I don’t often post personal photos here on my blog.  I always wonder if anyone out there would really care to read what I have to say or see what I’m up to.  But since today is my birthday (not a shameless plug for birthday wishes, I swear!) I decided to post some photos from our perfectly, wonderful ordinary Sunday.

I read a book some time ago called The Gift of an Ordinary Day, by Katrina Kenison.  It is a mother’s memoir that I highly recommend, along with her earlier book Mitten Strings for God.  Both of the books resonated deeply with me as a mother.

“I know I can’t make time slow down, can’t hold our life as it is in a freeze frame or slow my children’s inexorable journeys into adulthood and lives of their own. But I can celebrate those journeys by bearing witness to them, by paying attention, and, perhaps most of all, by carrying on with my own growth and becoming. ” – Katrina Kenison.

I carry my iphone with me every where. It has become my favorite camera because it slips in my pocket and is always there when I need it to document those little things that happen each day that we often overlook. It goes to the grocery store, on walks, to our favorite restaurant. I am constantly taking pictures with it. Today was no different. Here is my birthday, courtesy of my iphone and instagram.  Not fancy pictures, but the perfect way to remember this day.

If you have a moment, take the time to watch the authors short reading from her book.  I still tear up watching it, even after seeing it many times.

Thanks for visiting. I hope your day was as perfectly ordinary as mine.

Oh how I love to watch her sleep, lost in peaceful dreams….

Every year we take a trip to our cabin in Eastern Washington to enjoy some snow and winter fun.  This year, I took along my film slr to capture some memories in black and white.  I don’t pretend to know much of anything about shooting film.  It is a new frontier for me but I am enjoying the challenge.  When I look at black and white images of film photographers, there is just something so magical.  The grain, the depth, the range of tones… I love it all.   As for my images, they are simple snapshots of our trip but as always, I hope they capture the fun we had and preserve the memories of our time together.

When I think back on my favorite moments of 2010, I have one that jumps right to the top of the list.  I was so lucky to have two of my very best friends come visit me from Arkansas and New York this last summer.  Both of them are amazing photographers that I have met along the way and I couldn’t believe it when we were able to arrange a trip for both of them to visit at the same time! Allison had visited once before when we attended a workshop together in Seattle last year, but this was the first time Raye had been to the Pacific Northwest. We spent time in Seattle shopping and then spent some time just visiting and hanging out here in the valley.

But the highlight of the visit came when Raye, who is an amazingly talented photographer from the Fort Smith area in Arkansas, photographed my family.  I now have something that I will treasure for always.  Always the one behind the camera, I have so very few photos of me with my children.  These images of me with my babies, being who we are at this very moment in time, are honestly the best gift anyone has ever given me.  Our smiles, our laughs, our cuddles, our love…    thank you, Raye.   You honestly made my year.   xoxo

Here are just a few of the moments she captured..

Raye and Allison, I can’t wait to see you both again this summer in New York for Allison’s family session.  It will be amazing.  Love you both so much. xoxo

Every day, I am thankful for these beautiful little people.  I am thankful that I am here, I am healthy and I get another day to be with them… to be their mother.

I am thankful.

Every. Single. Day.

Wishing you all the love of family and friends this Thanksgiving…

Him.  I love him.  This little boy who taught me how to be a mother is growing up.  On most days, his cowboy hat and imaginary horses are traded for footballs and baseball bats.  He no longer needs me to tie his shoes or pour his milk.  His favorite “hunting tree” where he spent hours scouting for bears in our backyard sat empty for most of the summer.  He is growing up…

This image was shot with film.  Trying something new (old)….  that’s a whole other Love List post… coming soon…

Things I love, products I can’t live without, songs that inspire, images that move me.  And of course, the people in my life that mean the most.  That is the plan for my new segment here on the blog. I hope to be able to add these to the blog weekly. My little love list …

I love Taylor Swift.  Her music, her personality, the image she portrays.  Often the words she writes sound as if they are coming from a much older person. She seems to understand things beyond her years. Her new album just came out last week and I had to download it right away.

My favorite song on this new album is “Never Grow Up”.  It is one of those times when TS seems to be singing as an old soul, about something she has not yet experienced but yet seems to understand so well.  I was a bawling mess the first time I heard it… and several times after.  I still can’t get through it without a knot in my throat.

Take a few moments, think of your little ones and listen to this beautiful song…

I watch my babies growing everyday.  Like every other mother I just want time to stop. Slow down. Allow me to have them little for just a bit longer.   A  line in the song…

“And don’t lose the way that you dance around in your pj’s getting ready for school”

Our house is always full of music and dancing.  I love those times so much.  Here is my girl, dancing in her footie jammies on our bed.  Oh how I wish she’d never grow up…

School starts tomorrow.   It is always so crazy how fast summer flies by.  As I sat here tonight, I took a quick peek at my snapshot file filled with our summer memories and I was happy.  While it didn’t seem like we had much of a “summer” here in Washington,  I was so happy to see so many fun moments captured.   No perfect poses or carefully chosen outfits for “pictures with Mommy”.  No, these are snapshots of real moments.  Our summer memories…

There were water fights…

Tea parties with friends…

First bike rides without training wheels…

Play time with pirates…

Dancing.  Lots and lots of dancing…

Weekends at the cabin…

Backyard pool time…

Hikes with the family…

First trips to the beach…

And lots of love…

You may hold my hand for a little while, but you will hold my heart forever.

A fellow photographer and friend, Lisa Russo has a similar shot hanging in her home. When I saw it, I knew I must have one of my own for my mantle.  My favorite part of this photo is her little elbow dimple…

All who know me, know my heart lies with my family.  Without them, there would be no photos, no blog, no photography business.  But lately, I feel my blog has been a bit disconnected from my life and family – the true heart and soul of my work.  I’ve debated on whether or not to become more personal here and invite my readers into my life more.  I very rarely post photos of my own children here and it’s not because I don’t have any to share! But I just wasn’t sure how much you all want to know about me.  Sometimes I feel a little self-centered I guess in thinking that anyone would care what I have to say.  But I’ve decided to follow my heart and share just a little more of the inspiration that led me to this amazing career.  It is my hope that in learning more about me and my family, you will understand my work more and the direction I feel my photography is leading me….   telling our story and maybe someday, telling yours.

Much love,

~ M

I packed up her onesies today.  She has completely outgrown them.   Actually, she outgrew them months ago but I had been putting off getting rid of them.  I was still putting them on her under her jammies at night – stretching them tightly over her diaper to snap them.   There is something about a white onesie that is the epitome of babyhood to me.   The white cotton,  the chubby little baby legs exposed, and the way those little tiny snaps make that “tinkling” sound in the dryer.  I remember bringing Will home and lying on the couch with him while listening to the sounds of the snaps in the dryer as his tiny little clothes tumbled about.    That was 6 years ago, when I was still breathing in the moments of new motherhood.

The music of the snaps has been replaced by running feet, silly songs and contagious giggles.  And while I embrace these moments of childhood, it is still hard to let go of the baby days…