happy mother's day.

Today we celebrated mom's. We sent flowers and signed cards. We ate breakfast in bed and let someone else cook dinner. We accepted mother's day wishes from kids and husbands and strangers at the grocery store.

Today I felt fully appreciated for my job as mom. I was loved and pampered and thanked. And while I appreciated the appreciation, I also feel the need to say thanks. To the two amazing kids who give me squeezy hugs, good night tisses (kisses) and tell me they love me bigger than the Saturn V rocket. To the husband who supports me and works beside me while we figure out this thing called parenting. I am sure I am one of a million mom's who feels this way today, but I am so lucky to have these kids, this family, to call my own.







Hope everyone had a Happy Mother's Day!

happy birthday.

Yesterday was Kinsley's first birthday. After an emotional night on the 16th as I realized she was actually turning one, the day was a fun celebration. Xander started singing Happy Birthday to her first thing in the morning and kept it up throughout the day. She dove into her cake with enthusiasm I previously thought must be staged for photos (since Xander didn't want any first birthday cake at all) and made a big mess of herself. Seeing the fun she was having Xander than dove into his cake and I ended up washing 2 chocolate covered kids in the sink since I didn't even want to try to get them upstairs to the tub. Presents were opened. The #1 candle was extinguished. There was a lot of clapping which is currently Kinsley's go to way to say 'hey I like this'. And even though I can't begin to grasp how she is one already the day was a success.
I promise pictures were taken. I was so excited to share the adorable grins and chocolate covered baby goodness with everyone. Unfortunately when I logged on last night to do so my computer, which has been limping along, said no. No negotiations. No pleading. Just plain no. So the top priority tonight is ordering a shiny new upgrade.
Happy Birthday Kinsley. Pictures coming soon.

from both of us.

Happy Mother's Day...from both of us. I love the sound of that. This was the first 'from the both of us' card I have received. It made me smile, as did the careful 'x' Xander signed on the inside and the squiggly line Kinsley drew that ended up in equal part on her leg. It also made me realize that this time last year my card was from the one of us. I was still pregnant and Kinsley did not even have a name yet. Here we are a year later and my whole life has been shaken up, dumped out and put back together into something more amazing then I could have ever imagined. More chaotic then I thought I could handle. More love than I knew I could feel. More wonderful. More crazy. More perfect. Because 2 is more than 1. Better than 1. And today, as with everyday, I am thankful to be their mom. To hear "I love you bigger than the milks away (milky way)." To get wide open mouth kisses on my cheek with the 'smack' sound on a 5 second delay. To cuddle them and love them and watch them grow. To try to remember every moment as they pass by on fast forward. Happy Mother's Day to all of you who are walking this road with me. To all of you who are looking back from the finish line and to all of you who are taking your position at the start.

spring

3 weeks ago we awoke to sunny skies and singing birds. The forecast mentioned mid-60's and we were thrilled. Plans were made and a picnic lunch was packed. Spring was here! An hour later standing at the base of the trail at Hanging Rock we were left wondering...spring?



Needless to say, it was not the start of spring that I expected. This weekend it was again in the mid-60's. The sun was shining and the days were gorgeous. My crocus has bloomed and I now feel comfortable saying welcome spring.

puzzle piece hands.

I forgot my lunch today, which is only relevant in that I ended up grabbing a fast food sandwich instead. Sitting in the booth I noticed an elderly couple at a table across the row. They were sitting together on the same side of the table like a pair of dating teenagers. Smiling at each other. Sharing their meals with weathered hands linked together on the table between them. Laughing at their conversation. Perhaps at a new snippet about something that happened just this morning but I'd imagine after a lifetime together it is just as likely a story they have laughed at together a thousand times.

You could see they were in love.

You could see they were happy.

You could see they would rather sit together on the same side of that wobbly table than be anywhere else apart.

I wanted my camera. I wanted to capture the joy on their faces and the love in their eyes. I wanted to zoom in on their aged hands so comfortably linked together like the pieces of a perfect puzzle. I wanted to hear the stories about all the joy and sadness and work those hands had been through together. I thought about my friend Sarah's recent post about the camera in her head and, not for the first time, I longed for the camera in my head. But alas, they finished their meal and I still was without a camera. On shaky legs she stood from the table. In a move as natural as breathing, he steadied her with his hand under her arm and they shuffled together towards the door.

I do not know their names. I do not know their story. But I thank them. For reminding me today that all the day-to-day living is what brings us from "I do" to sharing a million cups of coffee at a wobbly table in a fast food restaurant. For reminding me that even after "I do" it is important to choose to sit on the same side of the table and to look at each other with eyes that leave no doubt of your love for one another. I thank them for reminding me that sharing all the work and joy and sadness of life is what makes those hands fit together so perfectly.

I am really glad that I forgot my lunch.

merry christmas!

I admit, I am not blogging on Christmas morning - this is in fact a pre-scheduled post. But Merry Christmas none-the-less.

As this is posting, I am probably downstairs enjoying a mug of hot chocolate and watching my son as he excitedly opens the presents Santa brought him. This is Xander's first year understanding the concept of Santa and he has been asking him consistently for a truck, a race car and candy since Thanksgiving. I'm betting Santa delivers.

Kinsley is probably confused by the chaos of her first Christmas, especially when you add in the chaos of an incredibly excited 2.5 year old, but she finds everything her big brother does to be funny so she is probably smiling.

I'm sure Jake and I are rubbing sleep deprived eyes and I am taking in the scene through the lens of my 50mm. In short, a perfect family Christmas moment is in progress. But I couldn't miss the chance to wish everyone else a Merry Christmas, and to share my family with you.

