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Family Portraits

Posted by Carolyn on May 16, 2015 Leave a Comment

When Alma and Harriet were babies, they had portraits done.  That’s the only time I can think of since our wedding that anyone in our family has had portraits done.  For my birthday this year, my parents gave us a session with a wonderful photographer for family portraits.

Courtney Theim was amazing to work with.  She was incredibly flexible as we waited for a break in the weather to head up to Hendrick’s park.  We met her early one morning and she took some beautiful family portraits with magical light and the incredible backdrop that is the park in springtime.

Here are some of my favorites.

IMG_3826I’m not often in front of the camera, so I’m so happy to have these.  I could write a whole blog post about body image and moms missing from family photos, but I’m sure you’ve all read it before.  The main thing is that I don’t want to look back at my life and not see myself in the photos.  I also don’t want my daughters to see me missing. IMG_3847 IMG_3900 IMG_3922My beautiful, silly girl, with those sweet freckles. IMG_3959 IMG_3966 Come on, seriously.  Harriet is so lovely.IMG_3977I love Harriet’s closed eyes here.  And our strawberry blond curls. IMG_4096 IMG_4104 Look at Harriet looking at Alma.  So much love and admiration right there.  Believe me that it is mutual.IMG_4270 Courtney wanted to try this hand photo, and Harriet didn’t want to play along.  I’m astonished that Courtney was able to catch the split second all our hands were stacked up.  That’s talent, folks.IMG_4390 IMG_4405a IMG_4414 IMG_4467Please contact Courtney if you need some photos done.  She’s wonderfully professional, and was great with the kids.  And the proof’s in the pudding.  The photos are amazing.

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Posted in: gave thanks., nature, parented., STRONG | Tagged: children, grateful, gratitude, kids, Oregon, Parenting, photography

Gratitude – One Little Word – 2014

Posted by Carolyn on December 30, 2014 3 Comments

365 Days of GratitudeMy One Little Word for 2014 was Gratitude.  As I said in my post from last December, I’ve done a One Little Word, but it’s never been incredibly meaningful.  Until 2014, when my One Little Word was GRATITUDE.

I was very intentional with my word.  I thought about it every single day.  I wrote down what I was grateful for every single day.  The wordle above shows all those words.  The cool thing about wordle, is that the frequency of each word increases the size of the word in the final word cloud.

So, clearly, in 2014 I was most grateful for my friends.  Followed closely by my mom, my dad, Jesse, family, and home.  Then, a little smaller is Harriet, Alma, church, Eugene, alone, parents, and Autumn.  Isn’t that just lovely?

Looking back at my list of words, I am a little surprised that Jesse isn’t bigger.  I think this is because it’s obvious that I’m grateful for Jesse (and Harriet and Alma).  I probably could have filled a whole year writing down just their names, but I was trying to go beyond the obvious and think about what I was seriously, truly grateful for each day.

That was usually special time with friends – time that rejuvenated me – time that expanded me – time that filled me.  I can still feel that feeling of gratitude that comes with good time with good friends.  I’m not sure that I had ever paid much attention to the enormous amount of gratitude I felt for my friends.

Or my parents.  Sure, I have always appreciated them.  They are amazing people.  I was lucky to have been raised by my mom and dad (and my step-dad and step-mom).  This year, it is clear that they do a lot for me and my family.  They watch my kids (and love them in the process) so I can work, or get things done that would be difficult with 2 toddlers in tow.  They feed us food.  They keep us company.  They have ideas for me, and encourage me.

I have loved 2014.  I have really loved giving thanks every single day.  I think I’ll miss it.  I’ll always be grateful.

