Ranch Branding

February 28, 2020

31 Days of January

January 31, 2018

I decided to kick-off January with a photo-a-day. 31 days sounded much more achievable than 365. Even with our limited daylight (yes, there's lots of bedtime photos), I didn't skip a day. It felt good. I hadn't been photographing our every day nearly as much as I'd like and I needed the reboot. It was a cold month, warmed with birthdays and blue skies. It was a hopeful month, filled with a new year, a new start and a new niece. It was good.

Snippets of our January.

1. welcoming 2018
2. his last day of 10
3. he's 11
4. celebrate
5. birthday-slumber party
6. the game of life
7. celebrating 11 with family
8. mattresses are apparently better on the floor
9. after-school walk
10. the response to "help me make your bed"
11. picking up the boys "smell my hand to get in the car"
12. packing up Christmas
13. Sunday drive out the road
14. major storm day became major lounge day
15. after-school walk, checking out the storm's damage
16. attempting to sleep in her own bed
17. attempting to sleep in her brother's beds
18. attempting to sleep in our bed
19. explaining why the sink is full of her hair
20. women's march
21. the flu got me
22. quadruple pig tails
23. a slow day on the "tsunami that wasn't" day
24. playing Old Maid
25. her new favorite book
26. friday night slumber party
27. getting fresh air while pretending it's not zero degrees
28. batter up
29. testing out jumping abilities of the new mattress
30. after-school walk
31. upset I won't take her to visit her hours-old newest cousin

Mark & Elise

October 10, 2017

The Alaskan wild rose blooms each summer, unfurling its soft pink petals, to soak up the sun and rain, and whatever else the Alaskan weather hurls its way. Much like love, it is beautiful and it is strong.

An Alaskan engagement session, among the wild roses.

November: 30 Days of Thanks, week 1

November 9, 2016

30 Days of Thanks, Week 1:

November 1st: a full bed means a full heart, certainly that must be a quote somewhere. Or a sleepless night. Either way, I'm grateful for this.

November 2nd: bearing witness to history, all of it. but especially the kind that makes you feel good, surrounded by the ones you love. I'm grateful for this.

November 3rd: we fantasize about long road trips, then we drive 20 minutes to town & hear cries of "are we almost there, yet?!" but if they didn't ask the questions, & we didn't pine for a creative response, we'd both be missing out on an integral milestone of childhood & parenthood. I'm grateful for this.

November 4th: running around with friends, in the cool crisp air of fall, dappled in the fall light that we get so very briefly. I'm grateful for this.

November 5th: finding patches of sun inside & outside the house. I'm grateful for this.

November 6th: "look at my hair, isn't it beautiful?" her strength, her creativity, sense of imagination, the way she plays so contently, whether alone or with others. I'm grateful for this.

November 7th: rainy day walk to the park, on the eve of our historical election. My middle asking questions non-stop, "I just have so many questions?" he says. "keep asking them," I say. Their curiosity, their love for the outdoors, this quiet, wet walk. I am grateful for this.