Family Pics

Last year on Thanksgiving, we took a family picture on a whim because it was really warm and sunny, and we were all dressed up. I set up the tripod in the back yard and we snapped a few until we got a decent shot. This was pulled from facebook, so if the quality is iffy, that's why.

This year, we planned it all out. The weather was supposed to be beautiful, so we picked out outfits, got the kids ready, and headed to our friends' house for pictures. I got so many that I love. Micah is getting really good with the camera (including nailing focus at 1.4!) so I was able to jump in and get some pics of me with the kids...or, ahem, Noah. Hannah and Sarah weren't really that interested. ;)

Look how much different the girls look! Oh, and we added another family member! ;) There are like a million pics, and I didn't put them into a storyboard or anything, so be prepared for image overload. I told you I fell in love with a ton!

I SO love this one of my boys...

I know this isn't the best picture, but it shows just how little they are. ;)

Haha, Sarah's face.

Poor Noah was just done...and you can see my tripod in the back. Whoops.

Afterwards, we went to Panera for dinner. The kids were SO good. Micah and I were obviously feeling invinsible, so we went to the mall. Sarah started flipping out about half way through our trek, so we did what any *good* parent would do. "Hey, you guys want to go to Toys R Us? Okay, then stop crying and we'll go."

The crying continued to an all-out tantrum, but we went anyway, because Hannah was being so good. Worst.Trip.Ever. We left thirty minutes later, me exposing myself to nurse Noah IN the store, Sarah screaming and throwing a fit, and Hannah trailing behind with her new toy. Never again. But at least we got family pics, right?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Futile Attempts at "DITL"

DITL = Day in the Life. You're supposed to capture your day from start to finish. I always have such good intentions for this, then forget, or don't get up with the girls (Micah usually does this if it's been a rough night with Noah)and I miss the start to their day.

Noah works on tummy time daily and he's getting pretty good, although it does frustrate him a bit, I think.

I love how serious and annoyed he looks in this picture. I can almost envision him as a teenager giving me this same look. Oh gosh, I can't even think about that. I want to keep them little forever.

During the course of the day, we have multiple messes that I try to keep on top of. Lately, the girls have created a new game of dumping everything out of the toy box in the living room and climbing inside. :twitch:

Consequently, this is the state of my living room for several hours of the day. Notice the wreck on the bookshelf as well.

Look at Hannah's face, though. They do have so much fun, so I try to not look at the mess and let them have fun, although there are days that I fail miserably at this and get frustrated that my house is in a constant state of disrepair.

I try to remind myself that messes will be there to clean forever, but my babies won't always be babies. It's still hard to put into perspective some days, but that little reminder definitely helps. :)

Another "just us" post

I had great intentions of a "Day in the Life" post, but only grabbed one shot of Sarah during breakfast, so I'll have to try again for "that" post.

Micah works so much that he doesn't get into too many pictures. Honestly, some days are simply survival for me, and I do what I can to keep the kids busy and happy to avoid all three melting down at once.

Some days, as hard as I try, nothing seems to help.

I know he's sad, but could this pouty lip be any cuter?!

Then a sister walks by, and all is right in his world. ;)

Sometimes I think Hannah needs a little time to herself. I'll find her off in a corner somewhere quietly reading a book or playing.

Then Sarah will get upset because I'm holding Noah. She's done so well adjusting, but she'll always be Mommy's girl and just doesn't understand why I can't pick her up sometimes.

Hannah doesn't like the drama. haha

This sweet boy never wants to look at the camera, so I have to contort into all sorts of positions to get one of him looking in my general direction. lol

Sisters play:

For Me.

I have been so frustrated with myself lately. Not personally, but when it comes to photography, yes. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love photography...freezing precious moments in time into lasting memories. It sounds cheesy, but honestly, that's what I live for. Over the last two years, I have taken somewhere near 10,000 pictures. Even though the early pictures are awful (okay, and probably some of the more recent ones, too), they captured a fleeting moment of time...told our story...showed who we were right at that given moment.

The one thing I have learned in this journey, and I'll admit, I've learned it the hard way and it's taken numerous trials for me to finally "get it", is that you have to be yourself. You have to shoot for you. There are many photographers that I truly admire. I could sit for hours (and have!) gazing at their work. They take pictures that draw you in...one photograph that you feel tells the story of an entire day. That being said, I'm not them and I will never be able to copy their work, their editing style, their way of storytelling.

Each one of us see things differently. Two of us could look on the exact same scene and capture two entirely different images. I may like the work that other photographers produce, but I'll never be happy trying to be just like them.

If you scroll back through my blog, you'll see the various phases I've been in. Vintage-y edits, bold edits, horrible edits, etc. None of it was me, and the more I tried to be like someone else, the more frustrated I became. Sometimes it was so bad that I'd completey give up and not want to even pick up my camera. That's not what this passion is supposed to do. It's supposed to be an escape...something I enjoy. It's art, and I'm supposed to expressing me through my art.

So why am I saying all of this? I've recorded basically everything during this photographic journey. I want to look back and read this and remember why it's so important to shoot for me. I'm sure that I'll soon forget and try to be something I'm not. It's happened more than once before, and I know it's so easy to allow it to happen again. I can honestly say, though, that I have a style that speaks to me. Something that feels me. I feel relaxed and calm when I edit that way. There's no pressure to do something different, because it's what feels right, if that makes sense.

While I admire the work of others, I'll never be them, and trying to replicate something that is so uniquely them is only going to leave me frustrated, and that's not what I want this passion of mine to become...a frustration.

I'll leave it at that and share some picures that I've taken recently that just feel...me.

;)

It was so nice out, like high 60's, low 70's a few weeks ago, so we took the kids outside to play for the evening. I decided to buy some glitter to test out for pictures. I should have used a different color because it's hard to see, but I was so pleased that Hannah cooperated!

This is my abstract self portrait. lol

Then the girls "helped" Daddy rake leaves.

Noah hangs out in the Moby when we're outside. Notice the tube of purple glitter stuck in the side of it. ;)

I am surprised we still have few pesky dandelions in the yard, but the girls love them, so...

Then it started to get dark and I had to push my camera to it's max. These are really grainy, but whatevs.

All of the kids love Pap, but Sarah simply adores him. :)

I can't even remember if I posted, but I did two "day in the life" days where I had my camera with me for a good part of the day to try to capture our norm. I need to do a "Real" one where I document mealtime and everything, but it's hard to hold a huge camera and lens in one hand while comforting or nursing a baby in the other. ;) Soon, hopefully!