I was just looking back over my blog for the last year and I was really working last Feb.  That seems crazy to me, since 1. it’s really terrible looking outside  2.  it’s colder than normal  3. I haven’t seen the sun in, heck I lost count of how long 4. it’s really terrible looking outside!  Is this not the yuckiest winter ever?     I say “DOWN WITH THE GROUNDHOG”  and phooey on 6 more weeks of winter-  I am ready to see some spring around here!  

But I suppose the winter rain is good for staying indoors and I had all my babies home sick today, so why not force them into some pictures?  I have always been inspired by those gritty real life dark black and whites-  lately I have  happened upon some images from Haiti  as well as images from Chernobyl that really moved me.  The images were so emotionally bleak, but beautiful in their play with light and shadows.  I have really been thinking lately about what type of photography inspires me.   I love fun, funky avante guard work and I am often being inspired by other’s work.  In particular, there is a photographer that has always stood out in my mind as  excelling at having visual emotion in her images.  Her black and white images are dark, yet vibrant. While her subjects are children in very odd places, they are beautiful in their composition and with the light and shadows balancing each other  in perfect proportion.  I love light- and I love, in particular, one window in my house that lets in the most gorgeous light filtered through sheer curtains-  that room never lets me down.  So today, with my babies home and me wanting to  play around with gritty black and whites, I went to that room and focused my attention on nice sidelighting and my babies’ beautiful, soulful eyes.  I did come away with dark, gritty black and whites, but also a renewed connection with my children.  I can’t help but look in their eyes and see so much deeper than just a picture, and that will always inspire me.   

I was priding myself on be one heck of an incredible parent with Jack and I making a cake together. Counting eggs, teaching him to measure ingredients (1/2 cup…. 1/3 cup… 2 tsps). Stories that begin like that for me never end well- karma baby…. Anyway, I am spraying a bundt pan and hear a “Mommy” coming from behind me. I turn around to see Claire grasping her hair saying, “I only did a little bit Mommy”- I muttered a confused what??? and then let out a long gut-wrenching “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CLAIRE!!!!!!!!”

Yes, she did it. Somehow, she got a stool and a pair of scissors and gave herself only what can be described as a mullet, or a “femullet” since she’s a girl.   She seemed not to realize why I was screaming- she was proud of her handiwork.   I tried to explain that, baby, it’s not 1986 anymore-  and the two-haircuts-in-one appearance or that “business in the front and a party in the back” just doesn’t work anymore.  Shortly after that, I don’t know what happened to me- I had pretty much a break down…. witnessed by Tammara and then Wendy.  My poor baby’s hair… maybe it’s silly to cry over cut hair or spilled milk. I know it’s not the end of the world, but it’s change. I don’t do so well with change I guess.  Tammara helped call me to my senses and suggested at the risk of sounding insensitive that I needed to take pictures.  So I did and then I called a good friend, Andrea, in tears begging for help and how could she refuse me? Thank goodness for her! Her husband had back surgery and now she was without power from the storm, but still helped me out. I owe her!

Wendy gave Claire some great advice-  Remember who you are and most importantly WORK THAT HAIRCUT!!!   Andrea gave us a choice, either cut it all off now up to her ears or try to blend as best we can and then use bows and headbands until it grows out a bit more and just keep phasing the mullet out.  We went with phasing and bows.  But for now, she totally is working the do…

Since you asked Amanda- here are both the boys….

Just one more today before I am off to shoot Rae & Josh’s wedding!  Yay!! Today’s the big day for those two!  I’m happy about that since I’ve been dying to post pics from her bridal session!

Here is Claire-  knowing she looks cute!

Personally I would get this dirty myself if only lovely weather would come back!  Last weekend and week with the wonderful 80 degree weather, I got a wild hair to make a vagetable garden.  So we did.  It was hard work for Stu and I, not so much for the kids.  Like moths to a flame…. they got down and dirty!  I should be a bit embarassed to showcase these dirty faces, but since I am longing for nice sunny weather- they make me smile!

Do you know any kids that can get this dirty?  They thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

Proof that we did dig a garden spot- this  ”pre 3 day grass removal campaign” though…. whew…

Even when she looks like a dumpster diver chick- she can still strike poses with the best of them!