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Posted in: friday gratitudes, gave thanks., gratitude, one little word | Tagged: friday gratitudes, friends, grateful, gratitude, Gratitudes, one little word

Friday Gratitudes 40, 41, 42 & 43

Posted by Carolyn on October 31, 2014 Leave a Comment

20141010_155912[1] 20141010_160010[1] 20141010_162540[1] 20141022_094344[1] 20141022_112147[1] 20141022_113147[1] 20141023_085422[1] 20141024_181751[1] 20141025_145357[1] 20141025_152735[1] 20141026_092215[1] 20141027_113014[1]

3: Friday
4: Traditions
5: Dad
6: Walking
7: Church
8: Love
9: Family
10: Rach
11: Autumn
12: Friends
13: Holiday
14: Friends
15: Motivation
16: Home
17: Friends
18: Art
19: Church
20: HealthFirst
21: Friends
22: Autumn
23: Bedtime
24: FitBit
25: Family
26: Friends
27: Mom
28: Church
29: Time
30: Me-Time

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Posted in: friday gratitudes, gave thanks., gratitude, one little word | Tagged: friday gratitudes, grateful, gratitude, Gratitudes, kids, one little word, Parenting

New “Art” – Pressed Flower Hearts

Posted by Carolyn on September 9, 2014 2 Comments

aIMG_4022A few months ago, I bought some clear contact paper and asked Alma if she wanted to make some art.  She did, and we crumpled up tissue paper and pressed it onto the contact paper.  Now whenever she sees the contact paper, she says she wants to make art.  Apparently, to her, ‘art’ is anything made with contact paper.  We might need to work on broadening her definition.

But for this project, it was perfect!

On Hattie’s birthday, we went to visit our friend Marilyn, and her lovely garden.  She sent us home with a beautiful bouquet.

aIMG_3985We took the petals off the flowers as they started to fade, and made some ‘art.’

aIMG_3983I taped the contact paper up on a window and let the girls put the petals on it.  We found that throwing the petals at the contact paper was the best, and most fun, way to attach the petals.

aIMG_3989Once we were done, I put another sheet of contact paper on it, sandwiching the petals.

aIMG_3994I pressed it for a few days, then cut it into hearts.

aIMG_4019Ta-da!  ART!

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Posted in: art, created., garden, learned., nature, parented. | Tagged: art, Flowers, grateful, kids, making, nature, Parenting, photography, play, project

Friday Gratitudes 35

Posted by Carolyn on September 5, 2014 2 Comments

20140830_181620[1] 20140901_165757[1] 20140902_180641[1] 20140903_155159[1] 20140904_130310[1] 20140904_170549[1]Friday the 29th: Mom and Phyllis.  We had a lovely park picnic with our sweet friend Phyllis.

Saturday the 30th: Clouds.  Love the clouds, rain, weather.

Sunday the 31st: Poppy.  Got to meet a sweet baby.

Monday the 1st: Holidays.

Tuesday the 2nd: Thanksgiving.  When Katrina suggested that she would roast a turkey and we would be sides, I was all in.  And it was delicious.

Wednesday the 3rd: Walks.  I love this early fall/ late summer weather.  It is so much more pleasant to walk when there is a nice breeze and it’s under 90 degrees.

Thursday the 4th:  School.  Parent orientation for Alma’s school.  Whoa.

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Posted in: friday gratitudes, gave thanks., gratitude, one little word | Tagged: children, friday gratitudes, grateful, gratitude, kids, Parenting, photography, thanks

Coronado, the Enchanted Vacation

Posted by Carolyn on September 1, 2014 2 Comments

aIMG_3019We got to spend a couple days in Coronado with some of our favorite friends.  Tyler and Leia were amazing to invite us to spend some time at Tyler’s dad’s house.  We thought it would be fun, but had no idea how wonderfully beautiful it would be.  The house is literally across the street from an incredible beach.

aIMG_3114And down the street from the beautiful Hotel Del Corondo.

aIMG_3062Did I mention we were there for the Super Moon?

aIMG_3071We spent two nights, and just spent our time relaxing.  We had grand plans of seeing the pandas, but didn’t.  We spent our time on the beach, in the yard, having drinks, eating amazing cheese sauce, playing, and just enjoying everything.aIMG_2986 aIMG_3015 aIMG_3025 aIMG_3036 aIMG_3051 aIMG_3085 aIMG_3105 aIMG_3130Thank you Leia and Tyler!  And Mark and Jenny!  Let’s do it again!

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Posted in: gave thanks., learned., nature, travel | Tagged: Beach, california, grateful, gratitude, kids, Parenting, photography, travel

Friday Gratitudes 33 & 34

Posted by Carolyn on August 30, 2014 Leave a Comment

20140817_112438[1] 20140820_115002[1] 20140821_072601[1] 20140821_123845[1] 20140821_132845[1] 20140823_111515[1] 20140823_183104[1] 20140824_122936[1] 20140824_162302(0)[1] 20140825_180907[1] 20140825_190449[1] 20140826_185439[1] 20140827_111258[1] 20140828_170549[1]Friday the 15th: Cousins.

