In case you missed the last in the series of The Simple Things, click here.
So many times as a photographer, I get caught up in striving for perfection. I want the perfect light, the perfect expression, the perfect picture. Sometimes I achieve this perfection, but it’s at the sake of capturing the every day, those simple moments that make each day special. To help me remember these important snapshots of real life, I’ve joined a group of fellow photographers in a little blog series called “The Simple Things.” Each month we will shoot one of those simple moments in our lives that we have been neglecting with our cameras. At the bottom of this post you will find a link to the next photographer’s blog. Click through all of them until you complete the circle!
I love the holidays! I really do! And this year, the Christmas season started early with the early arrival of Thanksgiving! How exciting! We’ve been talking about Christmas and presents and, of course, Santa! And it is so fun to have little ones who are all wrapped up in the magic of Christmas! I can’t believe that my oldest is 6 already, and I fear that I’ll wake up tomorrow and the toddler years will be all but gone in our house and there won’t be footed pajamas padding down the steps at Christmas time. But I shouldn’t get ahead of myself so, until that happens, we are going to love and enjoy all things Christmas in our house!!
We had to wait for a weekend this year to write our letters to Santa because Audrey started kindergarten this year! Since Audrey was a newbie, we have been visiting Macy’s to pick up the special Santa postcards they offer, which we fill out and then mail in the big, red, Believe mailbox at Macy’s. If you put a stamp on your letter, Macy’s will donate $1 to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. I love that something so simple can really make a difference in another person’s life. It’s such a simple gesture, why not take advantage of it?
We started with a lighting check. This comes with the ‘my mom’s a photographer’ territory and my kids are used to it. Plus, we just moved into our new house and I’m still adjusting to new lighting!
The typical face I get from my Drew.
And a genuine smile from him. I guess he knows Santa is watching:
And the girl who needs no direction.
And my messy baby. All fuzzy and out of focus because she moves too much and I still love it.
I started by helping my two littles with their letters. I did a bit of prompting to ensure that I didn’t have to go scouring eBay for some awesome and new, but rare and random, toy like I did last year (I had a very specific request for a Star Wars robot that moved) only to discover that my kids will only play with their toys for a few days.
Drew is getting so close to writing his name. He can do the whole thing except he forgets the ‘leg’ in the ‘R’. At the beginning of this school year, he couldn’t even identify a ‘D’! Amazing how they learn.
And then I helped Audrey with her letter. She is so close to reading and writing and it’s neat that I can spell quickly for her and she can keep up! Her letters are getting so good!
Gotta have a mouthful of something after school.
…and then we mailed them.
And the mom in me always wants to document the moment. I have the greatest (and most tolerant!) kids!
Wishing you all a magical season!
Be sure to continue through our blog circle. Next up is Leslie Crane of Leslie Crane Photography. Enjoy and thanks for visiting!
