At Home With the Elys

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I am a morning person. I love bedhead. That first sip of coffee.  Shuffling feet on the hardwood floor. It's a good day, like really good day if I get up an hour or so before my kids do.

I turn into Wonder Woman Mom with french toast sizzling in the skillet. Ideas slinging left and right of how we can start our day.

But today I woke up feeling a wetness on my back. And a foot. They got a granola bar.

This family has me wrapped around their finger. There is so much love between all of them it just spills over and you get some of it too. They are the kind of people you want to be around. The kind you laugh a lot and you really feel like you can be yourself.

And they are some kickass photographers~happy ely after photography and ely brothers

I showed up at 7:30 and sneaked into the babies room. Let the morning light in and followed them around as their morning unfolded.

meet levi val jude piper and baby rilo

a little q and a

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It has been super rainy here. Everyday there is rain. And while my garden is happy, I am pretty much over it. So on this dreary Monday morning I saw that I got tagged by Erika Ray to answer a few questions. When was the last time someone made you laugh really hard?

Saturday night. My brother. He is the funniest person I know.

When you woke up this morning, what was the first thought that ran through your head? (Skip to the second thing if the first isn’t clean!)

How am I going to army crawl out of this bed so Grey doesn't wake up.

Look behind you, what do you see?

I don't even need to look it's a hot mess of some kind.

What country (that you haven’t been to) would you love to visit and why?

Hmm....Australia. It' s beautiful!

Dog, cat or fish and why?

None! If it poops and needs to be fed I don't want it.

Do you speak another language, what is it, and if you don’t, what language would you like to learn and why?

I speak Grey language. Enough said.

Think of the stupidest thing you have ever done and share it with us.  Okay, maybe the second stupidest thing.

Stupid not crazy right? So a very long time ago (very) I worked at Cracker Barrel. Well, while I was serving I decided I had had enough, I no longer wanted to work there. So I went up to the hostess stand and told them to stop seating me. Once I had checked out my last table I left my money, grabbed my keys and walked out to my car. To find it wasn't there. So my heart started to beat a little faster as I really scanned the parking lot. Nothing. Then I remembered my friend dropped me off. So I had to run across the street in my Cracker Barrell apron uniform and call a friend to come get me. Lesson learned-Don't be cocky and walk out on your shift.

One word to describe yourself.

Happy

What was the best present you ever received and why?

Green Bean Delivery. It's the gift that keeps on givin too. I can't help but get giddy every time I open the green box packed with goodness.

What is the first word that comes to mind when you see fireworks?

um...wow?

the art of every day

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I have been given this amazing opportunity to have a solo show in the Short North during Gallery Hop!! For all of you who have never been to Gallery Hop it's a fun night hopping from gallery to gallery.

The show is all about what I love to photograph-the everyday.

You don't have to go to beautiful field with sunlight surrounding you at the best hour. It' all right in front of you.

Here is a sneak peek-there will be a total of 20 photos.

It would be super cool if you could come check it out and show your support for local artists!

It's SeanChristopher Gallery from 6-10 this Saturday July 6!!

 

At Home With the Dews

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So I have serious baby fever. The kind where you daydream about names and tiny onsies. Where if you shut your eyes and think about the newborn baby smell you can actually smell it. And this adorable guy didn't help this cause at all.

I had tears in my eyes when I was driving there. I got tears in my eyes when I pulled up to the house. And even more when I saw their little girl waiting for her brother to come home.

And I think it was because there was that buzz in the air. All new moms remember it-it's right before sleep deprivation sets in.  The hours spent just staring in complete awe at this tiny human.

Now if I could just get Grey to sleep through the night maybe my husband would think it was a "good idea" to have a third.

Here is the day Abram came home.

on the way to find tadpoles

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“We have such a brief opportunity to pass on to our children our love for this Earth, and to tell our stories. These are the moments when the world is made whole. In my children's memories, the adventures we've had together in nature will always exist.”

