Front Porch Sessions (October)

Front Porch Session

October 2014

Caroline, 8

Brynn, 3

Russell, 13 months

Russ 1st birthday!

 This cute boy had a birthday.  I can't believe my sweet boy is 1!  We celebrated at home with cupcakes. 

 He had no trouble figuring out how to eat that sucker. 

 Now that is how you eat a cupcake!!

Just right...

Oh, this boy.  How I love him.

Front Yard Sessions...

Oh, how I do love these humans of mine.  

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 (Russell)

Well, I can't leave the boy out. 

He was such a good cheerleader!

"I'm so glad when Daddy comes home..."

 Kevin works really odd hours.  That is the life in the ER.  Sometimes he comes home when the kids are already in bed.  Sometimes he is home all day and leaves when they are going to bed.  

 Sometimes he comes home right when they are getting ready to brush teeth and put on PJs. 

 The girls try their best to find excuses to stay up one more extra minute so they can spend some time with him.  They don't have to twist my arm too much. 

 Russell is starting to recognize when Daddy is home.  When Kevin walks in the door Russell lights up like a Christmas tree and kicks his arms and legs.  Tonight he even reached out for Kevin. 

It didn't take long for this little guy to turn into Daddy's buddy.

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.

On any given day...

2.20.14

Round here...

Can I just state for the record, one more time, how much I love:

A) My camera Kevin got me for Christmas

B) my remote for said camera

C) my sunroom

Why I love photography...

I can't stop staring at this picture.

Russ at 6 months...

"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

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. 

#kidsarehere...

I don't know why but one day I got the idea to document the children's bedrooms.  

I want to remember this moment in our lives.  

I want to remember that the girls picked their own color.

I want to remember the room I put Russell down for his naps in. 

I want to remember all of Caroline's "collections".  

I want to remember where Brynn put her stuffed animals.

Thanksgiving...

Food for the soul