Winter Session

It is winter here in Pennsylvania and I am loving it. It feels like it has been forever since we had snow during the winter (but when I look back through all my yearbooks, I am reminded that it has snowed at least few times each year). I just love looking out my window and seeing the snow on the pine trees and icicles hanging from the roof. But I will also say, I do not want it to be winter forever. I love living in a seasonal climate where the weather changes and with each season comes different opportunities, events and weather.

I capture my family everyday throughout the year and I enjoy looking back through the photo books that I create and relive those past years. I just looked through 2018’s yearbook and, oh, my goodness! Lilly was only in 1st grade and M&M were babies, and…I don’t know, can I go back? I know, I know, I can’t. But I am so thankful for the gift of photographs and the memories they keep.

For the past 2-3 years, I have had this desire to provide a taste of what I create for my family to all the families I photograph. But how? Seasonal sessions. Each season, I meet up with your family to capture memories and photographs that document that season and time in your life. At the end of the year, a beautiful album will tie up all those everyday moments in a priceless little bow.

A couple weeks ago, I shot my first “winter session” for a family. On the day of their session, forever friends from out of town were visiting, so everyone was there for some winter fun. The mom later told me that her oldest son was slightly, “ugh, I don’t want to have to stand around and take pictures.” She responded, “You won’t. Stacy is just coming and going to take pictures while you have fun.” And that is what I did. I mean, toward the end, I did ask everyone to line up and take a group picture, but that only required him standing around for a minute or two!

The goal of these seasonal sessions is to provide a memory of what life is like for your family. No need for “what are we all going to wear to match” or “we need to be doing something spectacular to remember.” I mean, I am 100% cool with going on awesome adventures or to pretty places with your family, but do not be afraid to do an “everyday” Saturday morning at your house or to those “normal” seasonal “things.” How do your Saturdays change with each season? What normal activities do you do throughout the year? Winter is ice skating, spring is picking flowers at the local greenhouse, summer is spent in the pool, fall is for carving pumpkins and why not wrap it up with decorating your Christmas tree. Whatever you want to remember, I am here for it.

Enjoy the first of the Four Season Sessions of the Ku family. I am looking forward to the fun they will have in Spring!

A Wedding at the White Barn

Since it is Valentine’s Day, I thought I would share some pictures of the middle of a love story. Weddings aren’t really the beginning of a love story and they should most definitely not be the end (even if fairytales and Hallmark movies always end with a kiss as if “that’s all folks!”).

My Uncle Ricky married again this past October. I worked for him roofing and trucking dumpsters during my summers between college (and I would never trade that experience for anything!), so I was pretty honored when he asked me to document his wedding day to Heather (random FYI: there are approximately 3 women named Heather Cox in our family).

October 18th was a beautiful fall day with the colored leaves still hanging on the trees at the White Barn in Prospect, PA. There was a 30% chance of rain at 3:30pm (the time the outside ceremony was to start). Heather kept checking her phone, hoping it would go away, but it didn’t. As she began walking down the aisle, small rain drops began to fall from the clouds. It was not enough to ruin the union; and as soon as they kissed and walked back up the aisle, the rain stopped. It’s been said that if it rains on your wedding day, it’s good luck. I just googled it and I like what I found. “As you know, a knot that becomes wet is extremely hard to untie- therefore, when you “tie the knot” on a rainy day, your marriage is supposedly just as hard to unravel!”

My favorite part of the ceremony was when a friend prayed over them. He first said that he had prayed for Richard years ago after he had noticed he was sad. He prayed for a help-mate for his friend.. And then God intertwined Heather & Richard’s life and “here we are today.” God answers prayers. And it is a lovely thing.

There were so many meaningful details of the day. Heather’s husband passed away from cancer several years ago. Her watch was her late mother-in-law’s, the brooch belonged to her grandmother and their wedding rings were from the jewelry store that she “only” goes to. Purple is her favorite color (mine too!) and it was tied in lovely through florals, bows, and the invitation suite.

My cousin also worked a summer with Uncle Ricky. She is talented when it comes to serving food to the ones she loves. She made this delicious and gorgeous cake. Heather requested that it mimic her dress. The bribe was “wowed".” Deidra doesn’t deliver anything less.

So glad my assistant (also that awesome cousin cake maker) took this picture of me & Uncle Ricky!

They wanted to have communion together…but someone forgot the bread and wine! They pretended it was there (laughing the whole time!). Not sure if that counts or not.

This is one of Uncle Ricky’s favorite pictures. He thinks the girls looking through the rails is just so cute. I have to agree!

And this is one of my favorite pictures…my sister dancing with my kids to “Call Me Maybe?”

Uncle Ricky is one of my favorites and this day was one my favorites too.

random happenings of January

January. The month of resolutions and picking “words of the year”. Not going to pretend I didn’t. I am trying to reduce the amount of chocolate in my diet in hopes of reducing the amount of sugar in my diet in the hopes of clearer skin. I just had some brownies and ice cream…so, you all know how that’s going.

But some random things that happened this month:

I cleaned under the girls’ bunk bed and moved their bedroom furniture around. The girls were all so excited…sometimes just moving things creates a happier space. When they showed the “new” bedroom to their father, he was like, “Why did you do that?” My response, “It’s January.”

