“These still life images serve as a daily reminder that my days are awash in chaos, whimsy, laughter and laundry (sometimes all at once). They capture toys and spills and puddles and piles. Sentimental, solitary moments of childhood ephemera. A gentle prodding to live in the now and stop looking toward the “then.” And though sometimes I pray for clean and quiet and still, I know all too well it will come. And I will yearn for tiny shrieks of laughter in my bedroom. For toys and loveys strewn about. For signs of a daily life well lived. For traces of my babies who once were. For reminders that Kids Were Here–and they were life and light and love.” – Stephanie Beaty We are a group of passionate photographers who are setting out to document details of evidence that Kids Were Here. It is a fabulous idea introduced by the very talented and creative Ketti Photography.

It was a good day to transplant our basil & cilantro; Ella decided to help, then we were distracted by soccer & tee-ball. No transplanting ever occurred.

Knights. Knights. Knights. Everywhere, everyday, in games, figures & costumes. Knights. Knights. Knights

Covey got himself a bowl of cereal. I took a deep breath, & grabbed my camera (thanks to this project).

Ella's teething like crazy; I'm not sure if her necklace helps, but it's cute :)

Four little lids to the applesauce squeezey pouches means four empty snack pouches probably didn't make it to the trash.

Rody has been around since Covey turned one (he'll be four in 6 weeks). They love him.

Covey: "Mom, I never want to go to Africa." Me: "Okay, why?" Covey: "Because Honey Badgers live there."...& then a few hours later I found this (the irony: he has no idea where Africa is)

I busted these out because they're cute. The boys literally busted them in their bathroom door.

It feels like spring- the buckets & shovels are ready for some beach time.

This game has come out almost every day this past week, yet we haven't played it in weeks.

Working on the kids' journals- consolidating all of their random baby book entries, into one special journal for each of them.

Packing Rylee's morning lunch- do you want apple or pear? Always pear...unless we only have apples.

We are a group of passionate photographers who are setting out to document details of evidence that Kids Were Here. It is a fabulous idea introduced by the very talented and creative Ketti Photography.

"in the the moment it is easy to get frustrated with all the mess and clutter that results from living with children. this set reminds me how quickly it will all pass. one day the toys will be in totes no longer played with. i will miss this. i'm reminded to slow down. to not stress about it. my happiness is not dependant upon everything put back into place and a neat and tidy home.

one day we will have a wonderful reminder. evidence left behind written upon our hearts and minds of our children. photographs that will bring us back to this very day, when our kids were here." -jude wood

Cheerios. My oldest, who is six, has multiple food allergies & intolerances. He's grown out of a lot of them over the past four years, which means we get to try a lot of new foods, like Cheerios. This is his very first box of them. He loves them, of course. While we love having them as an option, we also now find them on the floor, the counter, their clothes, etc. But I am still grateful to have this tasty little cereal reappear in our lives.

Some days, this teddy bear is well-loved by my oldest. Some days, he's well-fought over by both boys. Some days, he's thrown around. Lately, he's been keeping the books company, until evening, when both bear & books are coveted.

We haven't decided between repainting this wall its original color or covering it in chalkboard paint. I'm inclined to think chalkboard paint would be more successful.

We made an apple pie last week, everyone had been pretty sick for awhile & we needed some sweetness. I'm pretty sure that handprint added a lot of extra flavor.

Trouble was a favorite game. It hasn't been played much lately, instead its pieces have become pirate treasure.