Chase is One

I had a great time working with little Chase and his family earlier this week.  We met at Shaw Reserve for a few shots to celebrate a wonderful season of Chase's life.  One year!

He was such a great sport.

A Bittersweet Day

Today is a bittersweet day.  


Patches, the most gracious guest, is going home to Class 109 today.  It makes us all (well, almost all of us) sad to see him go.  You are always welcome at the Craig household, Patches.

And still our gloomy thoughts are quickly lit by the fact that Charis gets to wear her new Dora light up shoes for the first time to school today.  A special Aunt R was compelled to bless Charis with these amazing shoes.  I'm telling you, just watching these shoes twinkle will brighten any dampened spirit.  Maybe I should put in my request for a pair.

Thank you, Aunt R, for taking the time to make a little girl's month!

Now off to vacuum random poop pellets, Patches thank you gifts.  

Caleb Senior 2011 Teaser

Had so much fun tromping through the overgrown brush for Caleb's senior photoshoot.  I was excited to ride out into the field in Caleb's VW bus, but when it stalled half way through the overgrowth, I was a bit worried about making it back to civilization.  Luckly, he was able bounce us along through the field with the bus tied to the back of a four-wheeler.

Along with his talent of towing buses, Caleb is an amazing musician.  In fact, he's applying for Berklee College of Music in Boston.  Good Luck, Caleb!

Look for more pictures to come!

Chronicles of A Weekend Guest

Charis, you see, is the ultimate animal lover.  I, on the other hand, am the child who punched our family cat in the eye and for two days Daisy walked around with her eye closed shut.  Needless to say, Charis has been asking for a pet, any kind of pet, for months now.

Do you know how ecstatic I was to find out Class 109 comes equipped with it's own pet?!

Patches is an essential member of Charis' preschool class and because we're such cool parents we agreed to allow Patches to come visit our home first this year.

Patches smells raunchy, poops everywhere and sheds profusely.  Every mother's dream pet.  While we were taking turns holding the little guy, daddy got the best idea to see what would happen if we set him down on the carpet.

Well, we found out under the couch is his favorite place.  In his little note that came with him he said he loves apples.  As you can see, he lied to us.

Here's a delicious apple waiting for Patches to come get.  And where's Patches??  Under the couch laughing at us. 

After a half hour of chasing him around the house we got smart.  We locked the squealing kids in their bedroom and a grown man and a large pregnant mommy proceeded to roll around on the floor until we pinned and squished a pint size rodent between us.  It was not a pretty sight.

 I'm happy to say, Patches survived his first day at the Craig household.  

It's Already Started

After picking up Charis from her first day EVER of preschool, I was excited to hear all the wonderful things she did that day.  Strangely, I was met with a solemn child and after a few questions I was told, "I don't want to tell you anything".

Ok.  I can empathize.  She's had a big day and I'll give her space and allow her to process this eventful day.  After a few minutes of driving, she was ready to share her day, "Mommy, I need new tennis shoes.  Mine are ugly and scratched.  Everyone has pretty new tennis shoes.  I need Dora light-up shoes".

Are you kidding me?  Charis' first memory of school is that her mother had the audacity to send her to the first day of school with old tennis shoes on!?

And now I get to spend the rest of the year keeping up with the Jones' kids?

Nice.

Butterflies and Babies

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies. ~Author Unknown

As we prepare for the opening of our new studio this October, we've done quite a bit of soul searching concerning the future of our business.

1) Matt has come on as a more prominent addition to all the happenings at Charity Lynn.  That's not to say he hasn't been a huge part up to this point.  In fact, he's been my biggest fan and wouldn't let me throw in the towel all 11, 264 times.  So, you'll be seeing him around a lot more.  (hint, hint...we're working on brining on a couple of other people too!)

2) Babies, babies, babies!  Tis' the season for babies.  Well, at least in our family, anyway.  Until now we've focused on weddings and fresh new love, but now we're going to expand to celebrate the seasons of childhood.  (The new website is almost done!)

3) In an industry saturated with amazing photographers, it's time we set ourselves apart from the rest of the pack.  Our vision is no longer to create amazing images, but to create timeless art.  We will deliver framed work ready to hang on your wall that will not only establish stunning decor for your home, but art unique to your family.

4) We are all about you.  You are why we are doing this, so we're going to take the time to get it right, just for YOU.

We look forward to capturing a sliver of your amazing story.

xoxo

Charity & Matt

Have You Kissed Your Hero Today?

Remember when you we're dating the man of your dreams?  Remember how your face lit up when he walked into the room?  Or how just hearing his voice over the phone would send you head spinning?  Remember how he made you feel like there was no other woman alive?

Now it's been two years of marriage and the smells that emulate from him are not natural.  His dresser?  Oh, that's the pile of clothes next to the bed.  It's no secret that relationships - all relationships - are difficult to be successful, most of all a marriage relationship.  I mean, everyday you're with that person & everyday you see that person's true colors.

So what happened between the pre and post "I do"?  Did he turn into a different person?  How did our marriage turn into a verbal boxing match?  In the book, Finding the Hero in Your Husband, Julianna Slattery talks about how every man wants one thing.  To be someone's hero.  Can you believe that just about everything falls second to this desire?

Could it be that our focus changed?  No longer does he light up my room when he walks in.  No longer can he send my head spinning when he calls.  Instead I'd rather tell my girlfriends everything he does wrong.  

For the next few weeks, focus on all the wonder things that first took your breath away.  Find small things he does and sincerely voice your appreciation.  Let him know you love it when he helps with the kids or when he offers to make dinner.  Think of ways to brag to other people about him...in his ear shot.  

Try it.  You may be surprised at who walks through the door.

This post is dedicated to Matt, my true Superman.  Thanks for doing the dishes this morning.