Ill-usive

self portrait

Sassy Photo by Cate Jackson Photography

Swapped portraits with a fellow photographer of mine, Cate Jackson.

Upon doing so, I realized that I make for a terribly difficult client.

Holiday Promotion!

The End, or The Beginning, it really just depends

Tomorrow is Syl's last day before she starts full-time kindergarten. And though I'm currently not having mixed emotions since her and her brother are in a constant state of battle, I know I will be filled with sadness. When we are alone, she is inquisitive, sweet, informative in her own silly way, and full of hilarious ideas. The schedule for the next week is going to be rather insane, with school starting, photo shoots, Dave's bday, and figuring out our new routine. But after it's all in place, I'm really hoping we are happy with our decision to send her to school. It was a long road of fickle behavior, hard conversations, reality checks, and mind changing. So the saga continues, and you will, of course, be informed of all the woes!

Easton Post-Nap

Oh my, he is quite a handful right now. But he's also incredibly dreamy!

First this, then that

Yes, that is my 5 year old fully drowning in a very vintage wedding dress. I'm afraid this is what happens when I leave my kids at other people's houses, but things could be worse. My son was not interested in trying it on, go figure.

In less than 6 days, my firstborn will be starting kindergarten. Things have been ~clears throat~ rough around here lately. I have one incredibly moody & spirited 5 year old and one insanely cranky/loud/abrasive 2.5 year old. It's not the prettiest mixture. So in a way, I'm relieved. Yes, I wrote that out loud. I am relieved to be sending a child to school all day, I am relieved that the constant battles will slow and I won't be referring good guy-bad guy all day long. It's exhausting.

On the other hand, I will miss her dearly. She just wants to be good and do well, but it's hard when your little brother is out to attack at every corner. And mommy is so busy with her nose on the computer, and daddy's band has been practicing a lot, and so on, so on. It's hard to balance, it's the bane of parenthood and life. But with school, I feel like Sylvia will have her own thing. Does that make sense? It's hers alone, hers to discover and shine and struggle with. We won't know everything that occurs (but trust me, the school is very hands-on), and she can leave out any information she chooses. Her brother won't be there to screw the day up with his naps, or destroy the tower she is building. It will be nice.

So from kindergarten to weddings, it will all be flying by so quickly, and that is what makes me teary.

To Spin

A Wedding

Was lucky enough to photograph this amazing wedding for Nadia & Trent. More here.

Grant's Trail Fun Run (title still in progress)

Hi there, I know I posted a bit ago about my love/hate affair with running, but I'm back to revisit! Because honestly, I'm back in love (loathe, same diff) with it and have been running about 18-22 miles a week. On a stinking treadmill, but that's besides the point. Anyway, I'm really into now, and I want to aspire to some sort of goal. Since most runners I know are training for some sort on big race in October, and I'm not due to that being the busiest wedding season of St. Louis, I've decided to set a personal goal.

I want to run Grant's Trail from start to finish. And if you were wondering, that's about 15 miles. I've never run longer than 8 miles, but I know I can do it if I put my back into it. But seriously, I FB about it and already have quite a group wanting to participate. I'm thinking about starting a FB group for it and turning it into a benefit event for the holidays (it'll be in mid-November). And what better way to start the glutenous holiday feasting season than to train for a 15 mile run?

I'm giving you fair notice here, this is a non-competitive free event taking place on Grant's Trail from start to finish and back again. It's really flat, 2 narrow lanes, with lots of water fountains and bathrooms on the way. You can walk some if you want, this is purely for personal goals, no prizes will be awarded, no one will be cheering you on. It's simply for fun (if running 16 miles can be fun) and should you choose to participate, training will take 2-2.5 months of running and cross-training 5-6 days a week. It won't be easy, it may not be pretty, but dammit it'll be an accomplishment.

Are you game?

Babies

Baby Theodore is just 7 weeks old, but man alive did he give me some fever (baby fever, that is). Most of my friends are done having kids, or, I should say, the children they already have are actively providing free birth control. Photographing newborns is my fix for my fever, I take their photos, make them look as cute as they can be, then promptly give them back. It's pretty awesome. But every time I hear that someone I know is pregnant, I am finally & honesty happy that it's them and not me. My kids are perfectly imperfect, and my sanity holds on my mere threads.

For now, babies like Theo will help me fill the empty uterus I have, but remind me how quickly the little ones grow into little humans with lots of back-talking. More photos of this session are here.