Hair be gone!

So this happened this week. Hair was buzzed! It has been a long time coming. She is only twelve, so I was apprehensive to say the least; worried she would immediately regret it, worried what other people would say (especially other kids at school), worried about how it would turn out. But at the end of the day it is just hair and it will grow back...and she's rocking it!

When my kids were just toddlers (and I didn't even have three of them yet) some wise older parent, years ahead of me, advised me to 'choose your battles'. There are so many things that can be frustrating, especially with little kids and in different ways as they get older. That has always stuck with me though.

So I decided back them to let them choose their outfits (I still had control over what was in the cupboard and drawers to start with) but if socks didn't match, or things clashed? So what! They were having some independence, it was one less thing for me to have to worry about and we weren't going to have a fight about how they looked. Outside of the lines of being appropriate, they were then, and are now, figuring out what they like, who they are, how they want to look and present themselves.

This was absolutely not done on a whim. Any time they have come to me about haircuts, we don't cut their hair the next day, it's normally a few weeks to really make sure they are set on their decision. In this case the requests started many months ago. In the end (unsurprisingly once daddy was on board it came around much quicker) my final procrastination bargaining chip was to ascertain how on top of all of her schoolwork she was, as it has been over three months of 'distance learning' thanks to our covid/coronavirus pandemic.

In the end I was the one to chop of her locks and buzz her whole head. I went gradually and started with an undercut, in case maybe that would suffice; long on top with the option to put it up and show off what was underneath....but no, that was not the look she was going for. So I kept going. It was a family affair and even involved a friend watching on Facetime for part of it.

She really does love it and people (friends mainly) have been supportive and complimentary about it. I'm sure there are those who may question it, but they haven't spoken up yet. They are entitled to their opinion of course, but that doesn't need to influence her. I am proud of her for wanting to be a little different, to be herself and be comfortable and be free. I have no idea how quickly she will decide to grow it out, if she will be happy to have tried it but be ready for a change again, or if she will keep it trimmed and short for a while? We shall see.

By the next morning, she walked in and I had the initial 'oh yeah, that happened' thought which quickly moved on to 'it really suits her' and now, a few days later, I look back at the photos in the poppy field and they don't even look fully like her anymore. She is stunning and confident and loving it. The first thing I see is her amazing eyes and I wonder why I was so hesitant? She can carry this off no problem and if at some point she is bombarded with criticism or abuse, I will be the first to remind her and encourage her to be strong in her decision and to continue to believe in herself.

2019 My Life Project - Week 3

Although we don't allow makeup outside of the house quite yet, this particular tween is constantly watching tutorials and practicing. The majority of her money, be it pocket money, or gifts goes towards all sorts of makeup. It slightly appalls me the amount that she has spent, but she enjoys it and she's honing her craft and it's her money.

A sick day at home this week gave me the chance to get some daylight photos (hurray) as it's dark by the time they normally get home. My sweet girl, beautiful with or without makeup, although I do prefer the natural look.

And just for laughs, look how far she's come!

2018 Lifestyle Project - Week 4

You can read the introduction to this project by clicking here.

Littlest wasn't feeling too good on Monday so we let her stay home from school. Now she wasn't deathly ill, so this did not mean a free pass and playing games all day. We did some art and watched some educational nature videos...

...and also, I am bound and determined to get into some of these photos as I am a part of this life! So...

2018 Lifestyle Project - Week 3

You can read the introduction to this project by clicking here.

Three weeks in and I already find my photos getting a little repetitive. But this week we found out we got accepted on a different house and I am once again reminded I am, and have been, documenting a season. This is our living room, in a house which has been a challenge, but was nevertheless, our landing spot. Just under six months ago, we moved to Bristol, from California, with just our suitcases.  We rented this house and have gradually accrued most of what we need; our personal items, but no furniture, arrived three months later. We still haven't finished unpacking, as we haven't had the space to store stuff, there are pictures and photos still stacked in the corner which we never got to put up. This has been an ok house but we are really hopeful this next move will have us starting to feel like we are in a home.