We took the Christmas decorations off the tree and put heart ornaments on it. It fits snugly between our fireplace and couch and I just love the glow of the lights; I decided we still needed that in our life right now. I also strung homemade heart garland around the living room, kitchen, and dinning room. It almost looks like a classroom decked to the nines for Valentine’s Day, but my mom said it wasn’t too tacky and I am going to believe her.

At the end of December, during an End of the Year sale, I bought myself a fun little lens and it arrived in the middle of January. I have loved using it and Lilly likes to fool around with it too. For the past four years, I have mostly shot with the same lens, so it has been a fun challenge and a different perspective to play with. Currently I am shooting at least an image a day with it…there will probably be a little post in the future about it :)

We started reading “Farmer Boy” by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It is about Almanzo, Laura’s husband, when he was a boy. Being a house of girls, we are enjoying the action and mischievousness of a boy growing up “back in the day.” Last year, we read most of “Little House in the Big Woods.” The girls seem to be more amused with a boy’s life in the 1800’s than with Laura and Mary’s.

There are some other random things we did this January, like visiting a skateboard park without a skateboard, going to the dentist, and sled riding (and when there isn’t snow…going down the hill in a wagon. They all survived but I kinda told them that wasn’t something they should keep on doing.). Here’s to another month of days that feel the same and the random happenings that make them different.

Family Session in the Creek

I have been photographing this family for the past 7 years. It probably has something to do with with the fact that the mom is my friend and cousin, and we have a sweet deal going on. Literally, a sweet deal. I photograph her family and she makes my kids’ birthday cakes. To say “makes” their cakes is an understatement. She creates masterpieces in the form of edible deliciousness and it is the one of the things my kids look forward to. Leah’s birthday is coming up and it has already been discussed what kind of cake she wants….a rainbow unicorn cake…for the 3rd year in a row.

Each year I meet this family at a different location, a location that they have spent time as a family and want to capture those memories for their wall. One year we met downtown Pittsburgh and I photographed them as they walked the Strip, enjoying Peace, Love & Little Donuts, buying flowers, and checking out Wholey’s. That might have been my favorite session ever.

Last year, they were given a membership to Phipps Conservatory and we had all kinds of thoughts of how to document that. I have this dream of offering seasonal family sessions…capturing a family during each of the four seasons and tying it up with a bow in a beautiful album at the end of the year. Last year was the year to do it and we decided to visit Phipps each season. Perfect. Right? Well, we all know what happened and none of us visited Phipps.

But they did frequent the local creek during the summer months and when it came time to pick a spot for their family session, that was the place. And it was perfect. Sometimes…or I will say most times, the location that is perfect for your family session is a place where they feel comfortable, have memories, and will create more. It can be your backyard, your grandparents’ farm, the local ice cream stand, downtown, or anywhere where your family will laugh and have fun. These won’t just be pretty pictures on your wall…they will be memories.

Memories on the Wall

This week I received a new piece of wall art for my home and I am in love with it. My sister-in-law gave me a Parabo Press gift card for Christmas and I was quick to redeem it. The 20x26 fine art print hung with black wooden rails fits perfectly between the front door and window. I love that I can see it as I am typing this from the dining room table, I see it often throughout the day as the front door area is central in our house, and it sure is a nice thing to see as we all head out the door. I just love it. I’m not sure what else to say about it!

This new print inspired me to share with you how I display other memories on my wall.

There is a narrow piece of wall that fits five picture frames perfectly, which is convenient because I have five kids. Each kid gets a frame and I usually put seasonal portraits in them. Last winter I was proud of myself for taking a winter portrait of each girl before Christmas and was able to enjoy the sight all winter long. This year…not so much. So, since we were celebrating the birthday of Jesus, I chose to put my favorite birthday pictures in the frames during the holiday season. And to be honest, these birthday pictures will work until I print other seasonal memories (whenever that may be!).

For the first ten years of living in this house, I had three large stars I had bought from Pat Catan’s hanging on the wall above the couch. But I was ready for a change. (side story: once an insurance guy came to talk about insurance and he asked, “What’s with the stars? I see them a lot around this area. Do they mean anything?” “Nope. Just cheap decorations that echo the classic country home.”).

The wall is pretty large and I had a hard time deciding what to do with it. A large canvas is $$$$ and I didn't have a picture I wanted to spend that kind of cash on. I also didn't want another gallery wall. Parabo Press to the rescue! They sell 3’x4’ Engineer Prints. These prints are basically printed on a large piece of paper, but I am not mad about it at all. I hung it with large wooden rails and I love that it was affordable and takes up the space.

One of my favorite little prints are 5x5 Square Prints from, yep, you guessed it, Parabo Press! (I swear this post is not to promote Parabo Press but I just love their prints!). I order them throughout the year and most of them are in a display box, but a few prints hang on the dining room wall. They are just fun little memories on display. Most of the time the kids will switch them out and argue who’s picture goes in the middle (because apparently that is the prime spot!).