The first weekend of December we headed to Tanglewood Park for the family Christmas card self-take. It was fun...and cold...but still fun.

Our Christmas card...



Some of my other favorites from the morning...





Xander is singing the ABC's to Kinsley. She loves when her brother sings to her.



Jake caught these while Xander was running around being crazy - which is pretty typical for Xander. I love his energy. He is such a happy kid.



I hope each of you have a Christmas filled with the love and joy of family.

countdown

Christmas time, Christmas time...I can't wait 'til Christmas time...



Only 4 more days!

walking in a winter wonderland...

Greetings snow! Oh...you don't remember me. Well, it's been a long time. We grew up together up North. I must admit I used to take you for granted...I may even have said a negative thing about you now and again. But oh how I have missed you. Welcome snow - please stay as long as you like!





Of course the best part is how excited Xander is about the snow. It's his first real snow and he was more excited than Jake and I - which believe me is a big deal because we were pretty excited.



I told Xander he could eat the snow - you know provided it was a standard white color and had no grass or dirt in it. Loved his reaction.




We'll be spending the weekend either outside playing or inside by the fire drinking hot chocolate.

Only 6 days until Christmas! From our house to yours Merry Christmas!

kinsley: a very merry half birthday

I can't believe it, but today is my little girl's first very merry half birthday.





She's amazing. Happy 6 months Kinsley.

amazing

I'm not really a morning person...I'm not a sleeping in until noon person either but I like to give my body its chance to rest when I can. It's not that I don't like mornings - when I'm awake I very much enjoy them but I also enjoy a lazy morning under my warm covers. Since having kids I have not had many of the lazy mornings under my warm covers but I have seen more sunrises then I used to. Yesterday's was worth taking notice.

happy thanksgiving.

Even before 5 in the morning there is no doubt what I'm thankful for...



Apparently she couldn't wait to start her first Thanksgiving.



I'm also thankful that my other little turkey is still asleep.

Happy Thanksgiving!

happy halloween.

In spite of the rain we had a great time dressing up and trick-or-treating. Daddy made the robot because as Xander would say "My Daddy rocks!".

october 2009

I love October - the cool weather, the changing leaves and perhaps most of all the pumpkins.









Happy Halloween everyone. We had a great time trick-or-treating last night. Photos of the kids in costume coming soon!

rob & steph: wedding

It was the perfect day. The drizzle outside and the cool temperatures could have been a blizzard and it would have still been the perfect day. It was the day they said I do. It was the day they promised their lives to each other. It was the day they took the first big step towards forever. It was a day filled with smiles and love and celebration.

Congratulations Rob and Steph!

Typically I start the wedding day with the bride and her girls. I visit the groom and the guys to take their group shots but spend the majority of the prep time with the bride. As I was not the official photographer for my brother's wedding I got to hang out with him and guys as they got ready. I don't know what I was expecting, but it was a completely different environment. There is a lot more goofing around and watching television going on with the guys than I've ever seen in the bride's prep. Actually, I have NEVER seen any wrestling or television watching in the bride's prep.



They got down to the business of getting ready about 45 minutes before they were planning to leave. Oh to be a boy...



Xander was allowed to watch Uncle Rob get ready as long as he stayed out of the way. He took me seriously and watched from inside the closet.



A new challenge...photographing a ceremony from your seat.



The reception was was at The Sheraton Station Square. The room overlooked the city and was beautiful!






You'll notice the Steelers paraphernalia on the wedding party. They were lucky enough to visit Heinz Field for photos between the ceremony and reception.



I already posted this series in the sneak peek but they are some of my favorites. I loved their first dance and am actually glad a little rain kept everyone from blowing bubbles at the church.









The reception was a blast but I put away my camera and joined my brother and new sister-in-law to celebrate! Congratulations Rob and Steph and I look forward to a lifetime of celebrations with you!

rob & steph: sneak peek

This weekend my little brother got married. My brother and I are VERY close in age (just over 10 months apart) and grew up playing, sharing, fighting and making up over and over again. This weekend he promised his life to a very special person. Someone who makes him laugh. Someone who makes him look at her in a way I've never seen him look at anyone else. Someone that he will spend the rest of his life loving. Someone who will be a best friend in so many new and exciting ways. Someone to share with, fight with and make up with every day for the rest of his life. Congratulations Rob and Steph and I look forward to sharing in the journey.

xander

While Shelby was babysitting this summer she spiked Xander's hair. His reaction was great.

kinsley

I love her eyes...Daddy argues they are gray not blue but I'm not entirely convinced.

update: kids

At the beginning of August we took a trip to PA. Xander fell in love with this little tractor toy at Grandma's house. Saturday morning, when we were leaving to have breakfast with my Dad, Xander insisted on bringing his little tractor. We got to Great Grandma's and he found this in the backyard...



Poor little tractor was abandoned in record time and we almost forgot it there...

yough

Jake grew up camping at the Yough in Confluence, PA. While we were dating I spent many weekends camping with his family and this campsite is a place we both love. With nothing pressing to do with ourselves on the Friday of our week in PA we decided to take the kids to the Yough.
We started with lunch at Sister's Cafe - hands down the best cafe.


Xander got to see a train while we were waiting for our meal and got to watch the bikers, two of his favorite things. Confluence is the only place I've been where the bike rack in front of Sister's Cafe is often as full as the parking lot.


Even Kinsley was having a good time.



After spending some time in the campground we went across the dam to swim in the lake. Xander loved it!



Jake took this image of a morning glory against the chain link fence - I love it.


I still have plenty of images I'm working through from my time on maternity leave and more posts are coming soon. I also have some sessions coming up in September and October so check back!