It is still early days, there is still much adjustment to do, but family and faith is what roots us. Spending time with each other, even just a boy and his dad playing computer games together, these are the simple and important things.

2018 Lifestyle Project - Week 2

You can read the introduction to this project by clicking here.

Second week of this year, just documenting our real life. With my portraits I'll clear and tidy backgrounds, I would have closed cabinet and microwave doors, zoomed in much closer, but by stepping back, using a wider lens, more of the story is told; there'll be more to remember. It's hard for me, this is a discipline, a different way, maybe not as 'pretty' but in some ways freeing...beautiful in it's own way.

This is my older girl. My tween. Such a great help. It was a night last week where time was getting away, she was bored and kindly offered to cook dinner. Win!

52 Weeks of 2013 - Week 23

It's not easy being the middle child; not the baby, not the older responsible one. Throw in being tired and having a long day at school and all of a sudden life can seem SO hard. When a strong willed, middle child feels hard done by, or even wronged, it can sometimes lead to storming off, or even a little fit, of sorts.

Sometimes a mother, who is just as tired, has very low tolerance for such antics and is happy to let said child spend time on her own in her room. Thankfully though, there is a wonderful daddy who can recognize that maybe that same child actually just needs a bit of extra attention and one-on-one time and all of a sudden the joy and laughter is restored.

I am so grateful for a husband who does not see things as black-and-white as I do, who has compassion and grace for his children, in different ways than I. I am grateful too, for this daughter who holds so much promise and really does bring so much happiness to our home.

It was wonderful to walk in and see this sight and just step back and be able to document it.

52 Weeks of 2013 - Week 21

I am one of those rule followers, I admit it! However, I was out on Saturday afternoon with my girls and we stumbled upon a park. It was a beautiful day, but not overly hot and said park had a water feature. The girls spotted it at once, but I told them we had no swim suits, no towels, no change of clothes, so it wouldn't work that day and steered them towards the rest of the playground. They were a little disappointed but there was other new equipment to explore and they were soon happily climbing and playing.

As I watched them laughing and giggling together and reflected on the fact that they hadn't complained and whined at being told 'no' for today I decided to let them do it. Who really cared if they got wet?

I didn't tell them right away, I told them it was time to start heading out and as we got closer to the water they asked me again "Please Mommy?"!

I didn't have to tell them yes twice. They were thrilled! They tossed aside their shoes and just went for it.  The water would spurt at varying intensities at different times and from different directions and the anticipation then squeals, the sheer joy and excitement was priceless.

There was no holding back, they got thoroughly drenched, and enjoyed every moment. They were kids being kids, having fun, being free. Not much can beat that.

Day In The Life - April 2013

Often photographers end up neglecting the documentation of their own families. Sometimes it can be due to being too busy with client work, or a lack of inspiration, or just not being able to balance everything. This is my 'Day in the Life Project'. I choose one day each month to document, from morning to night, so that each month I am guaranteed photographs of my family and my life.

This past weekend we headed back up to Petaluma to watch the Butter and Egg Day Parade, with friends. The weather was perfect so once the parade had ended we headed out to the beach, where it turns out the weather was less than perfect, windy and foggy. That too was when we realized the bag with layers to keep warm had also been left behind. Oh well, we tried. On our way home, another set of friends invited us over for a little bbq, so it all worked out perfectly, after all.

These are not technically perfect (far from it), or portrait-worthy, this is just real life. If you are doing something similar leave me a comment with a link to where I can follow along with you, I would love that!

Day In The Life - March 2013

Often photographers end up neglecting the documentation of their own families. Sometimes it can be due to being too busy with client work, or a lack of inspiration, or just not being able to balance everything. This is my 'Day in the Life Project'. I choose one day each month to document, from morning to night, so that each month I am guaranteed photographs of my family and my life.

Today was the last day of the month, but a good one to document. Easter Sunday! We have a communal Easter breakfast at church and it was also my week to teach the preschoolers. Each year after church is the Easter Egg Hunt, a highlight of the kids' year. Then lunch with our pastor's family and some other friends, which lasted well into the afternoon, followed by heading home to start packing for our trip to Texas this week and get ready for bed.