Side notes: love this picture from over a year ago…why do they grow up? The prints are usually always crooked but that gives our house more character, right? And Parabo Press sells these “Good Hang Ups” and basically it’s a sticker with a magnetic that goes on the wall and a little magnet that holds the picture. Cute little convient things, I tell you!

The last big piece hanging in our home is above the piano. It is also an Engineer Print from Parabo Press. The piano has not always there but this is the third year a print like this was hanging on this wall. I call it my “yearly garage personality portrait” and I hope that it continues to be yearly for a very long time.

Another side note: this print is hung up with painter’s tape. Yep, it was available and it works.

Thanks for sticking around for the little picture tour. Printed memories are my favorite things to enjoy on my wall. What about you? What’s on your walls? If you ever need help printing pictures, I will be glad to help. And if you are in need of some updated portraits…I can help take care of that too!

Enjoy your day!

365.

365. That’s how many days are in a year. And if you have been following me on Facebook for any amount of time, you will notice that I post a grid of 6 images every Monday at 6:55am. In the description, I write something like “365. week 22.” Once I was asked “What’s with the 365?” (I’m not going to pretend I am some sort of influencer that “many of you have been asking…” So, yes, it was only once, but it is giving me something to write about!).

A 365 Project is a common project photographers do to document their lives, sharpen their skills, and/or push themselves to try new things. And I am hoping you guessed it…365 means taking a picture every day for an entire year. This will be my 6th year shooting a 365 project and it’s just something that I do. It keeps me sane. It keeps me looking for the beautiful in our everyday. It also keeps me humble because not everyday’s picture is gallery-worthy or one that I want to share!

So here’s to another year of documenting my life and capturing the fun, joy, and happiness because that is what I want to remember….oh, and my girls’ cute little faces because they are growing way too fast.

Enjoy a few grids from years past.

See Ya Next Year!

I’m not going to lie; my favorite thing to say between Christmas Day and New Year’s is “See ya next year!” Some people probably roll their eyes inside their heads and others smile and chuckle. Several times my girls have overheard me say this and they ask, “Are we really not going to see them until next year?”…as if it is going to be a long time. “Technically, next year is also next week, so it’s not as long as you might think.”

Like everyone else, this year, 2020, has made my life and routine a little different. As I went through my pictures from this past year, I can see the good, the happiness, and the memories that make me smile. I do remember the fighting, the melt-downs from 5 mini versions of me, the screaming back, and wondering if I am doing anything right. The good thing about reflection is I can see what went wrong and choose to try to react or change things to prevent those unnecessary struggles. “Nothing changes if nothing changes.” (And I’m also going to add this here…that I am pretty sure the fighting and the struggles would still exist whether the changes in the world happened or not. I feel like there is still a lot of ordinary in amongst all that is different.).

As I scrolled through my computer files, I also saw so many friends and families who trusted me to capture a piece of their year through portraits and documentary images, and I am incredibly thankful. Thankful that I could see their faces and visit with them as I snapped pictures. Thankful that I could still make a few extra dollars to help pay the bills and save to pursue some dreams. Thankful for the creative and social outlet that photography is to me. Thankful to be away from my kids for an hour or so and thankful to be able to relate to other families (Yes, our playroom is just as messy. Yeah, I have a kid that hates to wear shoes too. Yes, my kids do not listen to me either. Yes, you are normal…or at least as normal as me.).

Yes, I had plans for 2020. And yes, those plans have been delayed and/or adjusted because of “2020.” But I am still thankful for where I am and what I have been able to do. (And very thankful I got to visit my sister in FL sans kids right before it all went crazy.). And I pray that as you look back on your year, there are glimpses of love, laughter, happiness, and hope sprinkled throughout.

Have a “Happy New Year!” Or should I say, “See ya next year!”

Enjoy a random handful of a few of my favorite images from 2020…personal pictures and from family and portrait sessions (just putting this out there because, why not…my favorite sessions I shot this year were the Backyard Summer Sessions. I will definitely be planning to do those again in 2021.).

It's Christmas!

Christmas is a special time for everyone…even for the Grinch and Scrooge because technically it’s the season their hearts grew 3 sizes too big and learned the joy of living and giving. This year looks a little or a lot different for everyone, but it’s still Christmas and everyone is still celebrating.

At the end of November, I bought an Advent book for the girls. I wanted to make sure our hearts were ready to celebrate Christmas. I wanted to make sure the true meaning of Christmas was not overlooked in our house. That all the girls know the baby in Mary’s arm of the Willow Tree nativity set is the reason we are making a fuss this time of year.

In this Advent book, it goes through the characters, the settings, and the objects in the Christmas story. We learned about Mary and Joseph, Zecharias and John the Baptist, Bethlehem, the Holy Spirit, shepherds, and angels (and how they are not really “angelic” as referred to as today…why do you think everyone was scared when they first saw them?). Yes, Christmas is about Jesus. But when we were reading about John the Baptist, I realized what Advent is all about. John the Baptist was sent from God to prepare the way for Jesus; to tell everyone to “repent because the Messiah is here.” The Advent season is to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Prepare them so on Christmas Day we can celebrate Jesus, God’s gift to a world in need of a Saviour. And prepare our hearts so we are willing and able to accept the gift.

