Our little feet have tried new things.

Have held hands.

Have pushed forward.

Have made something, together.

Reached higher.

Fell in love with the ordinary.

Learned something.

Created something.

Found something.

Returned something.

Saw something.

And experienced the extraordinary.

First morning in the apartment.

It really is that peaceful.

Last week we built a fort. Luckily we had a pretty good start to one as our babysitter is amazing and loves to do this kind of thing with our kids – so we reenforced the structure and made additions.

Memorial Day weekend was one week after Gleek Retreat 2010 and we headed up north to my Mom and Step-Dad’s cottage.

We spent time doing nothing, taking naps, on the boat, eating, 4-wheeling, eating, making s’mores and eating. Oh and we didn’t go hungry.

In year’s past that we’ve gone up there Aaron usually gets sick. Like, headed to the ER sick. Or injured, like headed to the ER injured.

We said a few prayers on our way up there this time around hoping for health and safety. We made it!! And then we got home.

Aaaaaand, he had strept-throat. Of course he did.

However … while we were there it was really fantastic to do nothing after the whirlwind of planning and then pulling off the conference. {Do you guys want to hear about that? I’ll totally write about it if you want me to.}

Here’s some of my favorite photos from the weekend …

It was a great start to summer and an even better way to wrap up the feelings I had surrounding the conference. A nice relaxing escape. Family. Adventure.

I am in love with Poppies. They’re one of the flowers that takes my breath away instantly. Most flowers have that affect in a bouquet. I love getting bunches of beautiful color but Poppies are one of the few that are stunning all on their own, in my opinion.

For instance, a rose is not. It’s covered in greenery that’s too dark for my taste and thorns. The actual shape of a rose isn’t very pleasing to me, nor is the scent. I don’t “get” roses as one of the most over used flowers around, I don’t really enjoy them. They don’t feel special. The feel over worked.

Lily of the valley is my all-time favorite flower. For a couple of reasons: The dainty bell shaped flowers that gather on a stem; almost too small but supported by leaves that hug the delicate nature of the flower as it poisons the air with it’s fragrance. I mean that in a really great way. It releases it’s perfume in a lovely little cloud of invisibility and if you walk by a patch of the flower you’re all of a sudden surrounded in this lush smell, the tickling of your senses.

Poppies on the other hand are just so stunning. They grow in a field behind our house – and you’d never know they were there unless you first wade through the tall grasses filled with other wild flowers, weeds and animal burrows.

But then, out of nowhere, erupts this orange blossom. Standing tall. Being proud to be different.

And I literally cannot take it. I gasp. Every single time.

They have these pods before they bloom which look soft and almost fluffy and then it blooms into this silk petal with a satin shine. And the best part ever? The inside. The pollen. It’s dark purple and stains. It’s like powder and if you tip the flower over it’ll sprinkle like a fairy.

So we took a few for our yard.

And every time I look out side to see if they’re still there, I giggle.

I have a secret in my yard. A secret just for me.

June 15, 2010 Life Style Photo Sessions FREE

Last year I paired up with Walcott Imaging to host (virtually I suppose) a Photo Party. How about we do that again?

This year’s date is June 15 – a Tuesday. You can schedule a free 20 min photo session between 9 am and 6 pm.

We’ll be scheduling folks on the half hour but the session itself will only be 20 min.

Kids playing, moving, posing, smiling. Feel free to be creative with outfits and props. This is a great opportunity to get your senior photos done for next year, engagement photos, kids portraits. Only, and lets be honest here, lets not do so many poses, ok? Let’s be ourselves. Let’s have some fun. Let’s play in the dirt and giggle.

A Life Style shoot is just that … a window into the moments of your lives that you don’t usually capture.

Bring your dog! Or your chicken! Need an updated photo of your parents? THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.

The possibilities are endless, really. So … email me to schedule your time slot and we’ll get ready to rumble.

Personally, I’ll be scheduling a time slot for my kids and we have a whole box of play clothes I’ll be bringing for props (that you may use too!) … and have you seen this hat? Yes. More of that.

A few more details:

• The photoshoot will be outdoors, location: 1106 Ardmore St Holland, Mi
• There will be a handful of props and “costumes” available but you’re welcome to bring your own as well.
• We’re EXCITED! You are too? Oh good. That’s just what we hoped for.

PRICING:

• $100 for the digital rights (regularly $150),
• $35 for a single digital image (regularly $45)
• 20% off of print orders. These deals are good for one week after the session.

Happy Memorial Day.

Maybe it’s because yesterday was the very last day of preschool or that I can’t stop comparing years ago to today in photos but this summer smells of something Big for us.

I cannot put my finger on it, nor do I really want to. But it feels like we were just released into the great unknown, that something is coming. Hopefully good, hopefully wonderful and amazing. Hopefully an adventure.

Schools OUT! It’s SUMMER! The freedom alone in those words is delicious. Beach time, both of my babes every day all day. Sun burnt noses and freckles. Berries to pick and a garden to sew.

I feel like we’re on a countdown to when the “Real” parenting begins, the official school season of our lives begins in kindergarten with homework and science fairs and all kinds of sleep overs and hot lunches.

She doesn’t need a push – she’s all ready to go.

Get ready, world.

Here we come.

This is now.