Done is Better than Perfect

I used to strive for perfection on my blog. I would blog something as soon as it happened. Literally. I didn't want to let the moment pass without memorializing it. Then, somewhere along the way, hello there life and children, I ran out of time. It started feeling funny writing about moments that happened months ago. But why does it matter? After all, this blog is for myself. And it's "paid" for itself over and over when I went back and made the kids baby books easily with all that I had blogged about their baby days (and I'm now starting on toddler books for them). But it still feels silly to write things so much later.

But here's the thing. I've realized done is better than perfect. One of my goals during the pandemic was to make a photo book of our vacation in 2018. TWO YEARS AGO. Two years. When I started, I realized I hadn't even gone through many of our vacation photos. They all weren't saved in one place. It was a bit of mess. But I did it. And it felt good. Now my kids will be able to look through the book and remember...or the pictures will be the reminder.

I also started picking up my camera more and capturing our day to day life. It's something I used to do a lot when Connor and Isla were little. And honestly, those are always my favorite memories to look back on.

So here's to not striving for perfection, remembering done is better than perfect and remembering to document so the children have something to look back on...because who doesn't like looking back at old photos? But also, making sure I do something with all those photos I take, as they don't do anyone any good rotting away on old hard drives.

You can also find me on:

bloglovin // instagram // pinterest 

Our not so annual romp in the almond blossoms

First, let's just clear the air...I said romp in my title...hahaha! Wait. Am I the only one who's mind went there? Oops. 

Anyway, a few years ago I was all, "I'm going to take pictures of my growing children in the almond blossoms every year." Folks, I haven't taken pictures in the almond blossoms since 2015. I actually tried once last year, but it was an epic failure. Callum fell asleep and one of the children wasn't happy with the dirt on their feet. The almond blossoms are only around two, maybe three, weeks. One would think that is plenty of time to get it done. But life people, life. 

We did it this year. (pats self on back) And I'm pretty dang pleased with how they turned out. Not to mention, this is like the prettiest three weeks of the whole entire stinking year where we live. Three weeks. We get three weeks of beauty. Such a thing to brag about ;)

You can also find me on:

bloglovin // instagram // pinterest 

Documenting Life {baby books}

It's no secret that I love to take pictures. I literally have thousands and thousands of pictures of the kids. But the question is, what to do with those pictures so the kids can look at them and enjoy them as well. 

I started Connor a baby book when he was a baby. It was a Shutterfly one. I gave up after 100 pages, and was only like 6 months into his life. The problem was I loved every single picture and moment and wanted to keep them all. Well, after that attempt, which I never ordered, I didn't do anything. I had been eyeing these adorable baby books from Lucy Darling for a while, but could never pull the trigger because, well, I'm cheap. Then one day I found someone selling a brand new boy one for $6, so I bought it and started working on it for Callum. Well, I fell in love and ended up buying ones for Connor and Isla at full price...I liked them that much! 

And let me tell you, I had SO MUCH FUN going through all our old pictures to find pictures for their albums. I also loved that the albums had so many prompts, making it easy to know exactly what pictures I was looking for. I also loved that the kids will someday be able to look at an album with my handwriting in it. The back has several blank pages and I made sure to include pictures of them with family members, because I know how valuable those pictures will be when they are older. 

Also, I forgot just how amazing actual pictures feel. I mean this compared to the Shutterfly type albums, of which we have many. Not to mention, I loved getting out their hospital bracelets and other hospital mementos and putting them in the books. I am planning on putting an envelope in the back cover of each book to slip in a few more pictures that I didn't have space for, but just couldn't pass up. 

^^ That picture of Ian holding Connor in the hospital was taken not long after he was born. I took it with my phone while laying down, still in the delivery room. It still remains one of my favorite pictures ever. And, you guys, I forgot how smily Isla was. Literally every picture from her first year of life, she has a smile in. 

I had so much fun doing these, I am thinking of shelling out the money for the toddler books...or at least asking for them for Mother's Day, because they are totally mom related! Plus, the toddler books have spaces for things the kids have said. I have this adorable quote book for Connor, but the company went out of business not long after I got it, so I never had the chance to get one for Isla, let alone for Callum. And the kids think it's so funny to look at it and read the silly things Connor said as a toddler. 

