I'm sitting at my desktop on a grey Friday afternoon after sluggishly napping next to Quinn as he watched a movie. It took Lucy getting home from school, trying not to cry because her bus friend accidentally scratched her face, to rouse me from the nap stupor and spur me back to MomLife. Poor kiddo--- her friend really didn't mean to, but she dealt Lucy a pretty rough scratch, right under her eye and across her cheek. So I made her stand still for some Neosporin, convinced her that bandaids wouldn't do much good and would only annoy her every time she blinked, and then plyed her with her daily screentime as a way to forget her troubles... so now she and Quinn are happily playing Terraria on the couch and I am on the computer, trying to blog. After so much time away from writing blog posts, I am rusty and sheepish; eager, yet hesitant. I have some SleepMusic  (a really chill mix of indie rock/folk music on YouTube) playing in the background while stray ants march across my desk, from left to right, every couple of minutes, despite the peppermint essential oil and vinegar I keep wiping the desk down with. I should probably find the source of their entry and give them a Terro trap. 

So this is me right now- this is real life. This is Friday, before the baby wakes from her nap, before Noah comes home from his Friday CCL program. Before Joe walks in the door. 

It's quiet. And my previous lethargy makes me feel a little melancholy now. The grey skies and the constant list of things still undone... it all contributes. But it's also peaceful. And I feel calm. Unlonely. Capable. I am fine. 

Yesterday, I tried to grab a couple of "big camera" photos of Larkin while she sat in the corner chair, because she is always SO CUTE. She mostly wasn't having it, but I grabbed a couple. And then my camera was out and I decided I'd shoot some photos around the house, so I could come here to share some of my daily SURFACES. Random, I know... but just.... it seemed like a good a thing as any to document the dailiness of the places we stash stuff here. The orderly places and the places that are NEVER under control. I know it will be fascinating, if only to me, several years from now, to look at the tiny details here.... what we decorated with, what the kids were into, what piles never go away.... Details of a life being lived. 

** A testament to the Universe being in alignment-- after shooting these photos and planning a blog post, I was scrolling through one of my recent hashtags on Instagram and found an old "mom confessionals" with a fisheye photo of this very same spot you're about to see, with the caption beginning "Real life:", then going into minute detail about the clutter, and ending with the profound conclusion (which I clearly need to remember more often so I don't feel as bad): "This is real life, and while I dream of clean, I'm trying to remember to be glad we have so much active LIFE happening here and so many anthropological artifacts that testify to a pretty sweet little life together." **

1. My peninsula yesterday, with notes added. It's.... It's just always a morphing version of this. Sometimes I get it 90% cleared, but that only lasts for a day or two, and then more life comes along to refill it in a slightly different configuration. It is what it is. But not all my home surfaces have this problem. I do have a few that I can keep relatively orderly:

2. Perpendicular to the peninsula is this charging station/storage counter. Never mind the spare pancake just hanging out there and a few other things that need to be put away, I am generally able to keep this spot pretty tidy. now, I am the *only* one keeping it tidy, so I am often battling the four other people in this house who like to set things here... but it's small and I am generally victorious.

3. And this area across from the peninsula, right by the laundry room and back door--- It bears the hefty burden of our 100+ Chatbooks, leaving little room for much else, so this spot is pretty cute, most of the time. What I love right now: My Rifle Paper Co. "Happy" print from my BFF Genny-- the colors are pure joy!! And the stack of Rifle Paper Co. Chatbooks in front, a special series they offered that I jumped on because, can you tell?, I love Rifle Paper Co. (I am not getting paid to type their name thrice.) And I love the Borax crystal "geodes" the kids and I made over Spring Break last week, sitting atop the stack of books. Want a closer look?

 

4. How cool is that?? We used the Dollarstorecrafts.com tutorial on Borax crystal geodes, and it worked fabulously. We are already wanting to try it again!  

5. But then there is this spot-- the buffet sideboard in the dining room. YOU GUYS. No matter what I do (see the storage cubbies? See the shelf to the left side? Not shown: more storage baskets below), this is the catchall for the kids' MISCELLANY. Toys they've been playing with that are too tiny or intricate (read: LEGOS) to go in the other room's toy bin. Art supplies that didn't make it back to their homes. Party favors and Happy Meal toys. A stack of books. A stack of drawings. Card games. A random photo album. Just.... STUFF. Stuff that doesn't have a dedicated home, but is too "fresh" to just be tossed.... Stuff I cannot keep on top of, but that NO ONE ELSE here is even trying to help with. It's impossible. Four kids and one husband against me.... All of us sentimental and creative-- two things that add to the build-up of "stuff".... It's an impossible task, this sideboard area. I need to see it with grateful eyes like I mentioned above.... Grateful for all the LIFE happening here, and family togetherness that happens in this room that gets moved over here for more family togetherness in the form of meals together. It's okay. I guess. But man....