This Advent book also has activities to do with the kids. I would love to say that we do these activities because I am a super cool and organized mom. I am not. I am not an arts and craft kind of mom either. My idea of arts & crafts is dumping three different colors of paint on a paper plate, filling a cup up with water, handing the kids paint brushes and letting them do whatever on a piece of paper while I walk away to clean the bathroom or make dinner or help someone else with their schoolwork. (Sometimes this is a peaceful way to distract little ones…sometimes, the paper gets full and they paint their arms and a bath is required afterwards. Regardless, it keeps them busy for a few moments.).

I am a read aloud mom. Ever since “2020” happened, I have been picking up books and reading to the girls. Half of them run around while I am reading but the other 2.5 sit and listen and beg me to read more. We are also celebrating the Advent by reading too. There are so many Christmas books and stories I never heard of. I have bought a few Christmas books on impulse. (And when my in-laws ask what I want for Christmas….I told them children’s picture books. I honestly never saw that coming, but hey, it could be a weirder addiction). Amazon delivered the illustrated “It’s a Wonderful Life” book (one of those impulse buys). It is one of my mom’s favorite movies. My brother makes good Jimmy Steward/George Bailey impersonations and I constantly think “Why do we have to all these kids!” (haha!) Anyways, the girls love the story. I read it to them at least twice yesterday. And they are looking forward to watching it and I think they will be able follow along because they will know what is happening. However, Lilly looked a little disappointed when she found out it is an “old-time b&w” movie.

Another favorite is a Christmas collection by Tomie dePaola. The illustrations are beautiful and colorful, and the stories are folktales and legends retold. This isn't a blog post about all the books we read…but one more. Molly & Maggie love Frozen. So they obviously love Olaf’s Night Before Christmas. Molly gets so upset that Olaf thinks Santa is Kristoff. She points and yells, “No! That’s Santa!” We read “Olaf” anytime I read anything else because Maggie demands it.

I just spent three paragraphs telling you that I love reading to my kids. Not really sure why. But I am thankful I have found something I enjoy, my kids look forward to, and a way we can spend time together. And I am glad I am using what we love to celebrate Christmas. Yes, we’re making cookies. Yes, we decorated the house. Yes, the girls have matching pjs. But we don’t have lots of lights on our house. We haven’t gone to see anyone else’s lights either. And we obviously haven’t done any Christmas arts and crafts. But it is still Christmas. It is still the time we are preparing our hearts to really reflect on what this time is all about. So no matter how you do that, I hope you are enjoying the “what and how” and not wishing for “this or that.”

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas, everyone!!!

country engagement session

Fall is such a beautiful time of year. I’m pretty sure 90% of the people call it their favorite season and I don’t think I need to explain why. I mean, pumpkins, apples, sweaters, boots, and colored leaves, what’s not to love?

Another thing I love about fall is that people like to get married during this season. I mean, cooler temps, beautiful scenery, and perhaps a pumpkin flavored cake? Yes, please! (Random: My cousin got married in the fall fifteen years ago and her cake lives on in my memory as the legend of cakes. Was it pumpkin flavored? No. It was covered in chocolate icing and was filled with all kinds of yummy scrummy filling I did not know existed.)

Any ways, these beautiful people, Travis and Dona, are getting married next fall and I had the most fun with them during their engagement session. They smile and laugh so easily with each other. I told them that if they could just always find a way to make each other laugh for the rest of their lives, they would be set.

Congratulations, Travis and Dona!!

"mamas don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies."

Growing up I always wanted a horse. I mean, what girl doesn’t? I read a lot of historical fiction and my favorite time period was the mid-1800’s and I would imagine myself riding bareback through the fields with the wind in my hair. So when I get a chance to be around a horse, I am pretty excited but slightly intimidated. Apparently there’s more to it than just “get on and ride.”

Anyways, I know this girl who always wanted horses and now she has them. She takes her little boys to little rodeos and they are so stinkin’ cute. I have been taking her family pictures for the past 2-3 years (she believed in me before I thought I should be believed in, and I am so thankful for that!) and this year she wanted to include their horses. Yes, please!!!

I love that the boys were in their cowboy pants, cowboy shirts, cowboy belts, and cowboy hats. Her shirt was a spin off the old song “Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys.” It made me chuckle and that mama looked adorable in her cowgirl jeans, cowgirl boots, and crocheted cardigan!!

They showed off their horses, ran around their little arena, loved on their mama, and showed off their roping skills. I always enjoy when I go to family’s house and they’re just themselves and I can just capture them being “them.”

the yearly personality portrait.

The first summer the M&M were here, I wanted a picture of all of the girls together. I cannot recall exactly how I thought of this idea, but I sure am thanking my brain for thinking of it. The kids were wearing whatever, I contained the twins in their walkers, lined everyone up, and let them have some “fun.” I loved how their personalities shown through. I loved it. I loved it so much, I had it printed large. Like 3 feet x 4 feet large and hung in over their play kitchen in our hallway room.

