Flowers to make it through the rest of the week....

Oh it is Wednesday. For many that means the halfway point in the work week. That just so happens to be the case for me this week. It doesn't happen often, but it sure is exciting! Although, I have a wedding to shoot this weekend, but who doesn't love that? It can't possibly count as the kind of work that I am just dying to get past me for the week..... it isn't a walk in the park, but it is a lot more exciting and fun than the regular old grind. 

Anyway, I ventured outside for a bit because after being cooped up all weekend and part of last week with the worst "cold" I have had in years, I really needed to check out a few things I only saw through the windows. Enjoy the rest of your week!

And of course...... the white lilacs. Another favorite of mine...... :)

 

How I Spent Mothers' Day

Around here we don't do a lot for days like today. Little holidays in between the typical holidays for mass gatherings. We don't celebrate Valentines Day (we do a little something for Emma, because it is fun when you are a little, but pointless as an adult), we don't do a lot for birthdays, and while my husband is the king of cards, I'd much rather phone calls instead. On days like today I like to get away from the ordinary and keep the television turned off. Since my husband is working today I decided I would drag Emma along on a few outings (she would have much more preferred to be left to her own accord with her ipod or wii). Instead of the usual day of work and games inside the house we headed outside for some adventures with my camera and her ipod (I gave the camera Emma used to use to a friend a while back who was in great need of taking photos for her booming business). At first she wasn't terribly interested, but eventually loosened up and started getting right into it. She used to love to do this with me when we would go hiking (pre-everything that prevents us from getting out there these days). After our little adventure we had a quick lunch and were off again. Not too much later we returned with plants, seeds, soil, and dinner. We got to planting right away, cleaned up a bit, and enjoyed a nice dinner on the deck in front of our happy little greens. Mothers' Day success.

NH Photographers Blog Circle | "Mothers' Day"

Happy Mothers' Day moms, grandmoms, aunts, friends, and anyone who fits into any sort of "mom" role (single dads, if you are playing both roles this means you too!).

This month's blog party is appropriately themed "Mothers' Day". I struggled with this one (believe it or not). I did not even want to attempt to do mother/daughter photos of my daughter and myself. Getting one of us to look normal (no deer-in-the-headlights looks or scowling faces) is a challenge. Getting two of us in the same photo, at the same time, looking normal: mission impossible. So is parenting though. It is the easiest and most challenging thing in the world to do. I see mother's out there that magically fit into that role and have since the day the were born. They were MEANT to be moms. I see so many mothers out there carry themselves with grace and seem to get everything right. I am NOT one of those mothers. Oh how I wish I were. I make mistakes. I don't know how to do this. I have days where I feel all of my energy is maxed out and that I might be failing miserably as a parent. I have been given those looks in stores when Emma was young and would cry or throw fits and I had to simply let it ride out and essentially ignore her while I raced to finish up whatever shopping I could before someone called some sort of authority on us. It isn't all a trip downhill with no breaks however. Sometimes, I feel like I have gotten through. Like Emma has HEARD me. Or I have heard her. For instance, after her birthday celebration, she came to say goodnight to me and gave me a big heartfelt hug as she said "Mom, I have something to say to you; Thank you for making my birthday so special to me. I had such a wonderful time with just you and Dad having a picnic, shopping, eating cupcakes, and driving around". It meant so much to me that something so simple could make her feel so good. I have to be doing at least a little something right here. And so, I continue believing, that somehow, I am not a complete failure and I might just be better at this mom thing than I think.

This afternoon I managed to capture the (almost) impossible capture. Topped only by a few fantastic photos that Meg Hamilton of Rodeo and Co. Photography took at my wedding of Emma and I that I just adore to pieces (I think you know the ones Meg!). Here they are, and it surprisingly did not take us nearly as long (I suppose because I wanted it to be over even more than she did!).

Happy Mothers' Day! Be sure to head on over to Erika Follansbee's blog to see what she came up with! Thanks for visiting!

Birthday Fun in North Conway, NH

Well, it's here. She's finally nine. Since we do not often have the chance to spend time all together with no other obligations, just the three of us and a loose agenda, we headed up to North Conway to decompress and celebrate. After we made it away from home our first stop was White Birch Books. We really enjoyed the charm of this store and many of it's unique selections. Emma found several items that she scooped up and though she made a request to purchase the popular Hunger Games novel, I denied. And then I bought it while she was browsing upstairs ;). After spending quite some time browsing we finished up and headed straight over to the White Mountain Cupcakery. We decided on a six-pack, each choosing two flavors. Having never had red velvet cake, I knew it needed to come home with me. Emma and I both took a sno cap as well and she also chose a chocolate peanut butter. Aaron went with two delicious, less traditional cupcakes; the boston cream and the snickerdoodle. Much to our delight, but not surprise, the were all fantastic. We each ate one at the park during our picnic (Emma started off eating hers like an ice cream cone), and then had the rest at home after dinner. After lunch, cupcakes, and presents we headed over to the Toy Chest to finish up Emma's shopping spree. We all had a great time looking around and checking out all of the neat stuff. Emma particularly enjoyed the marble chutes, but opted to get some other items instead. Heading home I suggested we take the scenic route. We put the windows down and enjoyed the air and views of the Kancamagus Highway.