Them

We spent the weekend with Papa and Nana this weekend.

Our own photo shoot with them,
(Photo credit above goes to our friend, Willow Brandt Photography)

blue skies
a chili festival, plenty of mexican food,

hopscotch,

leaf crunching,

yes,

plenty

of

leaf

crunching,

and some attempts at yard work...

It was just a nice weekend
of being together,

with him,

with them.


I've mentioned before that my Pop's writings were to be published soon.

And, last night, just about nine months after he reunited with his Savior, my heart was full carefully reading the first few pages for the first time. 

Let Them Say

it's called.

The ending phrase to his highlander family motto,

Do Well, and Let Them Say.

It's the epitome of him, really.

A strength, an inspired leader but with such a gentle humility, a divine grace not able to be completely appreciated, even known, until just his legacy remains here.

My grandma wrote in the foreword composed on her first Valentine's Day without her sweetheart that they had been together for fifty-seven years.

And after fifty-seven years, she still wishes she knew him better, more deeply.
How beautiful.
I reread that phrase a few times.
Lost in the romance, the miracle of a lasting love,
Lost in the man's lasting legacy.
Let Them Say.
He did well, and we all said then, and we all say now.
But it leaves me
just pondering
my own life,
my husband, my children, my family, my friends, my neighbors,
my them.


How can I more completely, more fully validate them,

appreciate them

love them.

Really, it's all just about
leaving them the legacy I've been left.

Mayhem

A beautiful picture like this

hides the marvelous mayhem that is my life.

Sometimes, I manage to get through an hour, a day, sometimes days run into a week where I don't realize just how marvelous this mayhem is, 

but then it will hit me and my response is somewhat unpredictable. 

I've been known to just need a cry.

Or, sometimes something will just strike me as so very funny that it turns into rivers of tears.

Like when showing up for a photoshoot for another family of five, the mom climbs out of the car, a terrified look on her face with the confession that she has forgotten her son's pants. And he has none to wear for the family photos. 

Tears, tears, tears ran down my face the rest of the day every time I tried to tell the story.

Or when out the other night, two of the three in tow and a third crying in my husband's grasp, I realize he has nonchalantly thrown my purse across his chest and is wearing is as proudly as can be out of the restaurant. 

Or when my house looks like this

and I just don't know where to start.

Or, when I read articles like the following and I can't decide if I'm actually laughing or hysterically crying when I'm reading it because someone else appears to "get it", 

to "get" the marvelous mayhem of our beautiful life.

"Three Under Three"

by Paige Kellerman

It’s safe to say the general public is less at ease now that the Kellermans have multiplied.

September brought with it a new baby boy, and the certainty Husband and I have no idea what’s going on anymore. Really, the only thing we’re sure of is leaving the hospital and making it back to the right house. At least, we’ve been paying the mortgage on this place, so I hope it’s ours. The dirt on the floors feels familiar.

Also, I’m fairly sure I recognized the neighbors and the fear in their eyes when they realized we hadn’t just bought a minivan for show.

Now that the split-level is home to two adults, three kids under three and a dog with serious emotional and high maintenance issues, the chaos that was once turned to a dull roar has been unceremoniously turned up again. Because of this, Husband and I have little time to finish a complete thought, let alone feed ourselves.

I really miss eating.

The lack of energy, sustenance and a place to use the bathroom where we’re not being observed like apes in the wild has led to mental delays on both our parts. On occasion, it can take hours to get an intelligible response from the other person. For example, early on Saturday morning, Husband will ask, “Did you remember to buy toilet paper?”

A whole day will pass before I find the presence of mind to answer. This leads usually leads to something embarrassing, like screaming, “Yes, I bought toilet paper. It’s quilted. Quit asking,” at the poor gas station attendant on Sunday afternoon.

When we’re not working on remembering to answer the other person’s questions, Husband and I are staring at each other, trying to figure out what day it is and who we owe money. After we narrow it down by what utilities are on and whether we put stamps or smiley face stickers on the cable bill, it’s time to check on the children. Husband looks at me expectantly. “Who needs to be changed?”

“Who?”

“The kids. Which one needs to be changed?”

I stare into space. “Probably all of them. How many do we have now?”

“Three.”

“An even number. That’s good.”