Last year, I wanted to update that picture, so the last Saturday before school started, I said “Hey, we’re taking another picture like the one on the wall. Wear whatever and come to the garage!” I might of had some pushback. I bet you can’t tell who gave it to me. She was also a little upset that I printed it and hung it in our house. I kindly responded, “Well, when I ask to take your picture, just know that it might end up printed. So be careful of how you’re acting because it will show through.” Fast forward to this year, that daughter looks a lot more pleasant.

I loved that Tutu grabbed her crown and has that little cock of the shoulder. That’s so her. And Leah…that tom-boy, middle child. M&M have no clue what is happening but Maggie has her little cow baby doll. She carried that doll for a good few months and that was the one way my brother Jerry could tell her apart from Molly. If it was on the floor beside them, he would pick it up and ask, “Whose is this?” Maggie would naturally take it, he would give it to her and say “Awe, there ya go, Maggie.” When she ditched the doll, he was back at square one.

Another year has gone by, so I decided it was time to update the “personality portrait.” Once again the girls were wearing whatever, grabbed their bikes (as an ode to the first portrait perhaps?) and lined up at the edge of the garage. M&M, once again, having no clue what was going on, only wanted to sit in the Power Wheel with a dead battery. Perfect. I’ll just move that Gator to the edge of the garage and they can just sit in it. Would I rather of had them standing or sitting or on their own little trikes? Yes, but they are happy and they are in the picture and that is what matters.

As a photographer, I have learned to work with kids, not against them. Go with the flow. Sometimes they will give me exactly what I ask. Sometimes they will not, but surprise me and give me something better. And yet, sometimes that will not give me anything. I am thankful for these girls and all that they give me…including the lessons on patience.

Thank you for reading. Enjoy your day!

Grandma's House.

The last two weekends, I drove up to my grandma’s house and helped get it ready for the new renters to move in. By help, I mean I wiped down the kitchen cabinets and cleaned some windows in the basement and brought my kids to add to the chaos. My “help” was a drop in the bucket and to be honest, I just wanted be in that house one more time.

The house was empty except for a few cousins running around, a couple aunts cleaning the inside, and an uncle working on overgrown landscape. It was kind of just like “back in the day” (that seems to be my favorite phrase lately. My kids even use it and think that I am super cool because I was there “ back in the day.”). Growing up, when we went to Grandma’s house, we went to help. Yes, we did play, and yes, we ate hot dogs on bread with Grandma’s chili sauce instead of ketchup, but there was always a chore we were there to do. I remember planting potatoes, doing basil, stirring a huge caldron of chili sauce over a fire in the driveway, cleaning the gizzards of a chicken on butchering day, carrying wood, and of course, cleaning up after lunch. There was always a few extra cousins there to make it fun and visits to Grandma’s were not treaded.

As I was wiping down the kitchen cabinets, M&M came trodding down the steps like little bunnies. I looked over to where Grandma’s rocker would have sat beside the wood burner and visioned for just a second that they were hopping over to give her a hug. I wish she was there. I wish she had met them. She would love them just like she loved all of her grandchildren. So I stopped wiping those cabinet doors and grabbed my camera to capture the memories that were being made.

The kids were playing “hotel” and pretending to make calls on the wall-hanging phone. They helped gather sticks and made a little fire for some hot dog consumption (notice: when feeding a bunch of people, hot dogs seem involved). When we left that evening, my girls wanted to know when they could go back. “I love Grandma Cox’s house! Why can’t we live there!?!!”

So we went back the next Saturday. A different set of cousins were there to play and explore with (also like when I was younger. There are over 30 Cox cousins, so there was always a different set of cousins there.). They held ballet lessons on the hardwood floors of the living room. They earned a dollar by wiping down the shelves in the fruit cellar. And they continued the tradition of going to Grandma’s and loving it.

Though things are different, a lot has stayed the same. So many memories in that empty house and so many were made those Saturdays. Grandma would have loved it. I loved it. Cousins laughing and playing and a little bit of working. All the stuff that makes us a family.

We were never allowed up the stairs to the bedrooms upstairs. Did you see that adorable wallpaper!?!

And hot dogs and a little camp fire. Traditions at Grandma’s house.

Dancing in the living room. Lilly & Lucy would always perform for Grandma when they were little. She thought one of them will be a star some day. Who knows.

This swing was built by PapPap. It has been there for as long as I can remember and there have been many pictures of cousins filling it up over the years.

Did you notice that one side is higher than the other? PapPap was much taller than Grandma so he hung it so they both could enjoy it. What a guy.

Backyard Summer Portraits: Part 4

Ok. Here’s the truth. I photograph families so that I can get away from my kids for just a bit and hang out with other awesome people and their families. I especially like it when friends invite me and my cameras over to their home to capture some memories for them. A session is more like a visit than a set of poses and smiles.

I may show up with Brunton Dairy’s chocolate milk and Cookies & Cream ice cream (my favorite). And after a few family pictures on the porch and a jumping contest, that ice cream might be enjoyed. The youngest may or may not drop a spoonful of deliciousness on the porch steps and the oldest will rescue that sweet spoonful and perhaps sneak it into his own little mouth with that “oldest brother” smirk. After all the ice cream is devoured and Dad wisely sprays off all the drippings with a hose, the family may take a walk, play in the dirt and then we might just hang out and talk about schooling, landscaping, and everything else. The dad may realize that moms aren’t in pictures enough and hardly ever with a friend. He becomes my favorite dad and offers to take a picture of me and my friend. The “session” ends but we continue to talk in the driveway while the kids ride their bikes. It is a good visit…and I have pictures to prove it!

