Memories, Dreams and Reflections 2012

Me!
Twenty twelve… it was a year filled with answered prayers. From a New Year’s Day proposal to a Saint Patrick’s Day wedding, it was a year of romance, commitment, and promise. It’s hard to decide what I’m most proud of, as nothing is the same at year’s end as it was at the beginning. I end my year happy and with a persevering faith that God will continue to move my life.

I Love You
I’ve probably said a million times (give or take a thousand) how much I love my children – - how much I adore being a mom. But I don’t think I’ve said nearly enough how much I appreciate and love my parents and my husband. On my best days, on my worst days, in sickness(!), and in health, these three people have encouraged me, prayed for me, and stayed by me. I’m so very grateful for their love and devotion. I only hope I can offer the same to them.

{photos by my amazing friend Rose G, who pretends she has no idea what she’s doing, but always clicks with love to get me in the picture.}

Still Laughing…
The character of this little man (age 3 in this April photo), has no boundaries. Sometimes trying to crack jokes (“Look under there.” *Underwear* “Hahahaha; you said underwear!”) – - funny by the 50th time they’ve been delivered. Sometimes dancing around the house while making his own rhythmic tune and lyrics. Sometimes trying his hand at board games. Always keeping us laughing with his unique sense of humor and zest for life.

Winter Wonderland
It’s more like “I wonder where winter is?” We’ve not seen much snow for this season and there was very little in January-March at the opening of 2012. The weather forecasters keep promising snow, the school children keep wearing inside out PJs and doing snow dances, but there’s very little of the white stuff falling in this area. So, every time flakes begin to fall, the kids bundle up and rush outside to enjoy a few moments of winter joy.

Birthday
We celebrated Chi’s tenth a tad late this year, but she didn’t seem to mind. A mini shopping spree for a birthday outfit, a day-of-birth photo shoot, and a plethora of phone calls seemed to make her actual day special (especially since this year, she had school in session to celebrate with school friends) even if the cake came late.

Friends
“Womb”mates Ya and Jack are an interesting set of friends: opposite in every physical way, but similar in interests. They have been friends since before they were born, just four months apart. Trains, trucks, and track star running excites them both. And when they are together, they converse (often with comical skeptism and great animation). Most often, we don’t understand their private jokes (fire taco!!!!). We worry sometimes about their competitive streaks. Documenting their relationship is one of my favorite things to do.

I Was Inspired…
…by her abundant imagination. A rock and a piece of driftwood – - of course it’s meant to be a see saw. A pile of fallen tree logs gathered together on the beach? Well, they must’ve been left for her to fashion a teepee. It seems like no matter where we are, she imagines something beyond what actually is. It makes our days less mundane. I’m inspired by how easily she envisions improvements in everything she sees. I’m savoring these experiences of her youth and hope she’ll continue to innovate as she matures.

Spring Fever

Travel

It took two years to save for our cruise, but it was worth it. We sailed to paradise, spent some much needed time together, and ate to fullness in gourmet dining rooms. We must do it again, soon.

Summer Days
April is not quite summer (far from it, actually), but these portraits of the boys remind me of the carefree time of the warmer season…

A Day In My Life
A household with three growing boys means changing refrigerator bulbs quite often. The appetites never seem satisfied and someone is always surveying the goods for the next meal.

All Smiles
In the last minutes of 2011, he gave me this genuine smile… perhaps it was the tie?

Autumn Harvest
We collected pumkins during a K-4 field trip. Ya loved pulling the empty wheel barrow… but carrying a heavy pumkin was not on his agenda.

Family
My parents celebrated 38 years of marriage this November. My family began with that union in 1974.

Celebrate!
We had all the luck without a single four leaf clover this March 17. It was the day I married my friend – seventeen years after meeting him at a journalism workshop. Our wedding was an intimate affair that melded my ultra-budgeted do-it-yourself theme with family and friend collaborations. Most of our professional photos paled in comparison to those captured by our guests, including this one of me and Chi dancing. Seeing the image days after our nuptials warmed my heart – - this was a true moment of bliss within a day of sunshine and excitement.

Let’s Do It Again…
Let’s collect a dozen or so helium balloons and venture outside for a bit of fun. We can pop them. We can float them. We can battle the winds for them. Maybe we can even fly – - even if only for a moment.

I Miss You…

Beautiful
There are a number of images I could use that epitomize beauty. There is beauty in a spirited personality. There’s beauty in the everyday happenings. There is beauty in parent-child and sibling relationships. There is beauty in nature and in what is man-made. There is beauty in life — and even in death. Selecting just one image seems impossible.

Dress Up
I’m always amazed at how awed people are when they first see themselves made up. Whether it’s a make up artist working to enhance beauty or to totally disguise a person, that initial look at the transformation is priceless.

Macro {Ri’s delicate lashes and sweet newborn cheeks.}

Holidays

My {most recent} Favorites

Don’t Ever Change
I’ve gotten a bit of criticism lately about my inundation of pictures of our youngest (if posting half a dozen pictures can be considered overdoing it). Ri and I have been having portrait sessions every couple of days for about 20 minutes each time. We usually take our pictures just before bedtime when the house is warm and she is at her sleepiest. Apparently, though, this is not acceptible to one vocal relative (which likely means there are others who simply didn’t make their objections so terse and public). He wrote: “Did you have a baby or a prop?” It stung. I still tear up thinking about the accusation that somehow I’m exploiting my baby girl. And yet… she’s changed so much in these nearly four weeks. She changes every day. I’ve documented it – sometimes in formal portraits, more often in snap shots. Years from now when she’s grown, I hope she’ll look fondly on these photos I’ve already come to treasure. I didn’t birth a photography prop – I was entrusted with a beautiful gift. And even though there isn’t a camera capturing my adoration of her throughout the day, I’m totally devoted to being her mommy.

Just Because…
Welding is cool, especially when my brother does it.

Hopes and Dreams
I’m looking forward to what 2013 brings! I expect to continue to grow with my photography, constantly challenging myself to improve both artistically and technically.
I hope our family continues to come together – - that our integration becomes unnoticable when we’re together.
I’m looking forward to witnessing Ri’s first year of life (and documenting it as much as I can).
I hope I’m in some of the pictures – present in the memories we print in more than just being the one weilding the camera.
And I pray that we continue to grow in God, in our faith, and in love.