i’ve had some personal photos i have wanted to share this month, but haven’t done it for some reason. but now i am.
first up are some shots i got of anna one morning before it was time to get ready for school. this look is entirely her own, i had no part in it. she is still obsessed over her skates, and i laugh because she reminds me of one of those roller skating waitress pin up girls from the 1950’s, what with her ample and scrumptious little girl roundness and the way she rolls and turns doing chores or helping me in the kitchen.
one of her favorite things to ask me to do is walk quickly holding her hand through our main rooms downstairs, and then turn, spinning her and letting her go at the same time. she spins and flies into the other room, giggling madly, her eyes wild with happiness.
a couple more from that morning. expressions that are so completely natural, so completely her.
and there was the afternoon that i watched the falconbridge girls. yindi entertained me with the way she ate cheerio’s. the girls were up to their usual antics of running around in the backyard in their birthday suits. this time with more mud! and chalk rubbings of bottoms and hands and bellies!
then there was easter. we had a really nice, quiet morning at home. rachel and i had decorated the kitchen table the night before, filling the baskets, and hiding eggs all over the downstairs and backyard. i was jarred out of sleep in the morning by anna, who came rushing up to my side of the bed, whispering loudly, “MOM! ITS A MIRACLE! the easter bunny hid eggs! AND HE LEFT ONE IN MY ROOM!”
the easter bunny smiled and kissed her excited little girl. she thought about staying in bed but couldnt resist the excitement. plus she wanted to see who was the one to find the egg inside of the BBQ. (it was nathan).
after the hunt, and a big homemade breakfast, we all got ready for the beach to meet up with my family for an afternoon beach picnic.
unfortunately, the weather uncooperated with our plans, and after a few hours of biting cold wind, we decided to head back to our neighborhood pool. the weather we experienced at home was completely different from what was happening at the beach.
and then, just a couple of days ago: these.
these.
when i looked through the camera and saw him standing there, looking at me, i was startled at what i saw happening on his face. its something i see nearly every time i photograph a young teenage boy. a look of polite reluctance, measuring me up, not quite daring to open up all of the way. there is an age when children lose the total abandon into which they look into a camera lens. when their self consciousness comes to the surface. for drew, it has happened. i snapped twice before it registered, and then i put my camera down and laughed and ruffled his hair, nudged his shoulder, told him to cut it out, and smothered his head with kisses.
thanks for the snippets of your gorgeous 4–they are always my faves of ALL your photos! the ones of Drew are just AMAZING. he is one gorgeous boy!!!!! thanks for sharing them all i LOVE THEM!!tara pp
I like your pictures.
Oh you are sooo ahead of me… I just edited personal Easter photos from LAST year… my poor kids. These are so lovely. Thanks so much for sharing a bit of your own life with us!
oh Tara…those last two images of Drew and the very first one are just delish ;)
Love the photos Tara! As usual, they are beautiful!
the b/w photos of your son are stunning – can’t express it in words, but somehow it just reached out and grabbed me – what beautiful photos of a beautiful soul
PS: i’d love to see a picture of you at Anna’s current age – can’t help believe you looked like this at her age – she’s the spitin’ image of you
stacie, ill try to get one scanned or photographed for the blog! good idea. :)
I LOVE that your kids are allowed to roller skate on your hardwood floors. I was a huge skater but my mom never let me do it in the house – you’re the coolest mom ever.
Having one of those same boys (mine is almost 13) I can totally understand. It hit me last year after I took a couple of pictures of my oldest at his last football game.
I will be honest, it brought tears to my eyes.
And no matter how gawky they seem, we love them all the more!
i know ive said it before… but… your kids = beautiful, tara.
your photos are always so beautiful & inspiring….thank you for always sharing. My camera sits on my countertop at all times, but I still forget to grab it sometimes–and you always remind me.
I look forward to checking your blog every day. It is like a cube of sugar in your coffee. Do they steal sell cubes of sugar? They should.
mmmm…..I feel like I am there.
Thank you for letting us into your life. It was nice hanging out with you and your kids.
so cute… how ever do you pick your faves to blog, print, or archive? They are all so precious, you must have thousands:0)
oh darling woman,
i so heart you and your family!
these are so great! i love to see how other families celebrate holidays..each with their own traditions. seriously love the skates and those images of drew are TOO MUCH!!! watch out girlie my gosh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You take such beautiful photographs! Are there any more of your kitchen? Is that chalkboard paint I spy, if so – what a fabulous idea!
