Wonderland

I usually feel my photos back in the moment taken when titling them, and 'Wonderland' popped into my head when remembering the flight I took with my girls today.  Three hours in a plane on nada sleep after waking at 4 AM and trekking it for over an hour to the airport, with two young girls, technically could have been disastrous.  We were possibly too tired to even be unhappy so releasing ourselves to the fact helped us avoid meltdowns and be open to creative entertainment.  Watching the formation of ice crystals on the window worked for us, and I took plenty of photos of the fractal delicacies on their own against the blue.  When my four year old held her hand against them it was a 'wow' for both of us.  She didn't tire of her investigation quickly allowing us to spend some time in that state of curiosity.  The photo reminds me of the 'wonderland' in the skies and of our minds, too. 

The title alone could work, yet I thought there might be a good quote to keep to it company.  It was a fun to find this one by author Vera Nazarian via a google search of 'wonderland'.  :)  Little connections and coincidences of imagination.

“Frost grows on the window glass, forming whorl patterns of lovely translucent geometry.

Breathe on the glass, and you give frost more ammunition.

Now it can build castles and cities and whole ice continents with your breath’s vapor.

In a few blinks you can almost see the winter fairies moving in . . .

But first, you hear the crackle of their wings.” ― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

Two girls and a cloud

Another great night of gorgeous weather got the whole family out.   We went to the levee path with our favorite gear - my  husband with his bike and Sparkle, my older daughter with her roller blades, and my youngest with her bike.  Me, of course, carried my camera and of course found myself walking down the incline of the levee towards the grasses and Mississippi to see different perspectives of the sunset.  My girls were calling for me, but before heading back up towards them I took this shot.  I first asked for a pose which didn't work out right.  They must have seen my husband in the distance and both turned at this moment.  The spontaneity worked out great, and that little cloud in the distance was a great plus, too.

Take my hand - for my girl

5.28.12
This one is for my nine year old.  She had enjoyed this 'Mommy-Daughter' time so much as we walked on LSU campus, just the two of us. "Let's do this again, Mommy!"

I pulled it up because she's been showing signs of wanting more attention from me, and I think these signs have been happening for months and I just didn't see them.  Now that we're in summer vacation, I haven't found a job yet, and we're home all day together - me with the two girls and Sparkle - it's time to change my routine and habits.  Computer time and editing photos will just have to wait until late night or very early morning.  It's important for our relationship, for her as an individual, and it's needed for me to listen to my heart and battle my tendencies to want to do my own thing.

I love her so very much, and our time together only comes around once. Embrace it.  Embrace her.  BE with the both of them, my beautiful girls.  xo

Everyone wants Momma

I woke up early to get to the field, and as I was just about to walk out of the door, my little one woke looking for me.  Still in a daze, she said that she wanted to come with me.  At first I hesitated because this had, in fact, become my sacred time out there in the morning.  I released and went with it, got her dressed quickly, then heard my dog start trotting out to the kitchen.  I supposed that she wanted to come, too, so I got her geared up when my older daughter woke, too.  She agreed to go, changed, and then we all head out together.

So the scene was quite different going down the street.  I was not jogging while holding my camera, but pushing a stroller with one hand and holding Sparkle with the other.  I wore my photo waist pack, and we walked at a good pace looking up at the crescent moon as we went along.  I didn't see any hanging mist and was a bit disappointed, but things were already different so it all fit in.

Once at the field and reaching the entry point, things turned magic again.  The girls' eyes were wow'd by the early morning sky as we walked across towards the back area.  I wanted them to see the sun breaking through the clouds, so we had to keep moving to get a good vantage point.  The hay bundles greeted us, and welcomed the girls to take a spot on top.  They tried out a few, needing a good push to get on top.  It was all fun trying to find the right one while racing the sun.

It's so interesting doing this whole photography thing with company because you want to soak up the experience while capturing it at the same time.  I could've just put down the camera, but I kept it alongside staying open to seeing the right moment.

We enjoyed a few right moments together, one of my favorites was when my younger daughter put her arm up when the colors started changing as the sun began to break through.  Another was my older daughters need to always run in the sun from hay bundle to hay bundle. 

When they were ready to head back, which was much more sooner than my usual stays, I was so pleased that they had been there with me.  We were together as they added something to my ritual, like the mist adds to the space in the field.  You've just got to cherish these extra little surprises when they're thrown into your life.  They don't always have to be there, but when they are, be open to their presence.


(I like the first image the best for its quality, but like the others because of the story they continue.  The last one is what I shared in G+ for silhouettes, and now that I'm looking at it more, I feel like I'm making myself like that one because of G's arm around E.  I do have the toughest time being decisive about which photo to share.  Go with your instinct.)

Nose to nose, heart to heart

12.19.12:

My daughters nearly 5 years ago to the day.  I remember being so touched during their first week of togetherness.  This moment will always mark my heart with goodness and love.