April Vacation, Day 4

April Vacation, Day 3

April Vacation, Day 2

April Vacation, Day 1

school picture day

"Why are you laying on the couch? Are you feeling okay?"

"Yes, Mama. I am just resting because today is school picture day and I don't want to look tired in my picture."

******

I am a photographer. A children's photographer in fact. I take hundreds upon hundreds of pictures of my children. And in fact get paid money to take pictures of other people's children.

I could care less what my daughter wears for her school picture. Or what she looks like in it. I will buy a package regardless to document a piece of her history, but the portrait I took of her at the beach is the one that will remain on the wall.

So the fact that my kindergartner marked this day on her calendar, selected her outfit days in advance and then spent the morning fussing with her lip gloss and hair while practicing her picture pose is a complete mystery to me.

But I am pretty sure it means that I am in big, big trouble when her wedding day comes along.

home office

The view from my desk...

My three year old in a photo lab box pretending she is a cat. Another box (UPS visits often), some props and a reflector I have been meaning to put away in the background.

Pretty much what working at home with two young children looks like, in case anyone was wondering.

sick day

Snapped in between serving popsicles, making smoothies, loading up movies and spoon feeding a certain someone her breakfast.

the land of m&m pancakes

For breakfast this morning my girls had M&M pancakes. Buttermilk pancakes made from scratch with 100% pure organic maple syrup filled with M&Ms.

Nothing remarkable really in a typical week filled with playdates, gymnastics classes, swimming classes, ice skating classes and visits from grandma with a few hours of school sprinkled in. All leading up to an equally typical weekend filed with parties, goodie bags and special trips.

Claire's biggest concern is currently what type of cake she is going to have at her birthday party. Characters, flavors and frosting colors are debated daily.

Things that they are not at all concerned about include waiting for biopsy results, letters from the state tax collector (owning a business, so so fun), millions of dollars in school budget shortfalls, how national healthcare will impact their future, how as a country we will ever get out of this recession and how our little family will make it through.

Not that I am complaining. I have much to be thankful for too. I realize this. It's just that being an adult... eh.

Sometimes I wonder if they are too sheltered. If they are ever going to be prepared to cope with the adult world.

Occasionally our worlds collide:

"Mommy, that's NOT FAIR!"

"Who told you life was fair?"

But in the end, I am happy that for now they get to live in the land of M&M pancakes.

the leprachaun trap

Now all we need is some green beer!

love notes

"I want to give this to my boyfriend so he can come over for a playdate. Do you think it has too much lovieness??"

"Yes, sweetie, I think that it just might"

I am no six year old boy, but I am guessing he might not want to come over if he thinks he will have to walk arm and arm through a field carrying a basket?

Just guessing here.

And also guessing that she is going to scare off a number of boys in her day.

*****

also, some recent baby cuteness over on the photography blog