everyday things....big girls!

cookies for corrie....

The girls idol and babysitter who lived across the street moved all the way to Rochester last weekend. It was very sad and hard to explain to the girls. They LOVE Sam. They want to be like Sam. Everyday they would wait for Sam. She came by and said goodbye, played dress up and watched part of a movie with them. We explained to them that we would see her again but that she moved, like we did, far away and her house is now someone else's, much like ours.

Two doors down is Corrie. She's in her late 60's, lives with her Husband and is SO cool. Everyone loves Corrie. She's like Martha Stewart, up at the crack of dawn and ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS working around her yard (which is nothing short of a wonderland), biking, walking, washing her car, up a latter trimming her enormous trees....you get the picture. She had a garage sale last week and the girls and Royce stopped by. She gave the girls some cool handmade dolls and Rasa has been talking about her ever since.

This morning Rasa woke up early and saw Corrie working in her yard from the window. She jumped up, put her clothes on and told me she was going to talk to Corrie. Rasa has a thing for older people. She doesn't like kids but she loves anyone who looks like a Gramma :) Adia was still sleeping so I stood on the front steps, told her to go and watched for 45 minutes while Rasa swept up almost enough courage to walk up to Corrie's door. Two steps forward, turn around, one step back. I finally hollered to Corrie that Rasa wanted to say good morning. Corrie said, "Well hello there! Good Morning!" Rasa came running home without so much as a word to Corrie. An hour later she wanted to try again. The same thing transpired, back in the house we went. Adia woke up and Rasa coaxed her to go with her. Hand in hand the two of them walked up and greeted Corrie. She brought them to her sunflower garden and showed them the flowers. My little girls came running home with handfuls of marigolds Corrie had let them pick.

The rest of the afternoon all they wanted to do was watch Corrie, visit Corrie, "what is Corrie doing in der?" "Where's Corrie?!".

Rasa asked if we could bake cookies for Corrie and bring them over to which I said yes. When we went to Target this afternoon she rememerbed and said we have to get stuff to make cookies for Corrie.

After dinner I baked cookies. Rasa watched them cook in the oven and the second I pulled them out told me to hurry up because she had to bring them to Corrie. This time I had Royce walk them over. I heard Corrie shout from across the street, "Oh my goodness!" when Rasa handed her the plate. They are still there visiting. Corrie assured me the girls could come over ANYTIME. I wonder if she has any idea what that means? Hahaha

Part of me wants to protect them and keep them from getting attached to Corrie because they are listing their house soon too so they can downsize. That's about me though. Keeping them from making a friend and having a friend, even for a short time, is wrong and the joy they seem to get out of each other is priceless no matter how long is lasts. Plus, sometimes you just never know.

cabin trip 2012

So we waited the entire summer to get up to my parents cabin with the girls and FINALLY we made it! We had planned much earlier in the summer but I kept booking weekend sessions forgetting to block of vacation time!

We had a wonderful, wonderful trip for four days. The girls were SO excited to go that they didn't even want to stop and get out of the car on the six and a half hour drive up there! Every time we would stop they would get mad! DRASTIC change from years previous when they would cry in the car the entire trip!

This year was also different because the girls (especially Rasa) were so excited to be there they were taking everything in with pure joy and excitement and at age three and a half it was the first time up there we were able to relax and let them play and explore without worry of them getting into instant trouble!

Jess and Weston came up and spent the day and the kids played and had fun while we visited and enjoyed the sun, the boat and the beach. It was an amazing day!

The weather couldn't have been more perfect. It was around 80 and sunny the entire time.

Hightlights:
The beach
jumping off the dock
boat rides
rhino rides
hikes with flower picking
apple martini's ;)
watching lucy swim and lifeguard everyone else who jumped in the lake!
sleeping in
going to bed early
grandparents time
quiet time
no phone! no internet!
the amazing view from the cabin
lots of sun
fires
lots of swimming!
chappy rides
royce kayaking (even if it did end with lucy trying to save him, causing him to tip over in the lake!)
royce fishing off the dock at dark while the girls watched with Nana

Thanks Mom and Dad for cooking, for washing all of the dishes, for stuffing my babies with scrambled eggs at 9 pm, for grandpa's licorice treats and lemon cookies, for enduring two plus hours of The Incredibles movie, for the caterpillar lessons, for allowing the screen door to be slammed, for giving my kids a place to fall in love with the woods and with nature in an even better way than I did as a kid.
Love you!

We cannot wait to get up there next year! I have to admit getting back into things here in the city was almost a painful process yesterday and today. Royce goes back to work tomorrow and we get back into our weekday rhythm, that I'm realizing needs some tweaking again. We need more quiet in our lives. More time unplugged. More time not working, not replying, not getting back to clients instantly from my phone, my laptop, facebook etc. More quiet. Lots and lots more quiet.

We love the city but we need simplicity here and I do know for a fact that it is indeed possible.



















*all images are copyright of doubledutch photography 2012 and may not be used, posted, published or transmitted without prior written notice.

weekend wrap....

