Front Porch Sessions (October)

Front Porch Session

October 2014

Caroline, 8

Brynn, 3

Russell, 13 months

It's great to be 8!

Back in August, Caroline was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  It was her choice.  We were so happy to share that special day with family and friends.  The gym was packed.  She is growing up so much.  I am so proud of the sweet girl she is. 

Test Drive...

There is a lens that I have my eye on for awhile.  Since it costs about $1000 it will have to just stay comfy in the display case.  I did, however, find a camera shop in Wilmington that rents cameras, lenses, lighting equipment, etc.  I decided to take that lens out for a test drive.  

I love the results...

Front Yard Sessions...

Oh, how I do love these humans of mine.  

Spring Dance Recital

The girls had their Spring dance recital at a local community theater in downtown Greensboro this year.  This is a giant leap from the humble beginnings of Mrs. Shelley's living room. 

 My Brynn bug!  She performed to "Let's Go Fly a Kite".  She was so comfortable on stage. 

 

 Caroline performed in two numbers: "Let it Go" (Hip Hop) and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (Ballet II).  She knew her routine and hit every mark.  I was so proud. 

Random Sampler (May)

 This is a typical scene at our house around 3:23pm.  Caroline has finished her homework, the games come out and the girls are glued together.

 For teacher appreciation week at school Shelley decorated Mrs. G's door with photos of the kids I took.  Each student held up a letter and they all spelled out "We love Mrs. Garrison!"  Caroline and her BFF got to be the hearts in the middle.  What hams!

 I finally got back to my roots (pun intended) and planted a garden.  It has been hard work but so worth it.  The girls love to check on our garden each day and it never disappoints.  Can't wait to sample the fruits (and veggies) of our labor.

This is a typical scene in my bed each Saturday morning.  We have a king size bed but honestly when you have have little wiggle worms in bed with you it doesn't matter. 

Soccer Season (Caroline)

Both girls decided they wanted to play soccer this year so we signed them up for the YMCA league.  They were super excited.

Caroline has never played soccer before but wanted to try something different.

 

Her team had a mix of kids who were new to the game and seasoned veterans.  She was really nervous.  She was honestly scared of the ball and would not go after it like some of the other kids did.  We even had one game where the ball whizzed past her head and she walked off the field in tears.  We soon discovered that she was scared a ball would hit her and knock her tooth that was loose at the time out. 

Well, good news.  The tooth came out on its own and she was a whole new player.  She realized she likes playing goalie.  In one game she made 4 saves!!  She was on cloud 9.

A coach taught her how to do a goalie kick to help her team mates and she did great!  Her confidence level was through the roof.

 

She finished her season on Friday night and is already asking if she can play again next year.  As Brynn said, "She is the best goalie in the world!"

100 likes on Facebook

I can see why this picture got 100 likes (and counting) on Facebook. 
It is a single moment in our family.
Caroline is laughing.
Brynn is giving us a devious smile. 
Russell is grinning his toothless grin.
Kevin is taking care of all his babies (including Baby Anna).

...with my whole heart.

Two can play at this game...

3.31.14

Caroline...

A squirrel by any other name...

Name: Caroline
Age: 7
Favorite color: Pink, blue, and yellow
Favorite subject at school:  Math
Favorite food: Mac and cheese
Favorite movie: Frozen
Favorite number: 9
What do you want to be when you grow up: a famous horse rider or a mommy

What hobbies do you have: snuggle with daddy
Where is your favorite place to go on vacation: any family member's house (Grandma's house, Dee Dee's house, Aunt B's house, etc.)
Favorite game to play: checkers
Favorite dessert: brownies

This girl is growing up so fast.  She is always helping with Russell and Brynn.  If Russ gets fussy she will check his diaper or pick him up and play with him.  They are friends already.  She is the only one who can make him really belly laugh.  She is doing so well in school and her favorite thing is to do when she finishes her work early is to go to her old Kindergarden class to help the teacher and read to the class.  She loves to write and read and loves PE.  I am so proud of her.  

"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

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.