Oscar

saturday morning

Walking into their home on this Saturday morning was much like walking into my own. Coffee brewing, music playing in the background for dance parties, and babies at your feet. That's why I love lifestyle sessions. It really points out how similar we all are. It's an intimate experience, watching what families do in their own environment. I can't help but wonder what the children will think of these someday. Seeing photographs of themselves on a Saturday morning with their parents.

Lifestyle sessions are a gift.

Because we are all changing, all the time.

Now meet this beautiful family.

10 on 10 October

This past month came and went. Fall is here. Change of seasons might be my favorite time. Everything is different and new again. serious morning bedhead

new game of throwing everything down the chute

morning at Jeni's

probably why I see a chiropractor

nap-time

snack-time

fall is here

familiar scene

last of the harvest

eating a stick and running

Now on to Emily Robinson

new beginnings

This was my first lifestyle session with a family in their home. And although I am in deep love with true lifestyle photography I had hesitations and questions going into it. Would I really like it? Would I be able to tell the family's story? I love it so much more than I thought I would. This family wanted me to photograph their very last morning in their home. They were getting on a plane and moving to California the very next morning. It was brilliant idea. They were going to bring some coffee, some muffins, toys and guitars. The house was completely empty, even the boxes were gone. It was raw. Stripped of objects and things.

I fantasize about moving. To the extreme of daydreaming about packing boxes and where I will put this or that. But a friend recently said it's not going to hit you until you turn that key for the very last time. And it's true. This home is where I became a wife. And a mother. I brought both my babies through that door.  So Liz, being brilliant during her move to California, had this idea. And now her children will see where they were born and where they started their lives.  And they will see that they were really, really loved.

There was a lot of music played, a lot of laughing, and some sentimental times too. We had a dance party and we read books. We hung out in the rooms the children were born in. The children played and crawled all over their parents. They hugged. And cried. And lastly, they said goodbye.

When the session was over Liz walked me to my car. She said it seems all so surreal. That I am leaving tomorrow. I told her it was the beginning of new beginnings. It's like a whole new life.

Now meet John, Liz, Milo and Maeve.

skateboards, happy campers and big smiles

10 on 10 september

Glen Arbor, Michigan D.H. Day Campround

I am going to start off saying I'm not a wimp. I have done my fair share of camping. And even my fair share of backpacking. Before kids Brant and I ended our summers up north. One last trip in August when it was nice and warm. We were ready to jump back into that tradition so we planned a big camping trip for the family. We could handle 4 nights in a tent right? A three year old and one year old...pshhh piece of cake. We've hiked across the entire state of Georgia in 7 days, we can do this.

I wish we would have had a secret camera man to tape all the "highlights" through out the trip....

Grey's uncontrollable urge to run towards the fire, the unexpected cold weather, crawling out of the tent in the morning because every part of your body is not a happy camper, Falon's obvious hatred toward the porta potty,  the campsite that was SURROUNDED by poison ivy, the 50 degree nights in our summer tent, the night sleep screaming from Falon in middle of the night.

But those are the time we remember right? In 20 years sitting around the table..hey dad, remember when all 4 of us were squeezed in that tiny shower at the campground and you got soap in your eyes and the water ran out and mom couldn't find more coins to start the shower again....that was sooo funny!!

I could go on but I won't. Because it was fun. It really was.  We drank a lot of beer.

Using a camper is still camping right?

breakfast:jelly toast

hike up crocodile trail

swimming

trip into town

running: he's gotten really good at it

hide seek next to our favorite cottage bookstore

heading to the beach

singing his heart out

practice running towards the fire pit

sunset on Lake Michigan

And now visit the uber talented Emily Robinson

the taylors

summer friends

these two girls met when they were just 6 months old. we live only one street away from each other but live very different lives during the school year. paisley's mom teaches through the school year and we never ever see them. then when school is out they come around again. they have this awesome vw bus the girls sometimes play in. it's hilarious to watch . They turn up the music really loud (muppets) and  dance, climb up and down the bed to the top and fight over who is going to drive. last time I had my camera and took some pictures. school has started and we miss them already.

10 on 10 August

Right after I finished July's 10 on 10 I was so excited to move on to August. I looked through the calendar for exciting things happening to photograph. But after some thought I went with one of my regular ordinary days.

Our ordinary. Our day to day ordinary. The in between moments.

Long ago when Falon was a baby I watched this video called the The Gift of an Ordinary Day. A woman talked about raising her two sons and the stages each age brought. The boys grew up and left home. She spoke how she would find herself looking at old albums.  But she didn't want to see pictures of little league games or piano recitals. She wanted to see pictures of their ordinary days. Bedhead and peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. Sprinklers on a hot afternoon.

This essay has stayed with me. It is a driving force of why I take the pictures I do.  This life I live can be all consuming.

While there are days I look forward to adult conversation and sleeping without a foot in my back

I know I will miss these days greatly. The ordinary of every day.

Rise and shine

Busted. Again.