6. Let's cleanse our palates with the mantel over the fireplace, then, shall we? A favorite canvas print and Joe's Orpheus robot from Christmas. AND NOTHING ELSE. (well, also a tiny, mostly-hiding woodland cottage behind the robot. Trust me, it's cute.)  Ahhhh......

 

7. Back on the other side of the living room, right as you are about to reenter the kitchen (see the blurry clutter peninsula in the background?) is a set of shelves whose tops are usually more in control than this... but this is real life, so this week it has been a catchall of leftover toys and items I just need to put away. And the DVDs below, not really shown, are in constant disarray thanks to the 18-month old in the house who likes to take them off of the shelf and not put them back nicely. It is what it is. 

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It comes down to -- my world here is a constant study in contrasts. Opposition in all things. Right? For every clean area, there is a clutter spot. For every upbeat morning, there is a melancholy afternoon. For every talent, there is a weakness. For every moment I wish I could get a break from the constant-ness of motherhood, there is a moment of pure joy as I watch/listen to/interact with these kids and feel utter devotion. It is hard, and it is never ending, and it is so so beautiful. Even when it's messy. 

Writing about it... taking photos.... These things remind me to stop and really SEE, and it re-centers my gratitude. I should write more. 

And I should show you guys more of the photos I am always, always taking. Like these last three photos-- the ones I mentioned before, when Larkin was being cute in the corner chair, but not willing to be still for me to get that "perfect portrait". So photo #1: the only time she sat still, because her baby food pouch kept her busy. Photo #2: She is laughing because I'd tried for a good chunk of time to get her to sit still, and as soon as I'd move my hands away from placing her, she'd move away, and I'd laugh, and then she'd laugh, and it was totally a game to her, so then I just held her in place for this quick snap-- you can see my hand. And photo #3: when she finally tired of my attempts and still didn't want to pose. So then I knew it was time to put the camera away and just enjoy her.

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So that's all for today. A check-in after two months away from my blog. It feels good to stretch my fingers and type a little again. I need to try to do it more. For my own soul. For the exercise in seeing it all more clearly, and therefore with more gratitude. 

Until next time---

Me

Five (Years Ago) For Friday: Missouri State Fair Family Photos

Five for Friday is a fun one today--- I'm taking you back FIVE YEARS to a family photo session I planned and dreamed about for ages, one that was so utterly perfect in so many ways that it's kind of ridiculous that all anyone ever saw from this was our Christmas card that year. Does anyone else do that??? Scramble like mad to get marvelous photos, use them on their Christmas card, then forget/fail to ever do more with them? No prints, no albums, no sharing online... Just a disc of beautiful photos doing no one any good? 

As your photographer, I implore you to STOP IT! Use that disc of images like mad. Share them everywhere. Print them huge! Commission me to make you a coffee table book! Something!! 

But as the flip-side person-- the client-- well... you can see that I'm as bad as anyone at taking my own advice. I mean, FIVE YEARS? We didn't even have Lucy or Quinn at this time. And there are so many sweet/cute/great photos here. Why are they not on my wall SOMEWHERE? (Actually, that's a long and irritating story re: weird jpg file not getting recognized by a canvas printing website and mama giving up after many many many many attempts, but I won't bore you with that tale.) 

I will say, in my defense, that even though we planned this session for weeks, and even drove 3 hours from home to get to the Missouri State Fair to make them happen, God had a sneaky plan in place that summer, and I ended up freshly pregnant with Lucy a couple of weeks before this shoot. So not only was I fluffing out a bit and desperately donning Spanx already, but then the weeks following our session, when I got my files from our lovely photographer, Kari Wright, I was just too first-trimester-ish to ever do more with them than make that Christmas card. 

But that doesn't excuse the four years afterward. Except maybe I was like, "Oh, those carnival photos that I love so much are obsolete now that Lucy is here. Darn it." Which is a normal thought, but in hindsight I am beginning to see the value in honoring ALL the family photos from EVERY stage of our family's life. From pre-kids to old kids with kids of their own, every family photo is part of the whole story. 

