This Girl

She slays me.

Cheers,
a

Puddles!! (But First, Snow)

Last Wednesday, 

Leap Day

February 29th

it snowed. 

Quite a lot. 

Winter arrived in Minnesota on the final day of February and dropped a few inches of heavy, wet, build-the-world's-tallest-snowman snow. 

The girls reveled in it. 

Correction: Elena reveled in it. 

Stella refused to put on gloves and learned very quickly that snow is cold. 

And cold hands make for a miserable little girl.

(and an "I told you so" mom)

(Still accepting Parent-Of-The-Year Awards)

(duh)

And one week later, 

as fast as it came, 

it retreated once more. 

Spring is coming. 

I can smell it on the pavement in the morning. 

I hear it in the song of the birds. 

Soon, green grass, golden sunshine (that lasts past seven o'clock!), 

lilacs, oh how I missed the lilacs the last two years,

and fresh breathe-it-in-deep-and-sigh-it-out air will arrive.

But before spring can...spring, the thaw must come. 

And with it-water. 

Which means, puddles.

I could photograph these girls 

all

day

long.

It is just SO natural taking their photo.

No stress.

No pressure.

No fear of failure.

Just heart.

Pure, blissful, amazing heart.

And I love the feeling of it.

Cheers,

a

dreaming big.

You all know about my photography business.

My dream of becoming a full time wedding and portrait photographer.

Today, that dream inched a little closer to reality.

Or, at the very least, looks a little more like reality....

Today I launched my very own website.

With my very own logo.

Designed by the amazingly talented Moxee. 

It's not only a photography website, 

but a place where I can share so much more than just my photos. 

It's a place for my knitting.

My quilting and sewing.

My personal life.

Elena.

Stella.

And every single story I am honored and blessed to tell for others.

I'm not sure what will happen to The Family Pelton.

I'm not sure I can keep up with two blogs 

(that's becoming apparent given my complete and utter lack of posting here)

but I am certain that I'd love it if you'd come over and check out my new digs.

Look through my galleries.

Leave me some comment love.

I'd love to know that you stopped by,

and that even if you can no longer read posts at this URL,

that you'll still come see me.

Maybe even take my grammar quizzes.

Love you all, dear readers.

Mean it.

so very much.

xo

a

On Seeing...

It is important to remember, that sight, is just as important as vision.

xo
a

Monday. Photo Day.

Sort of.

You'll have to head over here for the full monty.

But here's a snippet of what is waiting for you:

Cheers,
A

Five Long Days

I got a new lens last week.
It is
without a doubt
the best thing since sliced bread.
Since the internet.
Since Essie nailpolish, and pinot noir, and coffee, and, and, and....
Since this blog! That's how amazing it is.

I bought the lens nearly a week ago,
five
full
long
days.
Five days of it staring at me,
begging me to shoot with it.

It got its wish on Saturday.

Thanks to some great weather
and the two most beautiful girls I know.

Cheers,
A

In Keeping With Current Trends:

Dearest Holden: 

I will spoil you rotten and I will love you more than you can fathom until my dying breath. I can promise you ice cream, dump trucks, swirly slides, cotton candy, cartoons, and a place to hang out when Mom just won't get off your case already.  Though, I can also promise you that if mom is on your case, I probably will be, too. 


I will watch you play football or baseball or soccer or ballet (yes, Jeff, ballet, if he's so inclined). I will cheer for you and yell "Go TEAM!" at the top of my lungs. I will embarrass you, but not nearly as much as your parents will. I promise to be the cool "aunt" and to always have little secrets -- just for us (like that sip of root beer before bed, or the extra sugary marshmallow cereal, or how you are just a little afraid of the dark even though you're a boy and can totally fight monsters, man!).


I will give you horrible advice and be totally out of touch. I'll tell you stories about when I was a kid and you'll roll your eyes and say, "yeah right, Athena, like you were ever that cool!" And I'll assure you that yes, believe it or not, your mom and I were, like, totally rad. 


I can promise that you'll fall for the wrong girl, at least once, but that falling in love is worth every bump and scrape along the way.  You will break a heart once or twice, and have yours broken, too, and I'll always pick up the phone if you need to talk (or need a sober ride home, you got that!?!) I will cry at your wedding, partly because you're getting married, but mostly because I'll be old enough for you to be getting married, which means so will my daughters. Maybe you'll marry each other. But not all three of you, mmmkay? I want my girls to share, but let's not get crazy, here.  


I will demand that you honor love and respect your mother from this day forward because, goshdarnitdiddilyhoo she's your momma and she birthed you and that whole birthing thing is no joke -it's hard. I will expect that you respect your father, and learn from him. He's a great man and an amazing person for you to aspire to be just like. 


I'll write annoying letters like this to you from time to time, and I'll take your picture more than you can stand. Especially when you find yourself in humorous and/or potentially future reputation ruining positions (e.g. the bathtub, smashing your first birthday cake, wearing mom's heels). 


And I'll hug and kiss and cuddle you.


Forever and ever.
Amen.


Aunt Athena.


(PS: Go check out Holden's birth story here)

A Photography Prize Package

Remember that grammar quiz I had a few weeks back?
A classmate of mine from high school
wowed me with her grammar prowess
and won a photo shoot with yours truly.
(A dear blog-reader, Faith, won a prize, too,
which I am currently making.
Did you read that, Faith?!? It's coming! Promise!)
We met last Friday,
when the wind was whipping
and the sun was hiding.

Here are a few favorites from our session:

Thank you Kristi,
for being amazing at grammar,
and sharing your family with me for the briefest of moments.

Cheers,
A