of these awful scenes, if a licensed, proper gun owner was there to defend the people...would it look differently? I know that "what if" questions are not necessarily productive, but I do think it's worth considering. We never hear the stories of where there was a law-abiding hero that came to the rescue with his firearm. I know there are such stories and have heard them, but they never make the news. I will leave this thought with a quote from Charleton Heston in 1997, "There are no good guns. There are no bad guns. Any gun in the hands of a bad man is a bad thing. Any gun in the hands of a decent person is no threat to anybody – except bad people.'" If our forefathers thought it important enough to put self-protection right up under our rights to " freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press, as well as the right to assemble and petition the government" then we should take this very seriously. 

And with these thoughts, I will leave you today...a saddened and unsettled America, every day deciding who we shall be in the future. 

(Please feel free to disagree with me, I understand this opinion is not shared by everyone. I just ask that you respect my thoughts as I would respect yours.)

Monday Confessions and family slideshow!

My oh my it feels like Monday! Instead of all the mundane things I usually confess like cleaning up lots of poop or pulling a major mom fail and attempting to go to park today (hello sweletering heat and hot play equipment)...here's the slideshow of our family session from April with ever fabulous sisters, Stephanie and Tammy of Luminosity Photography & Design. We are thankful for the memories captured and can't believe how fast the kids have already changed in a few months. We notice Max changing the most because of his additional teeth and now he's walking! 

And speaking of memories, I want to hear from you - do you have a way you document things about your kids? Not just growth but funny stories or pictures? I know one of my resolutions for 2012 was to be better about documenting the kids but I really don't feel like I have made any progress and need ideas!

Enjoy friends!