Just thought I would blog

I woke up this morning before my dear, sweet husband was up, before the kids, before well most.  After a very short and much interrupted night of sleeping, I poured my first cup of coffee, and went to wait at Austin's school fro registration to begin.  I just thought I should write about this, this moment that I can look back on in the future and either 

a. Thank God I had done all within my power to provide the absolute best education for my kids as Austin takes the stage as valedictorian of his graduating class

b. Tell him that just because I won't let him go to the bonfire this weekend with all the other kids, doesn't mean I don't love him, it means I do  love him and that I'll do things like wait in a dark parking lot before the sun rises to be sure he gets into a good pre-K.  

c. Be thankful in 15 years, when filling out the dozen or so college applications, that I had so, so much practice doing this when I was enrolling him for pre-k

or 

d.  all of the above

Did this all just really happen?  I mean you hear of parents looking into great schools before the children are even conceived, but really, seriously, why is it so consuming?  My take is this, from the moment that precious tiny heartbeat shows up on the sonogram monitor, you feel so overwhelmingly empowered to do great things with this little life you have been blessed with.  You want the best things; clothes, organic food, creative outlets, exposure to arts, sciences, language arts, books, love, oh so much love.  You strive to provide never a dull moment, a safe home, a warm bed, nourishing food, and a well balanced family life.  You become a creator of magic, a provider of wonder and curiosity.  He or she is your masterpiece, your greatest accomplishment.  Every moment of your existence is occupied by this little life. And then at the age of 2, 3 or 4, when you decide to place that tiny little heartbeat in an environment outside of your own control, you want to be sure it is able to uphold every effort you have made during this little person's life.   

Austin has been in school since he was 2.  This will end at some point, I hope.  My dear friend Mary once told me that the day she truly realized what worry was all about was the day she left the hospital with her first born.  Yes, I do agree and now realize that my friend.  

Making up for lost time

Austin's elf, Ned, arrived at our house the Monday after Thanksgiving. Ned was a very naughty elf this year, sneaky too. Always left presents in the advent tree and special snacks for Austin after school. This is a monster cookie Ned made for Austin while he was at school one afternoon. The rotten little Ned left my kitchen a disaster ;)

Chris has taken a job with the Connecticut Air National Guard, so we've been spending a little more time with the Martin clan. Austin loves! that it snows there pretty much every time we visit. He had a great time sledding with his cousins and cannot wait to hit the ski slopes again with them.

Taylor watching the snow drift down outside through the back door.

There's B looking so cool and like such a big boy these days. He had a blast sledding too, just didn't make the last shot I posted of the boys.

We took the kids to see Santa at our mall on a Saturday.... yeah not the smartest thing we've ever done, however we couldn't be more proud of how well they did standing in line waiting for oh... 45 minutes. Austin is the perfect little gentleman too. Thanked Santa for all the gifts he brings the kids and remembered his pleases and thank yous. He even thought to tell Santa what his baby sister wanted this year. I just know he can read her mind, my brother swears he could read mine when we were their ages.

Look at those two, unbelievable how they smile for the camera. You'd think their mom was a photographer or something.

I've been away from the blog so much lately, I look at pictures I still have yet to post of Taylor and cannot believe how much she's grown, how little she seems in pictures taken just at the beginning of December. Little muffin girl...

Well I have so, so many photos to post and so little time. So here are a few of my favorites from the very first week of December.

Hope you are all doing well, staying warm and allowing the cold to warm your hearts right now. More to come on what we're up to, maybe tonight, possibly tomorrow, no promises, just hopes :)

xo L

Slow down everyone we're moving too fast

Chris sent this to me from work this morning and it sent chills down my back.  As an artist, I do believe that far too often we, the human race, are moving at such a speed we cease to recognized the beauty in art, the way it forces you into the slow, it's mesmerizing qualities and the confirmation it brings that there is magic in this world.  

I wasn't one of these people, but had I been there, I would have more than likely slowed my speed a little and continued on, like most of the others.  I would feel great shame in myself if I were there.  Reading this article has forced me back into the slow.

Violinist in the Metro--- Wash, DC



A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play
the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces
for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was
calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of
them on their way to work. Three minutes went by and a middle aged
man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and
stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule. A
minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman
threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk. A
few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him,
but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he
was late for work

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother
tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the
violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to
walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by
several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced
them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and
stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk
their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and
silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there
any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best
musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces
ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a
theater in Boston and the seats average $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro
station was organized by theWashington Post as part of an social
experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The
outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour:
Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize
the talent in an unexpected context?


One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best
musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many
other things are we missing?

Merry, merry

I took the kids back to the same barn that I had photographed Austin at last year for our Christmas cards. The lighting was perfect, but it was freezing cold and my baby was only wearing this tiny little short sleeve dress. It was getting late in the month and I had been spending all sorts of time on other people's cards and photos. So I made the decision to take the cuties out to photograph them despite the freezing cold weather.

I set shot up and had Austin out of the car first. The outfit I had bought for him to coordinate with his sister's dress ended up being far too big. I rolled the sleeves and cuffed the pants and just prayed that he wouldn't wipe his snotty nose on the sweater (this I monitored carefully). He sat waiting for Taylor as I rushed her out of the car, plopped her next to him.... click, click, click, click and we were done. Seriously, it was no more than 45 seconds and I had not just one but four or five winning shots. Oh my kids, my kids how I love you so. Thank you for making your mama's job a little easier that day.

We hope you all had a very merry Christmas, happy holidays and a joyous New Year.

Taylor at 6 months

Little love turned 6 months November 11th! Here a re a few pictures I took of her in her baptismal gown and then just in a cutie outfit. She's an easy subject because she just smiles all the time.

I have a lot to say about the past 6-months. Things I want to say to her, things I want to say to Austin and things I want to say to Chris. All on our family and its evolution, its beauty, the simplicity of it all and the full, deep, all over and constant love and happiness we feel for one another.

There are many memories, many days and nights filled with laughter. So this may take some time, but it will come and it will be soon.

From the start

Okay so I am here and I have tons of photos and lots of memories to share with all of you. It's been far too long since I posted pictures of my little ones. I am sure you will all agree that even Taylor is not so little any more. She's gotten so big over the past few months. It's hard to believe our little baby is 8 months already.

These are photos taken on the day of her baptism November 2nd. It was a beautiful day filled with beautiful people in our lives. We appreciate everyone who was there to support our faith, our little girl and our family on Taylor's big day. Thank you to her Godparents Chris and Laura for their never-ending spirit and love. We couldn't be more proud at how well Taylor did. Even the priest mentioned how surprised he was that she was actually enjoying being center stage, cold water on her head and although a priest, a stranger to her blessing her. She's got such a wonderful soul and I thank God for her every day. We are so blessed to have Taylor Eve in our lives and can no longer even imagine what life was like without her. She's my pride and joy, her daddy's girl and Austin's best friend. What a sweet little smudgy face :)

Cathie, you rock at taking pictures. Thanks so much for the shots.

More to come soon!

It's time

I know, I know. It's time for at least a couple new pictures of the kids. We've been away from home since the day after Christmas. I can promise you all this, I do have a ton of pictures to share with all of you. Lots to say about Christmas day and the week that has followed. Everyone is doing great and once we return to our home sweet home I will be posting the cuties' pictures.

Hope everyone had a happy New Year celebration and wishing you all warmth, magic and wealth this coming year.

Love, Liz