"some call it chaos, we call it family"

Who loves Hobby Lobby? I know I do. And one day last week I found myself by myself in that lovely building full of everything a lover of home decorations could want. It was almost a dangerous situation, but I set a timer and when the timer went off I had five different pieces of wall art/decor in my cart. One thing I love/hate about myself is my ability to make frivolous decisions that cost $$$ in a short amount of time. I ended up putting all but one thing back, picked up a random sign for the office/school room and spent under $20. That must be some kind of record, right?

One of the signs I had in my cart but got the ax was a rustic sign with “some call it Chaos, we call it Family” written on it. It really resonated with me. I grew up in a family with 5 kids. On my mom’s side, there are over 30 cousins and Christmas Eve at Grandma's was never a silent night. Now I have 5 girls and even though I know a “gentle and quiet spirit is well pleasing to the Lord,” it tends to be a tad loud in our house. Yes, some call it chaos, but I am calling it family and I am completely ignoring the dictionary’s definition of it.

But in the seeming chaos there is peace and silence. It can be found in the laundry room. No one wants to be there and last Sunday I found myself folding clothes in the wonderful quietness. As I was folding clothes I felt so blessed. On the way out of church that morning, I was talking with my pastor and he was so encouraged about a little answer to prayer. I thought about how little answers to prayers prove that God is working and that if He can answer little prayers, He can indeed answer big prayers. God is working. In my life. I am blessed.

On the way through the church parking lot to the car, we stopped and talked to our favorite Miss Vicki and Miss Price. The girls love them. Especially M&M. Sometimes I use those two ladies as a way to get everyone out the door and into the car in the morning…”Do you want to see Miss Vicki? We have to buckle up first.” As we talked with them, she mentioned how she prays for us every time she passes our driveway. I felt so blessed. Blessed that I am not the only one praying for my family.

So as I am folding little shirts. I am thinking about all these beautiful blessings and people in my life. I am so encouraged. But Sunday also involved chocolate milk spilt on my cream couch, a 10 minute time out for everyone, Molly cutting her hair, and making a lunch that no one wanted. Still, Sunday was a good day. I am not sure if I am numb to the crazy chaos or if the blessings are shining so bright in those moments that all is still well.

Life can be loud, crazy, and chaotic. But it can also be calm, peaceful, and intentional. If you need a break, go fold some laundry and think of all the blessings in your life and pray to be open for many more.

Backyard Summer Portraits: Part 3

Another Backyard Summer Portrait session that I loved! This family has been asking me to photograph them for the past 2-3 years and the mom always tells me her ideas for “the next time.” In the past she has mentioned this LOVE graffiti that is right off the exit she takes to on her way home. So when I first mentioned about these sessions, she was one of the first to want to schedule a date and she asked, “I know this isn’t our backyard, but…”. And I said, “Yes, of course! Let’s do it! It’s something you’ve been wanting to do!” (Is there something you want to do? Or go? Life is short. Plans change. Just make plans to do it!).

I arrived at their house and as I waited for them to answer the door, I admired the light, reflections, their flowers and their cool old screen door. I was inspired and took a few pictures, playing around with double exposures. When the dad greeted me, I was slightly embarrassed to be taking pictures of his front door, but hey, what are you going to do? I’ll just claim that “crazy camera lady” title right now.

One reason I love photographing families at their homes is because no one has the same house or lives the same way. And the kids love showing off what is “theirs” (and nothing makes a kid more comfortable than when they are with something that is “theirs”). After taking a few family portraits in their driveway, the kids showed me their favorite thing about the backyard…a big swing. Mom pushed them for a bit and that always makes kids happier! The little girl told me she felt like a little princess sitting in the tree. When the little boy got distracted by the lawn mower and how he thought he and his dad should mow the grass, I took the opportunity to take some mother/daughter portraits. Eventually, the little boy came around for some more pictures, but not for long! Little boys are always on the move! I noticed the matching tattoos on the mom & dad’s forearms. There is a story to everything and I want to capture it (sure, they will always have that tattoo as a reminder, but their kids and grandkids will treasure this detail of a picture).

We decided it was time to go fulfill the mom’s dream of family pictures by the LOVE graffiti. Not trying to be corny but I loved the LOVE situation. And you know what is even more special about this session? This beautiful family is moving to Georgia, so these memories in their backyard and of a favorite visual in the neighborhood will hold a little place in their hearts and memory box!

Enjoy a few more favorites from this Backyard Summer session.

the kids & school...

So we made the decision to cyber school the girls this year (or at least start out that way!). I’m not going to tell you all the reasons or how we came to this decision but I’m definitely embracing and slightly excited about it. I did enjoy the “distance learning” we went through this spring and everyone really liked the “no homework” evenings.

