Spring Photos

 My friend Meghan behind Meghan MacAskill Photography is an amazing photographer. She was planning on doing mini session on a Saturday and was using a new location so she asked a few of us if we wanted to come over and help her test the light. I jumped at the chance and dolled up my girls in their Easter finest, made some popcorn for the crowd and headed over on a Friday afternoon. There were probably ten kids, in an orchard and chaos everywhere and in about ten minutes Meghan captured these gorgeous shots. I am pretty sure I gasped out loud when she sent me the photos. Not just the light and composition that make these pictures beautiful, but that she truly captured my little girls with all of their personality. My happy, expressive Elise that was totally loving Meghan and her camera and my sweet, dreamy Hadley that Meghan had twirling and smelling the flowers which is so very her. I also love that we asked Hadley to do her favorite thing when she sat with Elise on the couch to get them both smiling, and she leaned over and hugged Elise. And the photo of her kissing Elise makes me smile every time I see it.  I am so lucky to have such a talented and thoughtful friend, these photos are truly priceless and I know I will cherish them in the years to come.

She Has a Point...

Hadley, why did you get Elise wet?!?

Because she was dirty, Mama!

There is Something About a Daddy

I was just uploading all our monthly photos (we love smugmug!) and came across these gems of Jamie and the girls.

His busy season has slowed down and now he is home on the weekends, so this means on Mondays I have been seeing this: 

and this:

 as they sadly watch him head back to work.

 Elise has started walking almost all the time but loves a helping hand

 And she adores feeding him, he seems to prefer churros over random raisins...

 Jamie came home in time for dinner one night and somehow both girls had gotten their shirts dirty just seconds before he walked in the door! I looked like mother of the year and they dogpiled him. We have a massive beanbag in our living room (bc we are a classy bunch) and it is their favorite place to play tickle monster.

 Elise loves using him as a trampoline

He doesnt seem to mind

On Saturdays they love to play in the backyard with him and follow him around as he does various chores

He helped Elise dye her very own egg

As a little girl my dad used to tickle me and ask "who is the funnest guy you know??" and I would laugh and squeal in response "DADDY!". I am so happy to be married to a man who truly is the funnest guy my girls know. I love him all the more for it.

Today

Today we had a down day. We didnt have anything on the schedule so when I figured out that my "allergies" were actually the beginnings of a cold we decided to stay home and take it easy. It was exactly what we needed, or really, I needed. I found that as I sat quietly on the couch the girls took turns all day sitting on my lap and coming over for hugs to somehow touch me. They would bring over books, come bring me toys to play with them or just sit on my lap to play with my hair or squish my face. They were happy as we watched shows, played with toys and popped bubbles.

This was my view for most of the day: 

Sometimes I forget they just need "me". I dont stay home because I am good at cleaning (bc I am not) or should write a parenting book (discipline makes me want to huddle in the corner) or any of the other busy things that I often think I should be that qualifies as a "good mom". I stay home so they have access to me, so I can be part of their little everyday lives - and today they showed me, that for them , it is more than enough. 

I am sure I will quickly forget what I am feeling, but I just wanted to have a reminder of the day we just were happy to be together and that as mothers, just being ourselves is all they really need.

Easter 2013

Looking through my photos I kind of took random pictures of our Easter. We had a great weekend filled with friends, family and lots of jellybeans.

 Our friends hosted an Easter Egg hunt at their house, so cute and so fun. Elise went in the first round of kids so she could find her little eggs.

 Hadley searched high and low for hers, to be honest she was finding more than I could for her!

 Elise figured out pretty quick what the fuss was all about and snuck a chocolate egg. We also brought little Easter cupcakes that Hadley helped make and decorate.

That afternoon we dyed Easter Eggs

Elise was so excited I had to hold her back!

Hadley loved the colors

 On Easter morning the girls found baskets that the Easter bunny hid for them.

The Easter Bunny knew that there would be plenty of sugar at my Aunts so he filled their baskets with sidewalk chalk, goldfish, a juice box, bandaids, a little grass growing kit and five marshmallow bunnies.

 Elise stuffed three of the bunnies immediately into her mouth

 The Easter Bunny came to hide eggs while we were at church, we think he must have been in a hurry since it appears he just tossed all dozen eggs onto the grass.

 Elise loved picking them up 

And Hadley was sad when it was all over

After naps we headed up to my Aunts. She does an amazing Easter, baskets for everyone, including the adults! This year she did a make-you-own style with all of the candy set out on a table...this meant you knew exactly where to find myself and cousin Jessica. Dinner was delicious and it is always so wonderful to be with family. Hadley latched onto my sweet cousin Jake. He is this athletic teenager that let my little girl drag him around and point at flowers she wanted him to pick. She practically had stars in her eyes by the time he had to leave.

We had a wonderful weekend but my favorite part of Easter was explaining to Hadley that long ago, on the third day, Mary went to the tomb and it was empty. Jesus had risen. And that He lives and loves her. I dont quite know what sinks in at this age, but my normally wiggly, fast-talking toddler sat perfectly still while we told her the story.

We hope you had a wonderful and happy Easter as well!