Calgon ...

I sat at the computer - deliberating on the title of this post. Not sure WHY that gets me stumped quite often.  Maybe I'm trying too hard to come up w/ something witty and explanatory of what you are about to read. And sometimes I just type whatever comes to my brain.  Which, I'm sure, I SHOULD be one of those people that counts to 10 before they BLURT out whatever comes to their mind.  Like Terrets Syndrome.  Maybe that WOULD be fun to have... you know, be able to say WHATEVER you want without anyone judging you?  Ohhhh the RELIEF you would feel. Anyway - I deliberated a bit too much - and then just went STRAIGHT for how I really feel. Explation to follow at a later time in this post that will probably ramble on WAY too long and you'll wish you would've watched Twilight again (did I make that an assignment from last?  Because I meant to.  Quiz tomorrow.)

I had 4 photography students with me today and I thought I'd use MY children as the models. Hmmmm maybe NOT so smart.  There IS a reason, you know, why photographers DO NOT have pictures of their OWN children.  I always laughed about it growing up - trying to find pictures of me growing up for my wedding video. None to be found. My dad was like "ummm... yaaaaaaaa I DO love you - however, I couldn't stand having my camera out again."  For me it's not so much THAT - it's more that baby maby is INSANELY crazy and getting an actual image of her is more like a nightmare for me. NIGHTMARE!  You KNOW I'm not the type of photographer to even want a pic of them all looking at me. I just don't want her to be SCREAMING in every picture.  Or worse yet, pinching or hitting them - or a random passerbyer just for the crap of it.

I could've made the title of this post:

SERIOUS CRAP SHOOT

SHE'S CRAZY

HER POOR SIBLINGS

TOLD YOU

... but I settled on CALGON - for CALGON  ... PLEASE TAKE ME AWAY!!! :)  Let me start with the images that are typical of her:

 

(running away from where I want her - right into my arms - quite difficult to manage a 2 year old and a camera)

 

Jumping out of the spot of where I want her - but LOVED the pic of my boy - so I know I'll print this one)

 

This one CRACKS me up - I LOOOOVE it. It's SOOO her and SO our life right now.  I may even replace our big fam pic with this one I LOVE it so much!

 

I love my boy's mouth - I love the red ring around his lips from not enough water and too much licking.  I love his crazy teeth growing in.  Love that fluffy head is SO oblivious to her surroundings. :)  Tra la la is in her head. :)

Miss fluffy lifting up her foot randomly. funny to me for some reason.  I'm her mom - I can feel that way. :)

 

Ohhh - OH  you BETTER RUN!  what the... is she MID AIR?  Right after this shot she JUMPED into my arms, SO afraid of the cars passing by.  Screamed SCARRRREEEEE for a LONG time. :)

***NOW*** after all the screaming trauma from up above, I still can appreciate our life and that capturing it doesn't mean perfection.  That's SOOO far from my life.  And every ...EVERY single time I go to print an image that is more "perfect" looking, I tend to not want it on my wall.   Funny me.  I know.  I am SO drawn to the images that make me BUST up as I pass them by because they told a story.  SO ... what you see below is what I will be printing HUGE for my new home.... some canvas galleries, I suppose.  This is my life - the kids doing random things - so oblivious to anything around them. No direction ... just them.  Perfect to me.

 

And ohhhh this one ... gets me.

   

They actually just randomly did this.  It's ok that Wesley's head is chopped off.  (my mother will freak out ... but not me). He's big - and towers over them - and takes care of them.

 

The last shot of the night - Wesley reading the ice cream work schedule. Wondering what time it was now - and if we could wait around for it to re-open.  Mostly this is special to me because we will be leaving this area and I will look back in 10 years and say "remember that cute little ice cream shop on main???" And this will prove that we were here. That we walked on main. That the little ice cream shop was there.

Without pictures... it's as if history never happened.

Comments

[Lilian]

Photography students went WITH you? HELLO!!! I want a turn!!!!!!!! I love that last picture of my cute little primary boy. I hope you take that one an print it and put it on the wall of your new home so you will always remember THIS place!

You have just inspired me as to where I need to take my nieces pictures for her 16th birthday ;-)

Go ahead... quiz me. I watched Twilight last night... and will be AGAIN on Saturday night!!! He he!

[Luanne]

Love the first picture! Love fluffy head's reaction.. such a big sister thing to do! Love all your pictures and love reading your blog!

[Brandy]

I AM IN TEARS HERE THAT YOU ARE LEAVING ME. And leaving Main Street. And everything else. Stupid scientists.....

I love how in half the pictures fluffy head has her hands over her ears. Poor thing. GREAT PHOTOS.

[kimbrali]

loooove all of these out takes. i think they are perfect.
and do i see mountains in the reflection of the window in the last or am i making that up?

[Kelli France]

I can SO relate on these. LOVE the hug one though...And she's wearing THE apron! I have yet to take one of my girl in that, darnit!

[Amberlee]

OK seriously Fluffys reaction in #1 is so classic! Totally her... love it! Does she have your wrinkle feet too? Ohhh Aunt Amberlee needs to come rub lotion on her feet and hands.

I personally am getting excited for you to move, not because you are leaving me (notice how everything is about me!) but because now the G's have a reason for roadtrips. Adie is so not driving, paying but not driving! haha Luff ya!

[Jennifer]

I'm totally with you on photographing your own children.... especially crabby two-year-olds!

Love the one with your son's head cut off.

[christine]

I loooooooooove the rainbow stockings!! Sounds like it was crazy trying to get some pics, but you managed to get some amazing ones. Love the hugging one and the icecream one too. :)

[kelli jane]

your oldest daughter looks just like you---you have such beautiful kids!!