Let's Celebrate all of the moms out there!

Hello and happy Spring!   The warm weather has officially arrived and it is so lovely out there (albeit a tiny bit too warm).  The birds are singing and building their nests (a have a pair of doves that I've been watching out of my bedroom window for a few days, brining twigs to build their new home).  The flowers are blooming and I hear the reptiles are hatching (eek!)!  Somehow we are almost halfway through April in the blink of an eye.  My family started out April with a lovely trip to visit my hubby's grandma in Naples, Florida.  We had an amazing trip and a wonderful time hanging out with Grandma.  Now we are back and it is full steam ahead!  So that brings me to today's topic: MOMS!

I realize that most of you who read my blog are moms.  We go through the daily routine of making lunches, cleaning the house, carpooling, homework, meal planning and preparing, etc.  You know the drill.  So Mother's Day is rapidly approaching and it is one of our days to be recognized and appreciated.  I have found that I have to take advantage of these "Hallmark holidays" with my own family.  On Mother's Day and my birthday my kids are especially nice to me.  Don't get me wrong, they are pretty nice in general, but on these two days they are ESPECIALLY nice! And helpful!  And loving!  And WONDERFUL!  So I take full advantage!  Hee hee!  As kids of a photographer, they are sick and tired of my camera.  They aren't very willing to cooperate these days unless A) I make it super fun...hence bed jumping, feather pillow fights, and trips to the beach or B) I beg for it on my "special" days.  Today is my birthday and I am hoping they will hop in for some pics with me after school.  

With that said, I am hoping your kiddos will be willing to hop into photos with you, too.  If you are like me, you are always the one TAKING the pictures.  How often are you IN them?  Seriously, think about it.  When your kids are in their 40's and going through albums or photos of their childhood will you be in the pictures?  When we were in Florida last week I took 1,041 pictures.  Yes, I am nuts.  Of those ONE THOUSAND FORTY ONE pictures, I am in 12 of them and most of those are just duplicate shots.  I have learned to at least hand my camera off to someone (anyone) and get in the frame on these trips.  Otherwise it doesn't look like I was even there.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE IN YOUR FAMILY PHOTOS.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK AND SEE THAT YES, YOU WERE THERE!

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO FEEL BEAUTIFUL, AND LOVED BY YOUR FAMILY.

Please, please don't wait until you have shed that last 5, 10, 15 pounds.  Don't wait until you have that perfect outfit or perfect hair style, or whatever excuse you find for not getting in photos.  Do it now.  You will not regret it!  And, honestly, while I'd love to be the one to take photos of you with your kids, if I'm not, that is okay.  Just get in the frame!

It is time to celebrate YOU and all that you do for your families.  The boo boos you've kissed, the tears you've gently wiped away, the shoes you've tied.  Think of all of those lunches you've made, bums and noses you've wiped, beds you've made.  Sleepless nights when your little ones were sick, sleepless nights when they finally slept through the night and you worried they weren't breathing!  Think of the laundry you've folded, the meals you've planned and shopped for, the bugs you've squashed, the bathrooms you've cleaned.  The books you've read, the songs you've sung.  You've done it all and whether your family realizes it or not, they love you so much for it!  So get in the frame with your kids and hug them, kiss them, play with them, and preserve memories now.  It is time you do something nice for yourself.  You will look back years from now and get warm fuzzies all over again!

To celebrate all of you, I am offering $15 off of Mama & me sessions if you mention this blog post.  How sweet is that?  We have beautiful weather right now and it is perfect for getting outside and letting loose with your kids while I snap away.  Mama & me sessions are all private, not booked back to back so we can work around your schedule.  So drop me a line if you want in!

***Offer only valid with Short & Sweet Mama & me sessions.  It does not apply to Matilda Jane sessions which will be held on Sunday, May 6th.