These are not technically perfect (far from it), or portrait-worthy, this is just real life. If you are doing something similar leave me a comment with a link to where I can follow along with you, I would love that!

Day In The Life - February 2013

Often photographers end up neglecting the documentation of their own families. Sometimes it can be due to being too busy with client work, or a lack of inspiration, or just not being able to balance everything. This is my 'Day in the Life Project'. I choose one day each month to document, from morning to night, so that each month I am guaranteed photographs of my family and my life.

Sometimes life is just so busy, but last weekend we had a pretty unstructured Saturday. While hubby and son took off for karate classes, the girls, with a couple of friends played Legos for hours and then their brother came home and happily joined in. We had to drag them away to get out of the house for an hour. Then my sweet boy made dinner for us all, with just a little help from me. Love these family days. As well as the usual collage I had to sneak in a couple extra of my kids, just because they're such great kids and I love them so much!

These are not technically perfect (far from it), or portrait-worthy, this is just real life. If you are doing something similar leave me a comment with a link to where I can follow along with you, I would love that!

52 Weeks of 2013 - Week 8

I have talked before about the importance of being in the photographs with your families. We moms are often the ones behind the camera, but I want my children to remember our relationship too. In case you hadn't noticed, I love to take photos of my kids, but this is just as important. If anything were to happen to me, I want a record for my kids to see how much I loved them. I am not trying to be morbid, I hope we will look at these together in the years ahead, but we just never know.

I lost my mom eight years ago, totally unexpectedly, the day before my son's first birthday. I can go back in a second to that morning, waking to the message on the answer machine from my sister in England (calling in the early hours of the morning) telling me that I needed to call her right away. It was the worst day of my life.

Pain and grief are strange emotions that lessen with time; my father leaving home, the death of my grandma, the betrayal and heartbreak of my first boyfriend, the miscarriage of our first baby, they were all things that seemed devastating at the time but as life moved on there was healing. It has not been so easy dealing with the loss of my mother.

It took me becoming a mother, to fully appreciate her and her love for me. What I wouldn't give for a picture like the one above of me with my mom. That would seriously be priceless. There are questions that will forever remain unanswered. There were children she never got to hug and brothers and a sister she didn't watch marry. I miss her terribly still and it's a hole that cannot be filled by anyone else.

Be in photos with your children! Hire a professional, ask a friend, or a neighbor, or a stranger, use your phone, I don't care how you achieve it, just do it - you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I promise you, you will treasure them and your children will thank you for it later. These are memories people, invest in them!

(For anyone who cares, I set the camera manually and shot with the interval timer - camera on tripod)

A Day in the Life - June 2012

Often photographers end up neglecting the documentation of their own families. Sometimes it can be due to being too busy with client work, or a lack of inspiration, or just not being able to balance everything. This is my 'Day in the Life Project'. I have chosen the first day each month to document, from morning to night, so that each month I am guaranteed photographs of my family and my life.

June 1st was a regular school day, but I then headed out to a Women's Retreat and my husband headed out to take the kids on a mini-camp out.

These are not technically perfect (far from it), or portrait-worthy, this is just real life. If you are doing something similar leave me a comment with a link to where I can follow along with you, I would love that!

Click here to see May.

A Day in the Life - May 2012

I recently read a blog post that totally resonated with me. It was all about how often photographers end up neglecting the documentation of their own families. Sometimes it can be due to being too busy with client work, or a lack of inspiration, or just not being able to balance everything. The photographer went on to say that she now chooses one day each month to document, from morning to night, so that each month she is guaranteed photographs of her family and her life.

I felt challenged and inspired, so I am starting it too! May 1st was my first attempt, as I figured the 1st of each month would be the easiest to remember. I haven't made any rules for myself, but will try to post by mid-month a few of the photos from that day.

These are not technically perfect (far from it), or portrait-worthy, this is just real life (try not to be jealous of my laundry and dishes!). If you are doing something similar leave me a comment with a link to where I can follow along with you, I would love that!