Lilly is the most excited. She loves the idea of not being “in school all day.” But I am not going to lie, she is probably the reason I kind of want to send them all back! She is dramatic. She likes to be in charge. She knows how to push everyone’s buttons and she pushes them often. She also thinks she knows everything already, so that is the hardest part when trying to help her “learn,” if you know what I mean. But there is a crayon writing on the fridge that says “Be Patient with Everyone.” There is a reason it is on the fridge. I need to see it often!

Lucy is probably the most disappointed but also the most adaptable. She is the friend. She said she would gladly wear a mask all day just to be with her friends and her rainbow-seeking personality said, “I won’t be wearing a mask all day because I will have to take it off at lunch so I can eat.” Now, can’t we all have that kind of positive mindset?!

Leah is feisty. So we will see how that goes. In the spring, she kind of got the “get out of pre-school free card.” I would work with her a little…when I had time…this fall, that’s not going to fly. But there is a benefit to having older kids. Remember Lilly and how she likes to be in charge and knows everything? Yep, I am definitely banking on a little bit of that!!

So, this fall, like most parents everywhere, school will look different for us. And that’s not going to be a bad thing. I refuse to let it be. And no matter what kind of changes this virus has caused you and me and everyone everywhere, we can still be positive and make the most of it. Remember Lucy and her positive thoughts? Yes, I am going to be like that.

Backyard Summer Portraits Part 2.

So this session was exactly what I thought of when I decided to offer the Backyard Summer Portrait sessions. And it gets better too because it involved all the cousins over at grandma’s house.

Imagine you are at your grandma’s house in your grandma clothes. (Did anyone else have “grandma” clothes? They were not what you wore to school or for going-out but they weren’t the beat up clothes we wore to play and do chores in at the barn. They were the “in-between” clothes. Ok if they got dirty but also nice enough to run in to Giant Eagle on the way to pick up a few groceries for the grams.). Anyways, you are Grandma’s house with all your cousins and you are just running around barefoot playing on the slide, chasing butterflies around the garden, and no one is telling you to calm down and not get dirty. A lady in jeans and a black t-shirt shows up with 2 cameras. She’s hanging out with your parents talking and laughing. You hear her say “Well, I guess I better start doing what I came here to do.”

She casually walks over to your sister, introduces herself and asks her name. You interrupt and introduce yourself, because you are outgoing and think cameras are kinda cool. The camera lady asks if she can take pictures of you and you hop on a swing and smile up at her. Then you run away and she walks over to your boy cousins and she asks what they are doing. She takes pictures of them. Then she suggests you all play a game together. You sit in a row, make silly faces; you get up and see who can jump the highest. Then you all run over to the fire pit and make a s’more. Messy s’mores. Your mom busts out the bubbles and everyone tries to blow the biggest one. Then you just run and play and the crazy camera lady offers you the chance to take a picture of your sister jumping over a swing. Then you decide you can do better than jump over a swing and you jump off the slide. Before the blonde lady leaves, you all sing “Happy Birthday” to your oldest and youngest cousins because COVID prevented you from celebrating on the real day. Life is good. It’s summer and you are Grandma’s house…does it get any better?

In a nutshell, that was this session. I loved it. I loved the images I captured for this family.

Awe…and now I really want to go back 28 years and have this happen to me. Random memory: every summer, Grandma Cox would have “camping” at her house. She had a big fire and we all roasted hot dogs. (It wasn’t until I was in my teens that she eventually had ketchup for those hot dogs. She made chili sauce and that was her ketchup.) We slept in tents. One was large and orange and looked like a castle. Everyone wanted to sleep in that tent. In the morning, we would cook breakfast on the hot coals from the fire. Hmmm….childhood summers at Grandma’s house.

Portraits and memories have my heart.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy your day!

Backyard Summer Portraits Part 1.

Last month I offered Backyard Summer Portraits. The months of quarantine had my kids and I out in our yard playing a lot and I found I was taking fun portraits of them while documenting the days; so I wanted to offer the same type of portraits for my families that always ask for sessions. And I am not going to lie…these sessions were my FAVORITE. Everyone was already at their home…a comfortable place, well known to the kids, and everything that a kid or mom might need was just a run in through the backdoor.

One family was in the process of moving to another state. They were saying good-bye to their Pittsburgh home and hello to a Columbus one. When I promoted these Backyard Sessions, they were one of the first to say “Yes! This is for us!” They had a beautiful, intimate backyard with a trampoline (and I got to jump and feel like a kid again and almost went home to convince Daryl to get one), and a sitting area they built with a fire pit where they enjoyed their breakfast coffee. Ahhh, memories! Exactly what I am all about!!

So we took family pictures around that fire pit, a kiss between mom and dad on the front porch, and a bunch of fun with the girls on the trampoline. I had a blast and the pictures are sure to be memories for them. So, if you want a Backyard Portrait Session, you probably won’t have to twist my arm….

Enjoy these pictures of this gorgeous family and their Pittsburgh backyard…

hydrangeas

I have a blue hydrangea bush on the side of my house. Someone gave me it to me when Lilly was born 9 years ago and this year it is abundant with blooms as usual. I always admire the pictures of those houses in the Southern Living magazine with long-stem hydrangeas in a vase on a mid-century modern coffee table. Those long stem just make everything look richer. This year, I did that. I bought a $3 vase from Dollar General (you know the whole rich feeling doesn’t really need to actually cost $$$, right?!) and cut 4 hydrangea blooms and placed it on my dinning room table. It makes me smile when I walk by and see those blue beauties; but I do think I could have cut them a little longer….I guess I still need some work on that “rich” look.