So anyway. Today was finally the day I remembered how little I had done with these carnival photos I loved so very much when we did them. And it's been the day I've been slowly getting them prepped and put into a Blurb coffee table book (finished and in queue to print! Yahoo!) and ready to blog. And here, five years later, I am so enchanted by them all over again. I don't notice that bloaty mama I thought I was here. I don't feel like anyone or anything is missing in these frames. It was us, right then, on a hot August day in Sedalia, Missouri, wrangling a mostly-unwilling 2.5 year old Noah, trying to stay photogenic even as we sweat under our fancy duds.  It was an adventure we'd planned for, Joe had tolerated me preparing for, and one that turned out so so well, in spite of the heat, the crowds, the naughty toddler, and the poor photographer who'd just barely met us (only a few phone calls to set it all up) and tried like mad to get the photos I dreamed of WHILE keeping Noah looking her way. (Bless you, Kari. You were magic. Your daughter was an AMAZING assistant. You made my carnival photo dreams come true, and I will never forget your willingness to take my call and let me be that crazy lady proposing crazy ideas to you, begging you to be our photographer.)

So enough meandering journaling. You wanna see my carnival family photo session, shot at the Missouri State Fair in August of 2010, by Kari Wright of Kari Wright Photography? Go ahead. Enjoy. I bet you a thousand dollars you won't love these half as much as I have been loving them all day today, as I finally give them a place of honor in my life story. 

"Get me OUT OF HERE, mom. Stop. Stop squeezing me."

Five For Friday: Arrrr, Matey!

This set of five photos is brought to you by:

1. Lucy deciding she wanted to watch a pirate Mickey Mouse Clubhouse while wearing her pirate Mickey ears.

2. Lucy then deciding "we could make a boat! With seats! for a pirate!" 

3. And me looking at the clock and seeing we still had a hour before naps, and deciding this could be easy and fun, AND CUTE. 

4. And hey, I could take some photos and I'd have my "Five For Friday" in the bag!

5. And then Quinn getting on board (pun) with the idea.

6. And also, coincidentally, tomorrow is National Talk Like a Pirate Day. I swear Lucy must've been tapping into the Collective Unconscious on that one. 

So ARRRR, Matey! Shiver me timbers and yo ho ho-- Happy weekend!

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(Bonus: HERE are some pirate terms and phrases for you to try out tomorrow.... In case you needed some help. )

Five For Friday: Farewell to Swimming Pools

 Five For Friday: 

We were invited by our friends Julia and Paul to a pool party a few weeks ago, and I was able to grab some colorful and splashy photos while I was there. Since this is Labor Day weekend, officially the "end of summer" in my book, I thought these photos would help it go out with a bang. Happy long weekend to all of you! 

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Five For Friday: Goodbye, Summer

For this week's Five for Friday--

Some last images of our summer.... Because even though we technically have a few more days of August, the start of school effectively nipped the summer vibe in the rear. I am really glad for the new routines and the fresh schedules.... But I also already miss the looseness and freedom and togetherness we had all summer. Anyone else? 

We didn't do any major trips or things this summer, but I think we still managed to rock it. Between trips to Six Flags, Johnson's Shut Ins, swimming lessons, City Garden, Ballwin pool, time in Columbia, Mo, Grant's Farm, the zoo, the Science Center, using our own back yard for camping, fire pit fires, wading pool time, slip n slide, sponge bomb wars.... Metrolink adventuring, playgrounds, food trucks, the Meadow, the Magic House, Ballwin Days, lots and lots of Lego time, Monkey Joe's, the movies.... So many good memories this summer. So marvelous-- this particular season with my kids at these particular ages. 

I'm excited for fall--- it is my absolute favorite time of year, and I almost ache with the anticipation of it all.... But these five photos give me a hefty dose of natsukashii, and it is joyful and sad and fleetingly lovely to look at them tonight... And I say a prayer of gratitude for all of it. 

Night night... 

Five For Friday: Back To School

Back to school for my two older kiddos. Noah is off to second grade, and Lucy starts her second year in preschool, but in a new school. Five For Friday this week are photos from the morning of their first day, yesterday. 

1. Sleepy Noah, saying goodbye to Old Mai.

2. Dappled morning light, waiting for the bus.

3., 4., 5. One hour later, these two are ready to get in the car for Lucy's preschool drop-off. Quinn insists on his backpack, and I'm not quite sure he knows he's not going to get to go, too. 

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Both had great first days, both came home tired. Quinn and I had a lovely morning just the two of us, sorting toys and playing. All in all, a good first day.  I think it's going to be a good year!

Five For Tonight.... Dailiness

 

Noah- Pokemon-obsessed. 

Lucy- digging dolphins and a little group of Beanie Babies she's amassed over the summer. 

Quinn- Train fanatic. Always. But also diggers, which he calls "bobobozers". 

Happy weekend, friends! 

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