This weekend was kind of a blur and here it is Monday night and I'm wondering what exactly it was we did! I had many sessions so that ate up most of it but in between them we had plenty of fun.

Of course since this week is the last week the pools are open we had to spend an afternoon there at our favorite spot. Royce skated the skatepark while the girls and I played in the water and then we dried off in the sun on the playground. We stopped off at our brand new Richfield Pizza Luce afterwards. Part of me wonders what we will do all winter long because we spent so many summer days at the pool! Although I admit to scouting out some killer sledding hills all within walking distance. I guess we'll have to learn to ice skate too since our other favorite park has a warming house.



Royce informed me that he and the girls had many dance parties in the yard this weekend :) Sad I missed out but happy he gets time alone with them. They are so cool two to one.

We got this whirlypop popcorn popper from my dad and it's been the coolest little thing since we brought it home a couple weeks ago. The girls stand on chairs next to me as I stir this thing over the stove top and pop popcorn. We all snuggle on the couch after, eat popcorn and watch a movie :)

Tonight I looked out the window surprised to see it was so dark. I asked Royce what time it was....8:24. Oh sweet sweet summer light, where have you disappeared to?!

everyday things....new chooze

the end is near!

When I heard last night today was supposed to be hot and sunny I decided we HAD to spend the day at the pool because it will probably be one of our last days there. The pools close up at the end of next week and we'll have to wait all fall, winter and spring before they open up again. It's so hard to believe summer is coming to an end.

The girls and I got packed up and headed to the "sprayer" pool!

We spent a couple hours in the water and then played on the playground afterwards. The park and pool were packed but today the girls liked all of the excitement of the other kids. They had a lot of energy to burn! I had to pursuide the girls to leave so we could get lunch but told them if they wanted to we could go back to the pool closer to our house afterwards.

We ended up at Centennial Lakes Park, picked up Jamba Juice smoothies and walked around there.


Adia spotted the spash pad and made me put her back in her swimsuit (Rasa too) so they could play in that. We had a wonderful time just us girls (even though we always miss Daddy)!

We all crashed out when we got home. Fun in the sun is always good for that!

Nana and Papa Days.....

When my parents are in town (which seems to be a lot more than usual!) they take the girls on Wednesday so Momma can catch up on work. We've been doing this for several weeks now and the girls REALLY look forward to it. Every Nana and Papa morning they jump out of bed, grab their backpacks and wait by the door to leave, "come on lets go! take us to nana's! is it time to go yet???".

This morning we dropped Royce off at work and then I headed north to my parents. When we got there I took Adia out of the car first and Rasa yelled, "Momma! Hurry up and get me out! Nana's waiting for me!". They run in, make themselves right at home!

Adia: Nana I'm a little bit hungry
Papa: Well get yourself something to eat! You know where the food is!
Adia: smiling, opens the fridge and helps herself to fresh picked raspberries

I leave, say good bye, the girls act annoyed like get out of here already!

Today my parents brought them out to lunch at my Sister's work. She served them up chicken strips with ranch and of course cookies and ice cream (pay back!). The girls mentioned candy bars too but everyone seems tight lipped about it ;) Auntie Chrissy also gave them some bunnie flashlights they are still pretty excited about.

When I ask about their day they just say they had fun and got treats! They also mentioned gathering veggies and raspberries out of the garden to which I love.

Special memories of Nana and Papa's for sure.

and then it was Monday....

I brought the family over to my new studio to check it out this weekend. The girls were elated! All of that open space to run around in!
Here they are in the lobby excited to be there:



The most exciting thing to them I think is the vending machine in the lobby with snacks and treats!

Royce was equally excited :) It was fun being there with them since my work is so separate from my family it was fun giving them a peek at what I do and where I go.

We only stayed for a short time. I have a lot of work to do to figure out the light at different times a day and get to know the space before winter sets in. We had fun though :)

Here are a few quick test shots from yesterday:









Royce :)

everyday things

whoever said life is so daily must have not been looking at all the details.....

I sometimes fantasize about life being "daily". Not having ups and downs and problems and solutions and lots and lots of things to worry about ;) I'm sure that's not exactly what they were talking about when they coined the term, however.

Things happen everyday good and bad and we're trying to balance it all out. I look at this blog when it sits and think, "hmmm surely I can write about something!"

Tonight when I tucked the girls in I snuggled in Adia's tiny bed with her, by her request. She likes to narrate out loud exactly what she's doing, "You're laying with me, I'm hugging you, I'm rubbing your shirt. Your shirt is so soft!" but if you know Adia you know she's talking at an extremely rapid pace all in a high pitched mini mouse voice. It makes me giggle. She never stops....not even in her sleep. Speaking of which she's been waking us up every night screaming and shouting out loud in her sleep. Last night she was screaming that (something) was going to MAKE HER HANDS ALL STICKY! Oh no!! I'm trying to figure out a way to block it out while I sleep yet not completely just in case it's a for real emergency.

