Sunday, October 24, 2010

Outtakes and Final Cuts

I love this image, it reminds me that in ONE image, there can be both good and not so good photography. There is beauty, and there is room for improvement. But from this one image, I learn. 
I believe LIFE is full of outtakes and final cuts.

For example. 
My memories of past relationships have changed over time.
I think about the other boy I ever loved and I remember things like the fireworks show he had put on for me, and the special little names we had for each other. {final cut} That was almost fifteen years ago. Had someone asked me right after we broke up, I would have pointed out all the frustrations {outtakes} I had with the relationship, certainly not the sweet memories. 

 When I think back to my childhood, I think about the snapshots in my head of both my parents in the same room (which are few) and family vacations together. {Final Cuts} But I also think of the day they told us they would no longer be married, and memories come to play of those painful times I felt I had to choose, like my graduation day. {outtakes}

Outtakes AND Final Cuts in the album of snapshots in my life. And although I would never erase the outtakes permanently from my memory, the final cuts are much more fun to remember.
Just like editing out the "bad" photos when I load them into my computer, I edit the rough times out of memory to create a better Final Cut of my life. Before I erase those images from my camera, I always try to learn from them and recognize what I can do better the next time I pick up my camera.

The last 8 weeks of my life.......full of outtakes.
Some I hope to forget,
  more I'm willing to learn from
and a few
that will 
in time
become final cuts.


Tuesday, September 28, 2010

The Littles do Gymnastics


Today was their first day of gymnastics at "the little gym"



The pre-k class involved both their ages, so they got to take it together.
Poor Ben was the only boy, although he did not seem to mind.



They did so beautifully
pushing through the excitement
listening well and following directions







They looked so cute doing it too!!!


Can you see my baby girl in this picture?
Bless her heart she is there
Big brother is a bit overzealous

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Mimi and Papa visit

The kids got another surprise this weekend.
A visit from Mimi and Papa!
We had big plans to go to Grant's Farm on Saturday
and when we arrived, it was closed to the public.
The kids handled it like troopers
and we were off to option #2.
Although we had been to Botanical Gardens on Tuesday, the kids were up for showing off such a great place to Mimi and Papa and Dad-O. 
I realized very quickly that we had made a very small dent in the place on our first visit and we had plenty of new adventures to share with those who were visiting for the first time.
including a pond full of fish the size of submarines, a garden maze with a lookout tower , and a special picture in front of Mimi's Village with THE Mimi herself!


Mimi and Papa even stayed in a hotel while they were here and let Mommy and Dad-O have some alone time, and the kids got to swim indoors and have some precious time with their grandparents all to themselves! Thanks for coming to see us Mimi and Papa, 
we can't wait to see you again!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Botanical Gardens


At the mention of a move to STL 
most people have a few questions...
why have you moved here?
what does your husband do?
to what area did you move?
But these few questions
are always followed by
their personal MUST DO list

and on everyone's list thus far......

Botanical Gardens
and after a day like today, I understand why
I had no idea what to expect
but the beauty of the place left me breathless
they do it right here in STL
a wonderful balance of that to behold for an adult
and fun to be had for the kids
such fun in the water fountains
soaking to the bone
leaving Mommy wondering how naked is too naked to walk out to the car
playing music in the outside orchestra pit, full of all sorts of amazing music makers
made from natural materials

and we can't call it a day unless there has been a sufficient amount of climbing



I can't wait for them to ask to go again!!!1


Tuesday, September 21, 2010

revisited

There is something amazing about sharing a special place with special people.
There has been no doubt the kids adore The Magic House.
But for them to have a chance to show this great place that is right here in the city they now live in to 
Nonni and Poppy
made it feel that much more....well, amazing.
a climb on the beanstalk that is the staircase for the children
a peek in the mouse hole that E has to visit each time we are there
bragging their expertise on the changing of a tire
 letting Poppy have a go at getting the bubble to give a hug.

and singing our favorite songs on stage at the "White House"

It was a wonderful weekend that is the inevitable first of many

getting to share our new normal

with our creature comforts.





Saturday, September 18, 2010