-Richard Louv

10 on 10 June

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Saturday we celebrated Grey's 2nd birthday. It was a great party full of music and sparklers and dancing kids. naptime and serious daddy's boy

you mean if I try and pick up the cake it will fall apart?!!

icing

grey got a banjo but she quickly took over

tire swing

mason and the shoes

happy birthday bear!! and I don't care that it's not in focus although it would be nice if it was

banjo cake

cooper

all night long

then there were 8 hot waving marshmellows

now head on over to emily robinson!

at home with the martins

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As I sit here and type this I feel like I just wrestled 2 tigers. It's 9:28 pm. My clothes are still wet from this evenings baths. I have Grey's dinner on my shirt. I still have the echo of their little (booming) voices saying, "One more book and I'm not tired!!" I have a serious love/not like relationship with bedtime. It is such an important part of the day that requires so much love. And patience.

I don't like the constant meltdowns of a tired kid who played hard all day. The "I'm hungry!" only minutes after dinner is over. When dad becomes a "monster" who chases the squeeling/laughing kids through the house, getting them all amped up 5 minutes before bed. Or the fight over which bedtime book will be best.

But I do love the scent of baby lotion in the air. Being all cuddled up and reading.  The familiar position my little boy gets into every time I rock him.  The close of the door when they are fast asleep because I finally get some me time.

Well this family, they know how to do bedtime. I even remember looking at them at one point saying, "Do you guys do this all the time? Or is it just because I am here?" She said, "Well most of the time, yes." They were so FUN. They both did baths instead of the divide and conquer, I will clean the kitchen if you give the kids a bath. I think they are onto something.  I came to photograph them after dinner and happily followed them around as they had their evening popsicles, bath and bedtime routine. Here are the Martins!

10 on 10 May

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the light is coming earlier and earlier 7:05 am

already filthy

first chore-taking out the compost

northstar lunch

a walk back and a nap

you know you have an older sister if you have rainbow tatoos

green bean delivery. this company has changed my life!! if you are in the area check it out!

having a younger brother who smashes worms is devastating to a worm lover

grandpa worm!!!!now head on over to Cherish and her 10 on 10

a boy and a banjo

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So I have been taking Molly Flanagan's  Visual Storytelling class this past month. And it's all about telling stories with your images.  And all I can say is it's AMAZING and I highly recommend it for those who love this approach to photography. The lessons spelled everything out that I need to know about telling a story with photos. It gave me a whole new vision and approach to photography. This last assignment was to tell story. Any story.  I have watched all week for one to unfold and last night Brant wanted to get away for a minute so he went to the front porch. Only to be followed by this boy. This kid loves the banjo.

10 on 10 April

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woke up not feeling well piano practice

doing laps until grey makes her mad by ramming his stroller into hers

new shoes

my kids are obsessed with worms. this was grandpa worm.

my girl

dirt and popsicle

she requested her own this year

she can open the door but screaming for mom and making her open the door is way more fun.

bathtimeand now check out the awesome emily robinson!!

Kids Were Here | April

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This month a group of photographers and I started documenting evidence that our kids were here. You know, the things that might drive you crazy sometime but you will miss later when they are grown. Or the sweet things you will definitely miss when they are gone. Check out some others at Kids Were Here

10 on 10 March

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march is a very exciting month this year. I have two really great shoots coming up and I am going to the Don't Give Up Project with one of my favorite photographers and friend Deanna McCasland. here is our day in March! morning boys

grey being grey

my little pony

to school we go

this boys smile gets him away with a lot

2 more days of not complaining about gong potty before bed scores you a princess bike. I have held out on this as long as possible lol!!

snack time

she is not into me taking her photo right now. obviously.

grey just started speech because he only has a vocab of about 5 words. she says grey we need to work on your words and reads to him

grey what does a cow say                now head on over to Emily Robinson and her crazy cute girls