Revisiting the Background to Snapshots

Have you heard of Dear Photograph? Today is the first time I have heard of this site, and I'm in love. I love simple snapshots so much more than intentional photography. I feel like there is more back story to snapshots. I love that this site creatively revisits photo locations and gives some commentary. Here is the story from NPR.

Enjoy!

Follow-Up on Communal Singing

There have been some blog comments and comments in person about communal singing. How fun would it be to have a city tour company that provided communal singing experiences? I would totally buy a ticket for that bus. I mean, look what communal singing did for all the down-and-out folks on the Almost Famous bus.

Maybe I should start looking for old school buses or church vans?

Music to Make You Sing

Every so often I come into contact with a band that has all the elements I love. The band to most recently hit me is The Lumineers. I cannot resist group singing. The Lumineers make me want to take a bus trip with folks who will sing along to every song. Don't you just love those moments when groups of people sing together? So communal.

What do you think?

Missing Vacation

This is the first summer in a while that I do not have a big trip to look forward to. Kind of a bummer. Actually, really a bummer. I have been thinking a lot about Colorado lately. I lived there as a kid. The last time we visited was two years ago for the wedding of one of my best friends, Morgan. Morgan just had her beautiful baby boy, Hayden, last month. What I would give to be able to go visit Morgan and her family this year!

As part of my reminiscing and daydreaming of Colorado, here are some flashback photos from two summers ago. It was such a great trip. Morgan had such a beautiful wedding.

What They're Known For

I have found that after having children I have had the same conversations countless times. When I am not having the same conversation verbatim, I am at least discussing the same topic. The most frequently recycled conversations happen with strangers, the conversations about what is physically striking about Grayson and Lucy. At least once a week a stranger will tell me that he or she loves Grayson's haircut. I always respond the same, "We have no choice but to give him that haircut." The other day someone asked me, "Is your son the one with the hair? (while gesturing a straight line across her forehead to signify bangs)" Grayson is known for his straight locks. He always receives comments on his pouty lips and expressive nature. More frequently I receive comments about how liberal Lu is with her smiles. Seriously, the girl shows no discretion for smiling. I have one child who is very discerning when it comes to deciding what to validate with a smile or laugh, and the other who validates so often that I wonder if she has any standards for comedy at all. Lu has also received several comments about her eyebrows. She has been told a number of times that she has a good natural shape to her eyebrows. I am certain she is storing those compliments in her heart.

What are your kids known for?

Excitement on the Horizon

Source

The past few weeks I've taken notice of how many things and people there are to be excited for. John and I don't have anything really exciting on the horizons, so I am getting extra enjoyment out of everything going on in my friends' lives. I am living through everyone else. I am so excited for all that is going on: graduations, new jobs, love, proposals, wedding, babies, adventures.

What gets you the most excited for your friends?

Learning in Process

Some days John and I have to verbally remind each other that our life will not always be as it is now. We will not always be held captive by early bedtimes, diaper changes, feedings, play dates, and toddler mood swings. It seems like at least a few times a week I hear from parents of school-aged children, "I don't envy you right now." John was told recently that we are living out the hardest years of our life right now. We were promised that we will never again be as tired and weary as we are during these early years with the kids. John and I have decided that we will hold the person who made this promise accountable.

Don't get me wrong, we love our children, and we love all the endearing moments, but we are also running tired. For a while I felt guilty that I was trying to find a light at the end of the tunnel. I felt guilty that I was not content in the moment, and I worried that I would miss the great, little moments with my kids as infants and toddlers. I had to give up reading blogs or looking at the Facebook because it can seem like every other mom but me absolutely thrives on the physical grind of child-rearing.

Last week I heard the voice of reason. A woman assured me that I was okay for not feeling energized and enthralled with my daily activities right now. I was encouraged to be told that as the dust settles and the children grown, each stage gets more enjoyable. I don't need to focus so much on making this survival time out to be the greatest years of my life. I have not talked to any honest parents who just rave about how great the early parenting years were for them. Most seem to shake their head and thank God they are not still living those years. Slowly I am taking the pressure off to be Super Mom, and I am not beating myself up when I think about some things I could or would be doing if I was not in the parenting cave. I'm learning that it is possible to love your children deeply, yet still need other things going on in life. It's okay that these may not be my glory days.