the lake {part one}

We spent last week on the lake in northern Wisconsin with my parents and brother. We had a ball. We swam, fished, went for boat rides, drank cold beer and just really enjoyed being together.

I took some photos but not nearly as many as one might think. It seems funny to say but I felt like I didn't want to ruin it by horning in there with my camera all the time. I didn't want anything standing between me and the precious moments that were happening. I wanted to be fully present in those moments, rather than seeing the moments happen with the buffer of my camera in between us.

Sometimes having a camera to my face allows me to disconnect from real life and become lost in trying to capture what I see in my mind and what I see through the lens, trying to merge the two. And yet there are times when I want to get a shot and know that I should really pick up my camera but I can't bear to miss what's really happening. While photos allow us to remember and re-live special moments, they cannot take the place of really being there when they happen; being fully present in those moments with the people we love most.

tell me

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
~Mary Oliver

a new friend

my girls have been hunters this week. hunting for frogs, toads, grasshoppers big and small. I love that these images say summer to me. Dirty finger nails, tank tops and little creatures from the yard.

today

today I'm thankful for promises.
for true love.
for His grace.
that I am a work in progress, not just someone racing toward an unknown ~ there is a plan for me.
I'm thankful for the www. the inspiration I have found and friendships I have forged are are truly a gift. seriously...what did we do before the internet?
I'm thankful for my silly kiddos.
for my pajamas.
for People magazine and quiet time in the afternoon.

just love

no words today. just love.







...and my favorite...

{summertime bucket list} strawberry picking

For the past two summers the kids and I have made our own little "bucket list" of things we'd like to do before September rolls around. Strawberry picking was at the top of our (ok, my) list this year. We picked lots of juicy, red berries and have the sticky fingers and strawberry-stained clothes to prove it. Jack was a strawberry-eating machine - some of the photos I caught of him just make me laugh. He was two-fisting his berries and as soon as someone would offer him another or he would spot a strawberry nearby, he would chuck the ones in his hands and leave them for dead....on to the next! Needless to say, I think we'll probably make another trip to the strawberry patch next week before the berries are done for the year.

The girls and I will be making strawberry shortcake this afternoon - hooray for sunshine and summertime!

*As a side note to the my photo friends, what is your best advice for shooting in direct sunlight? I obviously couldn't avoid it in this situation and did the best I could but I'm not thrilled with the shadows and harsh light. Any tips or tricks for shooting in direct sun would be very much appreciated. Over and out...

anticipation

Do you ever get the feeling that something pretty great is just around the corner? That you're about to have some really good times and you should drink them in, hold on to them tightly and really be in the moments that lie ahead?

That's how I'm feeling tonight. All sappy and dreamy about our summer. My littles are 6, 4 and 15 months. Life is busy. Not gonna lie - there's plenty of whining, complaining, fighting, crying and bad attitude goin' around over here some days. But, honestly, I'm really looking forward to having all my little chicks close to the nest for the next three months. The four of us snuggled in Izzie's bed this morning and I heard the soft whisper that is becoming more and more familiar...."Don't let it be a blur. Soak it in. These are the days you will carry with you for all of your life." And it was then that I knew we are going to have a special summer. Lots of big things on the horizon - wedding, vacations, art camp, etc. But I'm also really looking forward to all the little things. Morning snuggles, park playdates, picnics at the beach, bike rides, mud-pie making. My prayer tonight - Lord, please don't let it be a blur.

the view from here

Today was Izzie's last day of preschool for the year. All the end-of-the-year festivities are kicking off for the kids and the summer is stretching out before us. I'm lovin' it. What does the view look like where you are?