I moved on over to Rasa's bed after that. She's such a tender and sweet soul. I hugged her tight and kissed her cheek and said in the softest voice I have, "Rasa I LOVE you". She squeezed me harder and in her sweetest voice replied, "I love Daddy". Ugh! She did it to me yet again!!!

My Mom took the girls for me again this Wednesday so I could catch up on work stuff and I spent most of my time doing laundry and cleaning house....now I'm overwhelmed with work. Someday I'll learn....someday.

I've been booking a lot of business every weekend and been away from home more than I like. The days are flying by, even weekends and as my calendar has now filled up through October I worry (even though yes I know it's useless) that this time, if I can't slow down, is going to slip through my fingertips and I'm going to be where I was years ago wondering where it all went. I've been re-evaluating by business, pushing sessions out further, making efficiencies in my processes all in an effort to maintain the balance of kids first and everything else after that. If it's too much, than change has to be immediate so I can do what we've committed to do since the beginning.

Tonight when I looked at the beautiful full moon in the sky (always reminds me of Rasa because of her admiration of the moon. She says in a dreamy sort of voice, "look at the moon...it's beeeautiful!!") I realized the night sky is darker. Fall is not too far away. How is that even possible?!

Happy weekend :)

so we're not weekend warriors.....but we're close!

Hate to always sound like a broken record but this weekend was AWESOME! We had Amy and Emeric over for a belated birthday party for E and had a great time!

The photo above was taken in the middle of our street around midnight (yes the girls came running out of bed and out of the house after we thought they'd gone to bed!) with a slow shutter speed and is completely unretouched or edited. Okay I admit, I'm a photo nerd but so is Amy so it works!

I had sessions this weekend and did some marathon editing while Royce kept the girls entertained. Have I mentioned how much I love my job?! Its so fun to get out and away and meet new people all over the cities!

We drove around Saturday night around the MN River Valley, which we found out last night is actually just down the road! It's beautiful! My goodness I've been sheltered away from the beauty of the south metro! We picked up take out from my favorite thai place on Grand and Royce and I relaxed while Sam entertained the girls across the street. They adore her! Rasa came running home asking me to put her hair in a pony asap because that's what Sam had :)

Today I had a session downtown and Royce brought the girls out for coffee (they had cow's milk). After I was finished we had brunch at Luce and then spent the day playing in the yard and running errands.

Royce is scrubbing the weekend dirt off of the girls as I type (literally!) so we're ready to settle in tonight and get ready for a good busy week ahead.

Everyday things

The things they say...

Last night in the tub:
Me: Who's getting teeth brushed first?
Adia: Rasa!
Rasa: Not me DUDE!

Today the girls were climbing in and out of the car through the window that was down and I told them to stop and that I didn't want them playing in the car.
Rasa: WHY?!
Me: Because I don't want you messing with all of the lights and buttons!
Rasa: You don't understand us mom. It's okay. It's not your fault

???!!!!! Seriously......

We were leaving the community pool after a fun time with a handful of other kids.
Me: that was fun! Those kids were fun too
Rasa: No, I don't like kids
Me: What do you mean? You seemed to have fun with those kids. You have friends and they are also kids. You're a kid, they're just like you.
Rasa: No. They are not like me. They scare me.

weekend fun!

Adia, Gabby, and Rasa eating snacks and watching Barney

Weekends are always so enjoyable it's sad Sunday night to say good bye! We spent most of this warm weekend outside, at our favorite pools, around the fire and with great friends.

Highlights this weekend were having our old friend Paul over Friday night, Saturday with no photo sessions, Saturday morning breakfast at The Grill, poolside afterwards and back home for family nap time :), Sunday early morning photo session, Big Bowl dinner and family car wash. We even managed to take down the laundry mountain and do a house scrubdown (of both the house and the girls thanks to Royce).

Best part of our weekend was hanging out in the old hood with some of our favorite people! Saturday evening we headed to Blaine and relaxed at Jill's house with her, Taylor & Chase, Patrick & Karley, Skip, and of course the littles. Jill set up the pool (that the girls deflated by jumping around it until 11:30 pm!), and spoiled us with treats and drinks. Thanks Jilly! The girls had a lot of fun playing, running the old street up to the hill, in and out of the houses back and forth, back and forth! It was fun to see them have such a good time and Karley and Jill kept them entertained all night so was like a night out for Royce and I!
Love you guys!! Can't wait until next time! It was totally worth getting home after midnight and the tired worn out kids today (seriously it was worth it!!).

Happy new week. Looking forward to whatever it brings! We're hoping to bring the girls downtown Minneapolis for the Aquatenial Parade this week. Should be fun and of course HOT!

Everyday Things

*cute daisey hat crocheted by Nana!

Everyday Things

my goodness I love this man!

working at the car wash....

By far the easiest way to turn a grumpy afternoon into a good time has always been to "just add water". These are a few weeks old but the girls were out all afternoon keeping themselves totally occupied with water, a bucket, some old rags, a tiny bit of dishsoap and toys they already had that actually needed a good scrub down!

summer sun!

sand cakes for "somebody's birthday".....after, revealing it's her birthday!