Saturday the 16th: Family.

Sunday the 17th: Mountains.

Monday the 18th: Mom

Tuesday the 19th: Mom

Wednesday the 20th: Rain

Thursday the 21st: Hattie

Friday the 22nd: Dad

Saturday the 23rd: Celebrations

Sunday the 24th: People

Monday the 25th: Fun

Tuesday the 26th: Elsa

Wednesday the 27th: Alone

Thursday the 28th: Gymnastics

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Posted in: friday gratitudes, gave thanks., gratitude, one little word | Tagged: children, friday gratitudes, grateful, gratitude, Gratitudes, one little word, photography

Friday Gratitudes 31 & 32

Posted by Carolyn on August 20, 2014 Leave a Comment

20140801_123249[1] 20140801_163307[1] 20140804_114128[1] 20140809_085809[1] 20140809_194400[1] 20140809_210358[1] 20140810_200826[1] 20140811_145418[1] 20140811_172537[1] 20140812_204843[1]Friday the 1st: Deterings

Saturday the 2nd: Swimming

Sunday the 3rd: Edison

Monday the 4th: Parks

Tuesday the 5th: Dad

Wednesday the 6th: Friends

Thursday the 7th: Parents

Friday the 8th: Vacation

Saturday the 9th: Family

Sunday the 10th: Beach

Monday the 11th: Beach

Tuesday the 12th: Sleep.

Wednesday the 13th: Mom

Thursday the 14th: Pedicures

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Posted in: friday gratitudes, gave thanks., gratitude, one little word | Tagged: Beach, california, cousins, family, friday gratitudes, grateful, gratitude, one little word, photography, vacation

Friday Gratitudes 30

Posted by Carolyn on August 1, 2014 Leave a Comment

IMG_2617 20140730_100450[1] 20140730_093302[1]Friday the 25th: Jesse. My wonderful husband came home for a couple hours during lunchtime so I could go get some things done.  Having one sick kid, and one teething kid is incredibly stressful, so I appreciated getting the break.

Saturday the 26th: Mom. Mom came over and watched the kids (Alma was finally eating and drinking again) so Jesse and I could have a coffee date and go on a walk.  It was lovely.

Sunday the 27th: Hydration.We had been pretty worried about Alma’s hydration for the past few days.  It was so wonderful seeing her drink water, and start to perk up.

Monday the 28th: Motivation.

Tuesday the 29th: Health.

Wednesday the 30th: Eugene.A hike in the morning, an all-comers track meet in the evening.  I love Tracktown, USA.

Thursday the 31st: Bounce.

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Posted in: friday gratitudes, gave thanks., gratitude, one little word | Tagged: friday gratitudes, grateful, gratitude, Gratitudes, Oregon

Friday Gratitudes 29

Posted by Carolyn on July 28, 2014 Leave a Comment

…on a Monday.

20140720_164721 20140720_173209 20140723_121149Friday the 18th: Friends.

Saturday the 19th: Picnics.Teddy Bear Picnic, Jesse’s company picnic, a picnic at Dad’s pool.

Sunday the 20th: Nature.Alma’s first camping trip.

Monday the 21st: Papa.Harriet got to spend the night with my dad while we were camping.  They have such a cool bond.  I love it.

Tuesday the 22nd: Katrina.We got to celebrate our friend’s birthday!

Wednesday the 23rd: Rain. Love. Love. Love.

Thursday the 24th: Bradshaw. As in, Dr. Bradshaw.  We are so lucky to have such a caring, loving, positive, intelligent, and wonderful doctor for our kids.  Especially when they end up with hand, foot, and mouth disease.  Ugh.

 

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Posted in: friday gratitudes, gave thanks., gratitude, one little word | Tagged: camping, friday gratitudes, grateful, gratitude, Oregon, Parenting, photography
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If God said, ‘Rumi pay homage to everything that has helped you enter my arms,’ there would not be one experience of my life, not one thought, not one feeling, nor any act, I would not bow to. -Rumi

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