Husband grabs my shoulders, trying to get me to focus. “That’s not an even num…. never mind. Just tell me where they went. And try to keep it together, woman.”

Motioning towards the stairs, I manage. “Well, I did see two people run through here, and I thought they smelled. They were also drawing on their hands with pen, pointing at me, and yelling, “We find you.” I suggest you head north. Godspeed.”

The end of the day usually finds us sitting on the couch and watching TV. There’s nothing like having a beer, relaxing and jumping at every little sound:

Was that the house settling, or did someone throw a stuffed animal that lost favor into the box fan?

Does the baby need to eat again?

And most importantly, how have we been watching TV for the last two hours without ever remembering to turn it on?

Read more here: http://joco913.com/news/paige-kellerman-three-under-three/#storylink=cpy

Let's marvel in the mayhem today, friends.

Whether it's absurd deadlines or crazy bosses or mountains of laundry... 

or the shattered lunch plate across my kitchen floor presently from a certain nameless toddler,

ah...

the mayhem.

There's something beautiful in it...


right?

Guest

I've had the chance to connect with a lot of bloggie friends over the last couple of years in this bloggin' thing...and one of them happens to be the sweet Elizabeth of Pocket Full of Lovelies.

With her blog full of real perspective, real DIY and a sassy real life 'tude, this girl makes the everyday cute in a way only she can. (Read her post carefully to catch her funny about her own family photos experience...like I said...She's real.)

As a follow up to some family pictures I photographed and shared recently here, I grabbed her real thoughts recently over a popular autumn topic...the ever elusive way to perfect family pictures...and even more daunting...what to wear in family pictures...

Without further ado...Miss Elizabeth. 

Hello.

I am Elizabeth, wife, momma, friend, sewer, dreamer, and wanna-be blogger. I blog over here, stop by, and show some love!

A shout to the lovely Allison for having me on her blog today... let's all say it "HI Allison"

Today, I am here to talk to you cool cats about
{what the heck to wear for your family pictures}

Why am I credible to talk on such a subject?
Well, I am not really, but I like photography, and I like clothes and sometimes I get a vision...

call it what you will, but sometimes my mind thinks in photo shoots... {or blog posts, or tweets, ahh}

alrighty peeps, onto the topic at hand!

·       inventory your house! what the hey does this have to do with getting your family dressed? well, it has a lot to do with it. I'll explain. why do we get pictures taken? because we want to display our beautiful selves all over our house, right? for other people to see when they come over and they can say, "dang, girl you look so good in that pictures" why, yes I do! thanks! so, look around, where are these pictures going to hang or sit? is your room formal? casual? what colors are in your room? take this into account when picking out outfits...

·       another word of advice... research your photographer people! if you like sit-down-smile at the camera portraits, then pick a photographer that does those types of photos. if you like candid-maybe I am smiling, maybe I am laughing, maybe my butt crack is hanging out {no really, mine was in one of my pictures, no joke} then pick a photographer that has that style...

·       the days of everyone looks the same in white shirts and khaki pants are long gone my friends... instead, try and pick out a few colors that everyone can incorporate in their outfit and coordinate not match... don't be afraid to mix unexpected colors and use accessories. COLOR is in folks! one of my {go to places} when I am trying to decide on Color is design seeds ... check it out.. you can search for palates and a pretty picture is included to help you if you are more visual like I am. you can search by palate, like autumn, summer, and so on! this is a good place to start... go there, like NOW! but come back and check out the rest of this post, m'kay?

·       coordinating your outfits... this is huge. it's ok to mix patterns and colors, right? but don't put the same color and pattern on every person. pick outfits that encompass your color palatte and then divi up those colors... if your scheme is mustard yellow and gray with pops of turquoise, put baby in yellow with a bold turqouise headband and yourself in a great gray dress with a pop of bright teal jewelry on your wrist and a mustard scarf and put dad in a plaid turquoise or shirt and dark gray wash jeans...

·       scan your closets... pictures, as wonderful as they are, well, let's face it, can get pretty spendy by the time it's all said and done. well worth it, yes! look through your closets, do you think your husband looks hot in that shirt you bought him to wear to dinner last month, or maybe the baby looks darling in the new blazer you bought for grandma's birthday party {yes, they make blazers for the baby, too dang cute}. use that fave piece of clothing to help inspire the rest of your family look.

