it's official!

On this hot August morning, hours after my husband left for work in the big city, I was woken by the sweet face of a three year old, inches from my own.

I made pancakes from scratch with blueberries from our recent blueberry picking adventure. Bate, Bate, bate chanted my two helpers as they mixed (that Dora... so educational).

I got dressed, tended to a lovie emergency and boo-boos so serious that they required multiple band aids. Dora band aids of course.

Finally, I made it over to town hall with my two assistants in tow.

Did I have my EIN number from the IRS? Sure, right here in my bag between some dried playdoh and an extra diaper.

And so it was that this stay at home mom officially got her business license.

There it is in Abby's hand, with an official stamp on it and everything.

Photo taken with Fuji point and shoot camera. Heh.

Beth Miga Photography is officially.... official.

To celebrate we had lunch at McDonalds, chosen because 'they give you a toy mama!!', followed by a little pre vacation shopping spree at Target.

In addition to the above piece of paper, there is also an official website:

bethmigaphotography.com

A blog and a fan page are in the works. So much done and so much yet to do and learn!

I can honestly say that when I left my corporate job just over three years ago, I had no idea that I would end up here. Turning my passion into a real business. And yet here I am. I can't wait to see where life goes from here!

well, hello again

My latest excuse for not blogging? My poor computer has been sick. Very sick. So sick it needed to be rebuilt (side note to anyone considering building a self hosted blog: you get what you pay for from places like blue host that leave absolutely all site security up to the user).

The brief run down of what we have been up too:

The weather is finally hot. Yay for beach weather!

Claire is still not using the potty. Not even close. I tried the running out of diapers threat and lost. One month to go until preschool, which requires potty training, starts.

Abby has a loose tooth. She fills her days wiggling it, asking me to wiggle it and giving me the run down of all she has learned about losing teeth. Angela lost one tooth and it didn't hurt... Toni lost one and there was blood... that girl at the playground today has lost eight teeth... and so on.

And as for me, I have to say I have enjoyed this forced break from my computer. I think I will continue to keep the blogging light through the rest of the summer and simply enjoy these last few weeks of lazy days with my girls. Photo updates will continue over on flickr!

i ♥ faces- hats-- feet

It was been a few weeks since I participated in the weekly challenge over at i ♥ faces, but when I saw that this week was feet week and that the amazing Rachel Durik (who I first knew as the American Mum) was the judge, I simply had to post an entry.

I know just posted this shot a few days ago, but seriously, aren't these the cutest little summer feet?

and so our vacation begins...

A leisurely morning... because after the vacations of my youth, planned with military precision, I would have it no other way.

A two hour car ride that meant two hours to chat with my husband as the kids watched a DVD in the back.

An afternoon of glorious sunshine and gentle sea breezes perfect for rocking in the hammock and walking along the field picking wild flowers with the girls.

Blowing dandelions and making wishes...
... I wish it was always summer...
... I wish I got to have ice cream every day...
... I wish my girls a lifetime of happiness...

Chilled wine waiting in the fridge and dinner off the grill.

Another glass of vino while my husband cleans up two tired girls and tucks them in to bed.

Wireless Internet and ocean views.

Ahhh... and so begins our Cape Cod vacation. Not exotic. Not an adventure. But a part of every summer for as long as I can remember.

Sunset over Provincetown, as seen from our deck. The only picture of the day since the rest was spent blissfully camera free.

so it turns out starting a business is hard

Has it really been over two weeks since I wrote a post? Yikes. Why is it that the longer you go without posting the harder it is? I can't write about the funny thing one of the kids said today because I still have not posted our 4th of July pics. But seriously? It's July 18th. What is the point of writing about the 4th of July now? And so it goes...

The biggest reason for the lack of posting? All of my free time lately has been devoted to my growing business.

Back in January, when I boldly announced to my husband that I wanted to start my own photography business, his response went something like this:

That's great. You do realize it's going to be a lot of work?

Ha.

I knew I had a lot to learn. And I have learned a ton. About camera settings. Lenses. Photoshop.

I have also learned just how much non photography related stuff that there is to know and do to get a business up and running. Website design, logos, packaging, props, how to collect money, taxes... and on... and on.

I have learned that editing 400 client photos takes a lot longer than you think it will. And that it is not really as fun as editing pictures of your own kids. Even simple things like throwing together a story board and scheduling sessions take longer than I expected.

I have also learned that beach sessions are really and truly fun and being a photographer is a great way to make new friends and become better friends with the friends you have.

So basically, my husband was right.

It is great. It is a lot of work. Harder than I expected, but also better than I expected.

I am up late into the night with ideas buzzing around my head. Patience is not my thing. I want my sessions all edited. I want a fabulous website and blog. A portofilo that reflects all the amazing pictures I envision taking. Beautiful packaging. Gift certificates. I want to get it all done now. If only I had more hours in the day. Or did not need to sleep. Oh, what I could do with those eight (okay, six) hours.

But alas, I am only human. And a mother first. So I am doing the very most I can in those few precious hours when my precious children sleep.