My first encounter with a hydrangea bush was when I was in junior high. New neighbors moved into the “big house at the top of the hill” and they were looking for someone responsible enough to pet sit their dog and cats while they went on their yearly vacation to Myrtle Beach. My sister and I fit the bill and we went to their house every morning and evening to feed their dog Pepper and the two cats. To aid us in being responsible, the neighbors made a step-by-step list of chores for each visit (which was printed for us over the next 10-15 years that we watched the house during their vacations). In the morning, “water the hydrangea bush next to the porch” was on the list. It wasn’t anything special, but now it’s a link to a memory.

I never really watered my hydrangea bush but I do this year. And every time I do, I think of the neighbor lady, Mrs. Kozlina. She passed away a few years ago from cancer. She loved flowers, animals, family, and she must of had a huge heart because she was a teacher. I remember after I had Lilly and Lucy (I was still their go-to responsible person to watch their house and pets while gone), she gave me some motherhood advice. “Kiss your babies. You can’t kiss them too much. Because now I often wonder, did I kiss my kids enough?” I thought that was interesting, but guess what? I kiss those baby cheeks as often and as much until they won’t let me anymore.

Not sure I know how to end this, but I guess you never know what you are going to question “Did I do____ enough?”, so consider the advice of others because they’ve been there before (like trying convince kids that they are going to miss naps…). And regrets? No one wants them.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy your day!

photo books.

I was going to write about flowers and how I am constantly inspired by them, but then life happened and nostalgia hit. Nostalgia always wins. So here’s what happened…

Just a normal hot summer day in western Pennsylvania and my girls were getting tired of playing hide and seek, Memory, and dolls, so they asked if they could play on their Kindles. Before they can play on their Kindles, I always give them a list of things to do first. It usually includes a chore, something educational, and a little creative activity.

Today that list included folding 10 pieces of laundry, read or do 2 pages of math, and draw a picture of summer. Lilly likes to fold the towels (That makes her smart or lazy. I’ll go with smart.). Lucy likes to pair socks and underwear (and I thank her for that bc those are my least favorite.) Leah somehow weasels out of the laundry (I’m not going to have to work on that). Everyone chose to do worksheets instead of reading. Lilly and Lucy both drew a picture of a house covered and surrounded by flowers (and that kind of really made me happy. Houses should be surrounded by flowers and I am glad they think so too.). Leah had a melt down bc the colors she kept choosing “were not right.”

In an attempt to calm her down, we sat on the couch and started to look through the photo books. Then Maggie brought over all of the books off the end table including one entitled “America At Home” published in 2008. Tutu started looking through it and came to a picture of a familiar person and place. “This looks like that uncle. And this kind of looks like Bebe’s yard.” Yep. That is Uncle Ed pushing a 2 year-old Cole on the swing in my mom’s yard.

One fall day in 2007, all the Bruntons on the farm gathered after dinner before the milking to take a big family picture by a tractor in a field for this “book that someone was making of lots of different kinds of people who live in America.” I’m not sure if that makes us normal, special, different, or the same, but I guess it makes us a representative of rural America somehow. The photographer hung around and took pictures as the chores were being done. My sister Rachel and little cousin Cole seemed to have captured that photographer’s attention as they are in 1/2 of the pictures published in the book.

As we were looking through the two pages of my family today, Tutu pointed to the family picture and picked out a guy in a red hat, blue shirt, and jeans and said, “Hey, that’s your dad.” Yep. Sometimes I don’t feel like I talk about him much to my kids. But I guess I do enough, bc she knew who he was and that makes me happy.

In April 2008, this “America At Home” photo book was published and on April 30, 2008, my dad died in a farming accident. I remember going to Barnes & Noble before the funeral visitation to buy a copy of that book. It was also the wedding gift I gave two of my college roommates who got married that summer. Jane lives in China and she loves having a book full of America on her coffee table. She also spent a few summer days visiting me, so she has memories of the farm too. Memories during those college years are so sweet. Heather is an artist and I knew she would appreciate it. Giving that book was a way of healing for me somehow too.

We finished looking through all the pictures and I noticed the change that the farm has gone through in 12 short years. My mom has rose bushes climbing the post of the swing in her yard. Her once full and blooming garden is non-existent bc she doesn’t have the time for it and doesn’t have all those mouths to feed anymore either. The old milking barn in the background of a picture was in the process of being torn down. Everything and everyone looks a little different. I guess what they say is true. “The only thing that stays the same is that nothing stays the same.”

And that is why I take pictures. That is why I print them. That is why I make books of them. Memories and legacies.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy your day.

PS: random memory. There is a calf tied to the tree above the swing in my mom’s yard in one of those pictures. It was tied there bc the photographer wanted a cow in the family photo. It reminds me of when we were in 4-H and had just washed our calves. We would tie them outside and let them eat grass as they dried.