You can also find me on:

bloglovin // instagram // pinterest 

A Family Wedding

Ian's sister got married this past weekend in Tucson. It's a mere 800 miles from us. Given that flights are expensive times five, we decided to drive. That long for a quick trip is no easy feat. There was an almost throw up in the car. Several I have to pee NOW's. And more how much longer's than I can count. But we made it. And, as a bonus, we ended up leaving Callum in Los Angeles with my parents on the way down. It sure made the wedding much more enjoyable not having to fight a toddler to sit still. 

Isla brought her fuji instant camera with her and enjoyed playing photographer at the wedding. She made everyone smile when she stopped the actual professional photos to take a picture of her aunt and new uncle. It was a really cute moment. Both Connor and Isla had a blast dancing. Isla was literally on the dance floor the whole time dancing was going on. Connor made friends with some other boys at the wedding, so had fun with them. Even with all the dancing and leaving the wedding at 10pm, neither kid fell asleep on the way back to the hotel. I guess we are well past that phase with them. 

^^ Connor and Isla with their cousin Hadleigh

^^ The wedding was at the sonoran desert museum, which is the cluster of buildings you see in the middle of this picture. 

^^ Look at my sister in law, all happy and in love! Hard to believe I've been with Ian since she was 12.

On a random note, I took their engagement pictures when we visited my sister in law back in June. At the wedding reception, the photographer came up to our table and asked who took the engagement photos. When I said I did, she told me how they are actually legit photos and that I did a great job. She said she often sees cringe worthy photos taken by friends or family of people, but that mine were really good. Obviously she doesn't know the extensive work I do on the daily as a momographer! And since I talked about them, here are a couple of their engagement photos. 

You can also find me on:

bloglovin // instagram // pinterest

little moments not to be forgotten

// blowing dandelions //

// bath time //

// baseball //

// playing with stuff he shouldn't be //

// siblings //

// trike ride //

// good morning //

// box fun //

You can also find me on:

bloglovin // instagram // pinterest 

little moments not to be forgotten

// peek-a-boo //

// aloe vera clippings from a neighbor //

// writing...imagining //

// bubble blowing //

// eating //

// discarded drawings //

// baseball practice //

// happy boy //

You can also find me on:

bloglovin // instagram // pinterest

On Shooting in Manual

 

I seem to have friends asking me for tips on using their cameras and I usually look at them dumbfounded. Probably because  it took me almost 10 years to FINALLY shoot in manual. Or maybe because I realize it is a learning process that a manual or class can't fully teach you…only using your camera can do that one. But now that I have full control of my camera, I love the results {most of the time}.

Ian was actually the reason we bought our first dslr. And he was the reason we bought our second one too. A little over a year after we bought our second dslr, we had Connor. I preferred my ole point and shoot camera to the dlsr. It was smaller and in general I ended up with much better pictures using the point and shoot than the dslr. Of course, that's because I didn't know how to use it!!! Well, my point and shoot eventually died, so I started using the dslr. I really didn't like it. It was big and it was hard to use.

SLOWLY, I started learning things. My first life changer was taking it out of auto and shooting in program mode. Then I learned about focal points. This actually was probably the biggest game changer for me in terms of picture quality. Next I learned about white balance. And, well, that really helped out the bath pictures I took of the kids. All along I would toy with manual mode, then get overwhelmed and switch it back to program. More and more I would play. Sometimes I would completely ruin pictures and it would totally and completely bum me out. This was mostly due to me not checking my settings and just taking pictures, then later realizing the settings were all wrong and I ruined all my pictures. Now days I am programed to look at the first couple pictures I take to make sure they are ok. In fact, I do that far more often than when I first pull my camera out…especially at times like when I took these pictures, when we were chasing the sun.

Honestly, years ago I couldn't have imagined taking pictures in low light without a flash would even work. Sure, part of it was the camera, our first dslr was like one of the originals…no joke. But also a lot of it was just not having the knowledge. I enjoy taking pictures now. I love my camera. It's like my third child. I don't mind carting it around. I love picking it up and playing with it and seeing how it will respond. Every day we get to know each other better and better and I love that.


Also, I would like to say, if you get overwhelmed with tutorials, know you are not alone. I did so much better reading about photography from other bloggers than I did about watching videos or reading tips from pros. It was always too much information and over my head. So, don't give up. Keep searching and trying and eventually you will master it.

You can also find me on:

bloglovin // instagram // pinterest