OMG~!!!!! U ROCK! hi to the kids!
Anna and her roller skates! The kid almost gave me a heart attack wizzing around your house like a bat outta hell! I love the Cheerio picture too. Something that happens everyday at our house that I would never think to capture. Great pictures!
Love the pics! Would like to know about your kitchen cabinet doors. Love the messages written on them. Thanks!!
LOVED this post. Your blog always makes me feel like a part of your family. I think that is why everyone loves your blog so much – that, and your pretty pictures. :)
i just love your personal posts so much. :) it just gives me inspiration to catch the lil moments of my own babies!
WOW!
Tara, you have four beautiful kids. They are so full of glow. And that shot with the wee finger and the cheerio. Well, that’s just awesome.
i LOVE your personal posts, tara! just as you have inspired me professionally to get off my duff and follow my dreams, you have also inspired me personally to capture the everyday moments of our lives. these kinds of photos are what kept me coming back to your blog over and over in the beginning. seeing drew so grown up – and remembering photos of him when he wasn’t! – gives me a glimpse of what I am headed for as my own little guy grows up. thanks so much for sharing your life!
I love your kids…..seriously :) It’s amazing you feel like you “know” someone just by what has been written and what has been snapped. Photos are an amazing thing.
omg- how awesome are all of these & i heart your kitchen- i luv the black board paint i got get me some of that
i love those last shots of your boy! oh those teenage years, i loved every minute of them but i’m glad i don’t have to re-live them. ;)
He is beautiful! And so is the rest of your family!
How cool is your big girl all chilled out on the lounger taking it all in, what a teenager! and that top right one of Annas face… and Yindis hand and 2 muddy girls, and BEAUTIFUL BOYS!!!
beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
oh my good heavens. is he SO beautiful? you aught to be incredibly grateful that i’m not a 13 year old girl. (those FRECKLES!)
beauty is as beauty does! they are beauty-full! all of them. mckenna’s knight-rider glasses made my night! and oh. my. the last two . . .
re: the kitchen cabinets. they are almost flat black paint, with chalkboard paint in the inserts of all the doors.
we keep a jar of chalk on the counter and invite anyone who visits to leave us a note.
before this, they were builders grade oak cabinets.
I love this update on your kids. I feel like it’s been so long since I have seen them. I loved what you wrote about Drew being a teen. It starts! love you
when you type (as i read) i hear your voice inside my head. i loved every one of these photos. i love looking/reading/hearing about you, your family…..so wonderful.
I want chalkboard cabinets!
Tara your children are beautiful. I’m a long time stalker and I just had to comment. Gorgeous!
TARA!!!!!!!!!! Pictures of Drew… I have no words.
Tara, your kids are beautiful!
Gorgeous-even the realisation that your boy is becoming a man. I so TOTALLY get what you mean about that change. I’ve seen it in my own kids. Thanks for letting us into your life.
love the mismatch socks. i find myself taking so many pics of my kids unique outfits because i so want to remember their stages and favorites.
i heart all of these pics of the kiddos! the one’s of drew melted my heart. My son Cade is soo in that stage right now. Made me realize how bad I need to take some new snapshots of him. it is totally bitter-sweet…but mostly bitter I have to admit! This life is happening so fast. xoxo
You must be the luckiest woman ever! Of course, I’m pretty lucky too……Your kids are just breathtaking.
Hey! I just love your style and your pictures! I live in Germany and I just can’t find a photographer whose pictures are even half as awesome as yours… Do you – by any chance – can recommend a photographer from Germany? Unfortunately it’s just too complicated to fly to the U.S. to get my pictures taken. Greetings from Germany – Philippa
Wow Tara..those last two of Drew took my breath away. Get ready for the girls to start calling — if they haven’t already. He’s a little heartbreaker
PS – Freckles — at any age — on boys are adorable.
great photos as per usual. Love the last ones of our son – I love his freckles… he’s ‘beautiful’.
**love**
Ahh, that last picture makes me nostalgic for a time that has yet to come with my own son (who turns 10 this year).