All of which has left my poor blog here a bit neglected. So in an effort to catch up and get back into updating more regularly, here is a quick recap of our recent activities...

The 4th of July. Parade, Cookout, Fireworks. And balloon hats.




Beautiful beach days...


Pool days...


And backyard days...


More summer fun to come!

moments to remember

It is impossible to know what my children will remember from their childhoods. My own memories are spotty and random to say the least. Will they remember the days I am tired and short on patience? The rainy days, spent bickering and complaining?

Or will they remember the day I took them to a birthday party, followed by a movie, followed by a carnival? A day filled with cupcakes, pizza, popcorn, gummy worms, soda, ice cream and not a single healthy meal?

Will Abby remember that I rode the cliff hanger and the swinger with her multiple times just to see the smile on her face?

Will they remember Oma buying ticket after ticket so they could ride "just one more time"? Or that Oma let them play a carnival game with real darts and they won big inflatable toys?

Will they remember the day that the circus came to town and Mommy, Oma and Auntie Lynn took them to see it?

Will Claire remember her first taste of cotton candy?

Will they remember the excitement of seeing a guy getting shot out of the "World's Largest Canon"?

Simple Summer fun. Childhood treats. Family. These are the moments I will remember.

a little dose of sunshine

What is that up there in the sky? That bright thing?

And am I ever going to see it again?

Just a little dose of sun flare from our day and a half of sun this week, since it looks like we are not going to be seeing much of it any time in the foreseeable five day forecast.

hello... and welcome to my world

I bought my Nikon D90 mostly for it's picture taking capabilities, but I also loved the fact that it could shoot video. How fun to be able to catch funny little clips of the kids, especially since the last thing on our video camera may be the girls taking their first steps?

So how is it working out? Well, I am shooting pictures mostly in RAW, often in full manual and occasionally even with a kick ass $1700 lens. But my video of Abby's preschool graduation? All people's feet followed by quick glimpses of the kids before the camera clicks off.

Time to break out that camera manual and learn the difference between the record and ready to record lights.

I will spare you the graduation video, but here is today's attempt at some footage of the girls and I hiking at World's End. Abby is wet from an incident in the marsh and is insisting on walking with her boots full of water to keep a scrape on her leg wet. I could try to explain further, but it would not really make any more sense...



So I am guessing video can only be shot horizontally? Even so, it is somehow a pretty good representation of my everyday.

And since I am posting, I thought I would also cover all the other topics I have been meaning to blog about but have not found the time to blog about.

Claire had a playdate. Her first real play date, scheduled especially for her with a friend her age and not simply the younger sibling of her sister's friend. This is a milestone that my firstborn reached at about four weeks of age, but my second born had to loudly demand at age three. She was very excited waiting for her friend to arrive, then hid behind the chair and meowed like a cat when her friend actually arrived. I would say it went well.

Abby's hair. It has gone from long to cute little bob. She was completely against getting any sort of hair cut at all until her friend happened to be getting her hair cut and Abby happened to have a chance to go along. I am loving it. So is she. Daddy liked it better long, but he is adjusting.

Abby's preschool graduation. She looked cute. She sang cute songs that I failed to capture on video. She was named the class writer. Come September she is off to Kindergarten. She is excited and I honestly think she is more than ready and will do great.

Claire's crib. It is gone. She is currently sleeping in her brand new big girl bed. I am a little anxious. And a little sad that after six years, our nursery is no more.

They are growing up so fast, these crazy kids.

what it means to be a sister

Tonight in the bath Abby did something unspeakable to Claire like use the very bucket Claire was about to use so Claire announced in her meanest, maddest, firmest voice "ABBY, you're not my best friend any more!!"

Patiently, Abby replied "No Claire, we are sisters. We will always be sisters. I will always be your friend."

Pretty smart for a five year old.

Two girls, two and a half years apart in age. It's not always easy. It's not always pretty.

But I am so, so glad they have each other.

mothers, daughters and bikinis

So about a month ago, Abby began her campaign for a half piece bathing suit.

"Mama, this year I want a bathing suit with two pieces. A half piece mama."

Please, please, please she begged, grabbing any old two piece bathing suit we happened to pass in a store no matter what the color or style.

"You are too young."

"One piece bathing suits are better for you."

"Definitely not that."

Finally, we agreed on a tankini style "half piece" covered with lady bugs from Gymboree.

Approximately two seconds after we got in the door her clothes were off and her new half piece was on. She pranced. She preened. She bathed in it. She has worn it every day since.

Then today as several neighborhood kids played ball in the front yard, she ran upstairs and changed into her new suit.

"Abby, what are you wearing?" asked the six year old boy from across the street, curious about her random wardrobe change, I imagine.

"Ben," she exclaimed, tossing back her hair and putting her hand on her hip "it's a BIKINI".

And then? She used my hair products in the shower. My good hair products.

Someone please remind me again why it was that I so desperately hoped for a daughter?

Abby showing off her new suit. And notice what little sis is wearing in the background.