Father's Day 2021

 

The tradition continues! That makes me very happy as these photos have documented these fabulous kids through the years...and not because they love me and are happy to be photographed at the drop of a hat (far from it), but because they love their dad. We are a very blessed family; there is a lot of love and a dad who has always been willing to go the extra mile and keep going.

Happy Father's Day James from your crew and to all the other daddies out there we hope that you will get the recognition and gratitude you deserve too.

February Photo Project - Photo A Day - Day 22

These three. My heart!

(As in years past, I've decided to do the February photo project and take a photo a day. It never hurts to have a bit of discipline and with all our transitions my creativity has been sorely lacking, so I'm looking forward to jumping back in. No real rules, just our life documented a little. Maybe there'll be captions, maybe not, there could be the occasional phone photo thrown in on busier days and sometimes it may be hard to narrow things down and there could be bonus photos. I'd love for you to follow along, or even join in. Let me know!)

So Glad They Have Each Other {London Child Portrait Photographer}

Through no fault of their own, their little lives have been completely changed. They left behind their home and their school and family and their friends from birth. They were forced to say goodbye to loved possessions and familiarity and had to start over. They have good days and bad days. There have been moments that weren't so pretty, when they bickered and snapped at one another, but I am so glad they have each other. That they get to share this experience (that they will no doubt talk about in the years ahead, hopefully not in therapy) that they are the best of friends.We may no longer be in California, but Finsbury Park isn't so bad when you have the people who know and love you the best to play with. There are good times still to be had. To see them exploring together and having fun, warms this Mama's heart and gives me hope for our future here!

Happy Father's Day!

 

My littles are blessed beyond the feeble words which so inadequately try to express all they have. A Daddy who is fully present for them, who laughs and listens, who has always been there and always will, unconditionally loving and supporting them and cheering them on. A daddy who is not afraid to show his emotions, who is setting an example of how to live and love, fully and unabashedly. For me to know that we are a team in this parenting journey, that we are partners in this life we are so fortunate to be living together is truly an honor and a gift. I could not have asked for more of the father of my children. Happy Father's Day James Cannan and thank you for who you are and all that you do, you are truly amazing!

52 Weeks of 2014 - Week 4

Meet my nephew and niece. Great kids. The thing I love about family is that there is no pretense, you see the good and the bad and you love through it all. I have watched these children grow up, the cuddles, the tantrums (fortunately not directed at me), highs and lows and I love that I get to see them developing into the people they will become.

If you have children, or grew up not as an only child, you know that they can be the best of friends and the worst of enemies. They love each other, yet they can bicker and quarrel and torment each other. At the end of the day though, they will have each others backs. The shared history, the mutual grievances with parents, the secrets they share, or keep from each other. There is nothing like the bond you have with your siblings.

It's true, over and over again in relationships, from marriages, to parent and child and of course with siblings, no matter how mad each may be with the other, if they can laugh together, all can be right in their world.

52 Weeks of 2013 - Week 41

I am currently in England for a week, for my brother's wedding and boy do I miss my family. They couldn't come with me and are at home in California. Those sweet smiles brighten my day, every day and the hugs and the kisses and the little hands. I miss them all. I know they miss me too, but I am only one person to miss and I am missing four (counting my husband too). Sigh.

I am happy to be here but so wish they were with me. Can't wait to be home with them again.

Happy Father's Day!

It was ten Father's Days ago that I slipped a Father's Day card onto my husband's music stand at church. I had waited until that morning, after he had left, to take the test, wanting to surprise him on that day of all days, if it was positive. It was!

He opened it and at first was confused, thinking somebody had maybe not realized we had miscarried months before, then he saw that I was the one who had signed it. I huge grin lit up his face and when he got to stand with all of the other fathers to be recognized, we were announcing it to everyone.

He was ready to be a father long before he met me, he has so much love to give! Yet he waited patiently, for seven years in fact, until I was ready to finally be a mother, to realize his own dream. He is the most wonderful father I could ever ask for for my children, I love to watch as he builds them up, from the inside out, instilling confidence as only a father can. They know without a doubt that they are loved and important!

To my husband, I love you immeasurably and am so grateful for all that you do for us. You continually amaze me. I love you!

Happy Father's Day.

52 Weeks of 2013 - Week 20

There are those RARE moments in life when your little girls say "Mommy! Take a picture of us" and you don't argue, you grab your camera quickly and don't worry about what the background looks like, or whether outfits match perfectly, or are cute enough. Then they spontaneously hug each other without you  asking them to. They smile....then they really surprise you and even do a sweet kiss and you are just doing as you were told and documenting that they really do love each other. Which, of course you knew.

Sometimes, though, with all the bickering and yelling and pinching, you wonder if they will both survive, or if you will even be able to handle the teenage years if it's already like this now. So you'll take these moments and treasure them and of course record them. They will be proof. (One day you may need to shove a photo like this in their faces and remind them how they really are best friends because, maybe, for brief moments they might forget.)

I realize, this could just be how it is with my kids and yours may be just perfect at all times, loving and sweet and kind to each other. But, I seriously doubt it.

Love these unscripted moments. Sigh.

52 Week Project - Week 41

*Just as a reminder, this is a personal project I am undertaking this year, in order to shoot more and share more. Each week of 2011 will have a corresponding favorite photograph; snapshots from my life.

The end of the year is far too rapidly approaching and I need to catch up on posting for this project. Keep checking back, you might see a sudden flurry of activity. This was from week 41.

My three little ragamuffins. They fill my heart! Of course we have days with whining and fighting and telling tales on one another (no pretense here of a perfect family, with perfectly well behaved children at all times) but they are the best of friends. They really do love each other and what more could a mother ask for?

Their relationships with each other will change over the years, but I will have the proof of the love. As I look at this photograph I can almost fast forward to the teenage years and I have high hopes that they will look out for one another when we cannot be there. The big brother with his arms around his sisters, fending off all his friends who are vying for their affections. He is a great brother, but I am far from ready for those days. It kind of terrifies me!

One day at a time, living in the now...sometimes that is all we can, or should, do.