Holding On

Do you ever find yourself in a moment and think, "gosh, I hope I never forget THIS." This sunset, this feeling, this giggle that makes your heart burst open, this terrific hike, this perfect day, this feeling of absolute contentment, this most amazing hot fudge brownie sundae, this beautiful little squishy baby smiling at me like I'm the most amazing woman ever, this funny thing my son just said...fill "this" in with whatever your moment is. Now there is no way to capture the perfect flavor, or the satisfaction and full body ache after a backpacking trip, but I've been grabbing the camera a lot lately because sometimes, just sometimes you can capture an image of something so perfect, so pure, so intimate that it takes you back and you can remember that moment and how time stood still.

I love this picture of Izzy and Brett. I hope she still looks at him that way when she's 17 and most likely not talking to me. She's Daddy's girl. They have a good thing goin' those two. It makes me smile.

Yesterday my amazing Mom-in-law hosted a family gathering so that all of her siblings could be together with their Mother and each other. Grandma isn't able to remember us being there and may or may not recall who each of us are, but how special it was to see my husband sharing his son with Grandma K, having a quiet moment together.

Okay, these next few aren't terrific, but I'm holding on to lil' Max, kinda gasping and clinging tightly because I don't want him to grow up and it's happening so fast! I've taken a lot of really terrible shots of him and these are just a few, but gosh, look at this face! The kid has eyes only for me and I LOVE it. I'll have him on my lap and be talking to someone across the room then glance down and this set of blue eyes is locked on me and he's grinning from ear to ear. I don't want to forget this perfect face...

Or this one. This is his, "what the hell face," or possibly the, "my brother/sister is coming at me fast and loud and I can't do anything to protect myself face," or just his, "can someone get that kid some ritalin please face." Maybe it's his "who farted?" face, I can't say.

Yep, I'm also photographing some of the not so pleasant stuff. Here's Anna in a time out. She had a ridiculously fierce stink eye on me but when I got the camera she backed off. She's just that way. Had to turn it around and make it all sad and pitiful looking instead. She's tough as nails and as much as it kills me, I love what a fighter she is. I wanted to capture her fierceness (pretty sure I"ll have other opportunities, probably 12 times tomorrow) because I want to remind her when she's older of the fire she had in her even when she was small. I want her to know that she can throw her shoulders back, that when its a matter worth fighting for that she can look her opponent in the eye and stand up for herself, for what's right, that she was a tough strong little woman and always has been.