·       use props... some of the time, your photog will have some for you to use, but if you are using these pictures for birthday invitations or for christmas cards and you want a specific look or feel, buy it and bring it, and communicate this to your photographer. check etsy or your favorite blogs for ideas... check your house, that special quilt that has been in the family for 100 years, bring it and sit on it {it washes} and you'll find your pictures not only look amazing but have a little bit of sentiment as well. believe me, photographers, {bless them} and their super cool editing skills, have a way of making aunt betty's ugly blanket look awesome in the photo... {I don't know how they do it, but they do}

·       and last, we all do it, spend countless hours scanning pinterest. get inspiration from what other people have done. do me a favor and {wait for it} actually click on that super cool picture that you like and go to that blog or website and look around.. you may find more inspiration than you knew possible. seriously, if you like that one picture, chances are, you'll like the rest of what you will find after you click to the new page! try it, k?

well, take from it what you will. I hope someone draws some inspiration from this little post and has some crazy good family photos in the near future..

I have to get my roast out of the crock pot, and make my instant mashed potatoes before the hubbs gets home and figures out my secret! {I almost sounded domesticated, huh?}
but seriously, the best choice garlic instant mashed potatoes are bomb!
you're welcome...
<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>

Annie

I've written about them before.

Back in June, I blogged about my baby sister here.

And, usually, I keep my photography and this blog as separate as can be.

But, sometimes they intertwine into this beautiful thing that I feel so privileged to be able to share.

See, now this sister is the one blossoming so fully.

Joining the year of babies in our family by generously adding not just one little munchkin to the mix,

but two.

But two little ladies to to join her pink peanut in December.

Upon first thought, this miracle is so exciting and fun and lovely...

Double the pleasure, double the fun...

Matching outfits and three under two and all girls...

wow.

(and it is exciting and fun and lovely and Wow.)

but as already-mothers know, this journey, as all of ours are, will be filled with the hard days, the crying days, the discipline days...and it won't just be one up in the night, one sleep schedule, one guessing game...but double it all.  

Breathe, Annie.

Breathe. 

However, that all being said, if you know Annie, 

you know if anyone survive, do it, 

Annie can.

Actually,

not just survive it, but embrace it.

And not just do it, but beautify it. 

She can.

It's true.

And not just simply survive it and embrace it and do it and beautify it,

but accomplish this all 

with the passion, the serenity, the joy, the loveliness

that is my sister,

Annie.

--
P.S. If you haven't done so yet, feel free to "join" our site by clicking the "follow" button on the right-hand side. Fun things are in the works, a holiday giveaway, some guest posts including a what to wear in family pictures inspiration post and more!

Love

We all have the things we want for our family. 

Boldness and humility, a life that strives for the highest, while completely secure,

confidence, honesty, great accomplishments,

all simultaneously lacing a deep peace and contentment and joy and happiness.

And as the first model for my children, 

their first example, their current primary role model, 

I feel myself spinning so many times, not sure where to start, 

turning every which way to make sure their home is dusted,

their meals well-balanced, 

their laundry clean (although it's usually not folded), their TV minimal, their friendships healthy,

their experiences rich. 

It's endless, really, the things we could be doing to improve, 

 the list we still need to make, the lessons we could teach, the conversations to deepen,

it's exhausting.

The other day, though, I was reminded of the simplicity of what's truly requested, required.

 It was actually a song I heard on their playlist that sung directly to my heart. 

It all comes down to one thing,

the base of all things lasting, meaningful, beautiful.

Love.

Love.

The word is short in stature, but so mighty in meaning, this thing called love.

And, as we all know, but so easily forget, it's more than the kisses and cuddles I bestow,

it's the sacrifice, the surrender of the "me" time, the chatty phone calls, the brainless web surfing, the juicy tv shows I'm unfortunately interested in during the day;

it's adoring their daddy, becoming his biggest fan, day by day;

it's responding to their question after question after question with appreciation, enthusiasm; 

it's letting them suffer, sitting in silence sometimes to appreciate, value peace, quiet, rest.

Oh, and the biggest challenge for me, 

it's modeling that same peace, quiet, rest for them with a willing, joyful, loving heart, day after day, after minute after minute. 

I really do think the quiet love is the loudest.

The real love, the hard love, that's the true love.

So,

I'm off to love today.