New bracelet

Playdate in the sweetest attic playroom

Naptime

Art on the front porch

He wears most of it

After dinner popsicle

Winding down

A bath is nightmare for skinned knees and a band aid addict

And now venture over to the seriously talented Emily Robinson!

Vinny

It feels good when things come full circle. I can't believe it's been a year since I photographed them. They were my first session and I remember every emotion I felt as I drove to the park. I was so nervous. I had excitement and doubts. When I showed up they welcomed me with hugs and smiles. The fear washed away. And that's exactly how they welcomed me this time. This is such a great family full of so much love. See them here.

12 days

This summer my family went to Telluride, Colorado for our summer vacation. Prior to having kids when we traveled, I would have the travel book in hand with numerous events outlined for each day. It was a rigid schedule that let us see the best views and eat at the best restaurants. Then we had kids. And learned very quickly that they schedule our vacation days.

Most days weren't scheduled and we had no idea what we were going to do the next day. We awoke early and walked the streets of downtown and drove the back country roads while the kids napped. We ate where the locals ate. We read books from the free box in the middle of town  and we met new friends. We talked. A lot. To locals and to others who traveled a far distance to be there. We fantasized what it would be like to live there while plotting how we would do it and were even convincing some nights. We breathed in the rich mountain air and laid under the setting sun. We listened to amazing music at the bluegrass festival and watched as our children danced with strangers.

It was a different vacation than I was used to. I wasn't worried about what I would miss or stressed how we were going to fit as many activities as possible into the days we were there. We just enjoyed our time there. And each other.

10 on 10 July

I joined an amazing group of 12 photographers on a monthly project called 10 on 10. The idea is to choose one day out of the month, take 10 pictures, and then post on the 10th of every month. This day looks like everyday to me. Lots of messes, lots of chalk and a lot of dancing. breakfast with a backpack morning nap always at my heels first day of nature camp lunch out with my boy trashing his sister's room while she's at camp bike race mmm...chalk we have too many bikes evening ritual

And now go check out the amazingly talented~

Emily Robertson Photography

Last Dollar Road in Telluride, Colorado

11 months

Grey turned 11 months this month and we are dragging our feet to the first birthday party. There were many times I wanted him to be older, be a little more independent and cling to me less. But now that it's here I'm holding on tight. With my daughter I had everything documented. Her first wave? Yep got it. First Cheerio? Got the date on that one too. But it's true what they say about the second. Baby book is bare. Life really sped up after he was born. And the second year goes really fast. So Grey being the second born and going in his second year I thought I better get some documentation before it's over. These pictures are so Grey. Dirt. Sticks. And big smiles.

seth

I was out to dinner with my friend Erika when I got the call. I almost didn't answer but she called twice in a row and we have rule, if we call twice, it's an emergency. I quickly answered, chocking back a bite. She told me she was packing. For what I asked confused. To go pick up her little boy. The last 5 years vanished in seconds. Our lives changed. It was like that thing in the back of your head nagging you, not letting you be fully happy was gone. The clouds cleared and the sun came beaming down. The pain of wanting and uncertainty were blown away. I wanted to jump up on the table and scream to the restaurant that I was going to be an aunt. That it was over. The journey was over and this precious little boy found the parents that were meant to be his. But thankfully I didn't and I sat back down. I would have paid money to be there the first time they met. To watch my sister become a mother and Clint a father. I truly believe it's no different than the feelings you have in the delivery room. The emotion of having perfection placed in your arms.

Our little boys are 5 weeks apart. We are raising our kids together just like we always dreamed about. We text and call each other every day with stories and questions. The past is a bad memory we don't talk about. But I would bet if you asked Amy and Clint they would do it all again to be where they are today.

On the Farm

Not too far from us is this great little farm. They have chickens and stray cats that beg for attention. They have sheep and pigs and every spring I wait for them to announce their babies have arrived. We went out to the pasture hoping to get some baby lamb love but the protective mama sheep were unwilling to part. When one would run up to us you would hear a baaaabaaa and the baby would run back to it's mama.After lunch we decided to head back to the barn. The sheep had come in and were being transferred to another pasture. We got very lucky and this little lamb loved our attention! Or it liked getting it's picture taken.

Sunday Morning Nap

I had a great time photographing this family! The kids were sweet and adorable and at such great stages. Plus how great are their outfits?! I got excited when she called and told me her husband had bought a suit for an interview and they all wanted to dress up for pictures. Gorgeous family!

I think the first year goes by so slowly compared to the rest. I love each stage but eagerly await this little person's personality to unfold. Grey's first four months were hard and time has been good to him. He is happy. Really happy. You look at him and he dissolves into smiles and with a slight turn of his head. He smiled at the mailwoman yesterday and blinked a slow blink. He spends his days staring at his sister and crawling around on the floor looking for the tiniest piece of something to put in his mouth. He is extremely loud and chatty and has his tongue sticking out 80% of the time. Here is Grey at 7 1/2 months!