A Picture A Week…. without pictures

May 12, 2016

Last week we took a quick trip to visit family in Kansas.  20 hours in the car in 3 days definitely pushes my limit.  Especially when you have a 3 year old and 11 month old as your travel companions.  I brought my camera with the intention of doing a bit of stretching with my photography skills.  Instead I never took it out of the bag.  I did not forget or run out of time.  I simply decided not to document a single moment.  

I love photography.  I get teary eyed on a regular basis shooting families and editing these images.  Even talking about photography gets me emotional.  I get so excited when people get pictures taken by me or anyone else.  There are so many wonderfully creative and talented people out there.  

On the flip side I don't want my children to confuse a camera or phone with my face.  Sometimes I am so caught up in documenting the moment that I forget to actually be present.  So, that is exactly what I did.  I soaked up every beautiful moment.

My two babies were surrounded by multiple grandparents and great grandparents.  They were receiving endless attention and love from so many truly amazing people.  Kansas gave us a beautiful spring day for us to play outside and enjoy each other.  I took countless snapshots to store in my memory.  Grandpa Gary pushing Lawson on the swing and then being chased around the yard.  Grandpa Ed holding Vida's hands and walking her around endlessly.  Oma running off into the woods with Lawson to find an Owl.  Vida falling asleep with her GG on the front porch swing.  

I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by such a wonderful family, and for my children to have such a wide circle of love and support.  

Here is to remembering to experience the moment without distraction or documentation.