"I am a breathing time machine"...

 I have been taking pictures for a long time.  Not always good pictures mind you, but I have always had a camera in my hand.  Every time we move I know Kevin is secretly cursing my name when we pack up and move box after box of just my photo albums.  We are in the process of designing our office with a full wall of bookcases.  I am so excited those photo albums will finally have a home.

I am finding that when I am photographing my family I am really in the process of stopping time for one brief moment.  I want to capture that one second in time when Caroline was exactly who she was at that moment.  I want to capture Brynn's fascination with being a different character each day.  I want to capture Russell's sweet checks.
So that one day when I am old my photo albums will turn into my own personal time machine. 


 2. 6.14
I decided to record the girls' height on the door frame.  They were more excited that I was writing on the wall. 

The reason why I love this picture of Brynn so much is because she is standing on her tip toes to see my line.  One day she won't have to stand up tall to see it.  She will be a big grown girl; my girl.

When you can stand on your own two feet it will be your turn, Russ.

Front Porch Series...

 I read A LOT of photography blogs.  I have my favorites that I read religiously.  I find so much inspiration and information from all of them.  My next project is no different.  I came across this article and immediately grabbed my camera and ushered my little chickens outside.  I am thrilled with the results.  I want to remember those footy pajamas that Caroline wore 24/7.  I want to remember that Brynn wore braids and snow boots because Anna in Frozen did too.  I want to remember just how big Russell's cheeks were. 

 1.29.14

5 months...

 Oh this boy...

 5 months old already...

Some 5 month milestones:
can grab his toes
puts everything in his mouth
wears 6-9 month clothes
is almost ready to sit up by himself
sleeps from 9 (ish)-4 am, eats, then sleeps until 8am
can roll from back to front and sometimes from front to back
14.5 lbs
shrieks with delight when he sees his sisters
LAUGHS!!!!!

Russ,
We are deliriously in love with you.  You bring us so much joy.  You are discovering new things every day.  I almost feel guilty that others don't get that special time that I do when you are eating.  You get right down to business but every once in a while you will look up at me and just smile so big and I fall in love with you again.  And to think, I was nervous about having a boy. 

I love you, bubby!

Love,
Mama

Popular Grey...

 I have been paying attention to my house.
I have noticed that the sunlight is just right in the sunroom at 11am.
It is just right in Brynn's room at 2:15pm

And it is just right in my hallway at exactly 3:35pm.
Kevin has just finished painting the hallway a beautiful shade of Popular Grey.

Just right for a photo shoot...

Asking Caroline to let me take her picture takes an act of Congress and then I get this...

Brynn and her Anna braids...

Polar Vortex 2014

How to Survive a 3 day snow storm in NC...

*Build a fort with tons of blankets, tons of pillows and tons of books

*Convince your older sister to pull you around the yard on a sled.

*Wait patiently for your mom to find your gloves so you can escape into the great white woods.

*"Do you wanna build a snowman?"  **Yes, I had to join the other millions of parents who have a picture of their kids in the snow with that caption.  I don't care. It is a cute movie.

*Or just be really smart and stay inside with the nice warm blanket and take a nap. 

Afternoon...

I try my best to spend some one-on-one time with my babies when I can.  These days I have to make the time.  After I put Russell down for his nap in the afternoon and before I pick Caroline up from school I try to spend some time with my Brynn bug.  She has been so needy lately.  I am up for whatever she wants to do which usually changes minute by minute.  Sometimes it is her Hungry Caterpillar puzzle, sometimes it is playing Legos.  I focus on her and actually look in her eyes.  I also ignore my phone.  I know that one day she will grow tired of playing with me so I will soak it up as long as I can. 

The 2nd Snow

 It snowed here in our neck of the woods.  It snowed enough that we could play in it.  I love how my house looks prettier with a little snow on it. 

 I think every family has at least one picture of their kid making snow angels.

 The girls had a ball riding on the sled.  Kevin took them all through the neighborhood. 

 We met some of our neighbors while we were out.  You can tell who has kids your same age because only they would be outside at 10am on a snow day.  Everyone else was inside still sleeping.