For her fourth birthday you drive 2 hours to a "otel" so she can swim in a "otel" swimming pool....
..and jump on a "otel" bed...
...and sleep on her brand new princess pillow in a "otel" room...
..and open her presents on a sofa bed in a "otel" room.
And your child might be spoiled if you also then take her to Hampton Beach to see gigantic waves in the aftermath of Hurricane Bill...
Then after a full day in the sun and sand take her to Chuck E Cheese's even if your hair looks ridiculous from all the wind and you are wearing shorts that look horrible on you, and you are covered in sand from being hit by ginormous waves all afternoon....
And then, drive three hours home and let her take a bath with her super cool new Barbie Mermaidia Bath Tub Thingy...
Happy birthday Sweet Girl. I hope you had fabulous day. XXOO*******************************************************************Just a few more images and a few words about our gigantic wave watching day. The waves in the aftermath of hurricane Bill were quite incredible, just amazing to watch. BUT they are dangerouls even, and I didn't really get how bad it was until we were driving home and hearing the reports of people being washed off a rocky cliff in Acadia State Park.
We were on these rocks....
when a HUGE wave came in, wasn't paying attention and we nearly lost Ella to the sea. There was a moment of shear panic as I looked around to find her. (Then another as I scanned the rocks for Max, who had been able to scramble up onto a big rock before the water hit.) Thank God she was right there, scrambling to stay on her feet with just her chin above water. We were surrounded by rocks, so she was able to hang on to one and I reached back and grabbed her before the water swept back out. It was scary for a second there and I am very glad that it wasn't as horrible as it could have been. Please pray for the family of a 7 year old girl who was swept out to sea and died today in Maine. I can only imagine the panic of that moment, the shock, and the devastation as her parents look for her and she isn't there. Please be careful if you are out there, it is amazing to watch the sea swell and crash against the wall and the rocks, but wow, we are no match for it's power.It took awhile for her to get over it, poor baby. And on her birthday...
Here are a few images from the sea wall of Hampton Beach on the north side.
My parents are taking all three of my children for 5 WHOLE DAYS. This is the first time in over 9 years that my darling husband and I have had this much time together just the two of us. So one would think we would jet off to Antigua or heck, at least out to Cape Cod for a romantic getaway. *Sigh* No. We're staying home. We've got projects to do and this new room to enjoy:
So just wanted you all to know I will be out of the office until Tuesday, having a romantic weekend painting a deck with my oh so romantic husband. Aren't I lucky? I also plan to finish reading Brideshead Revisited in my comfy new chair. I am in desperate need of a break. I realized the other day that I usually get out of bed at around 6am and I work until I go to bed nearly every day. I take breaks to make my kids lunch, entertain them a bit, go grocery shopping, eat and make dinner and to sleep, but most of my days are spent juggling them and my office from sun up until sundown and beyond. That's kinda crazy and really not very healthy. So my dear clients, if I told you 3-4 weeks on getting your proofs, really truly expect me to just make my deadline. I have become a little obsessed with under promise over deliver so that I end up doing the opposite. Being busy is the biggest blessing while it's also very challenging in trying to balance things. I've got some work to do in this department!I will leave you with a few more of my favorite images from our trip to Summer Village in Wells, ME a few weeks ago. These images just make me happy, like joy just wells up and spills out of me when I look at them. (My two most favorite from my trip are in the post below. I have the one of the three of them in a small print in the new room. It is strategically placed on the wall diagnonal from my new chair so that when I sit in it, I can look at that image and get my happy on.
I know, it depresses me too. I love Christmas. But Christmas is cold and it is hard to imagine this place gray and cold and covered in snow when it's warm and pretty out. But we have to go there for just a minute. I promise it won't take long.October 24th is Christmas Card Mini Session DayHere's what you get:Thirty Minute Mini Session10-15 proofs to choose fromFour gift portraits (up to 8x10)1 set of 25 4x6 press printed flat cards (upgrades available)$249
Sessions available starting at 9am.
{Refer a friend get an extra set of cards!}
For full custom sessions, I have one session left in September and a few still in October. On location family sessions with small children must be done by October 10th to avoid the cold. Christmas sessions must be completed by November 7th. So as not to depress you too much, here is my most favorite image from this summer. 
Now I can't decide. Maybe this one is my favorite.
I know all of us Moms are always talking about how fast time goes by. One day our little ones are learning how to smile and the next walk, and then potty training, then school, and before you know it, poof. Little ones are no longer little. Chubby dimpled hands and feet, thin baby fine hair, early rising, diaper bags - it all morphs into unrecognizable boniness, thick hair a completely different color, threatening them with their lives if they don't get out of bed, back packs. It happens in a flash. This family reminded me a lot of that. I photographed these two last year when C couldn't even sit up. T was just walking, no words yet, just a bundle of boundless energy. Now they are walking and talking, playing together, running with all the energy of the wind, eating cookies together and laying down the foundations of a lifelong brother sister relationship. It made my Mama heart want to hold onto my own a little longer, to breathe in every second of their littleness, appreciate the innocence. I truly hope that when I photograph your family you put those images on your wall and you walk by them on a day when they exasperate you and you smile and remember how little they were just last year. Can I just say that there isn't really much else in this life that you can invest your money in that doesn't lose value, but gains it every day? Because I bet the Mom of these two still looks at her precious babies on that big canvas she purchased last year and finds a minute to reflect on how things have changed so much in so little time. At least I hope she does, because this is really why I love my work. It's really why I do this.Be blessed...
I love this one of little T. He is super happy and curious and smart and funny and I think it's all wrapped up in this one look...
This was my favortie of C. I LOVE this expression because she gave it to me a lot. It's her thinking expression. She's still checking me out, wondering what that huge camera is up to. She's contemplating how she can get out of there. :) I bet Mom and Dad see it alot.
