the many faces of Easter

anticipation

confusion
(p woke up saying, "then the bunny and jesus...")

delight

the creative life

The dynamic duo strikes AGAIN!

Matt + Sarah

= LOVE, and many more pictures...

He is Risen!

artwork by Ed Knippers, image from Easter Vigil 2011 by ddl

Rejoice now, heavenly hosts and choirs of angels,
And let your trumpets shout Salvation
For the victory of our mighty King!

Rejoice and sing now, all the earth,
Bright with a glorious splendor,
For darkness has been vanquished by our eternal King.

Rejoice and be glad now, Mother Church,
And let your holy courts, in radiant light,
Resound with the praises of your people.

We Wait

We wait, on maybe the darkest of days in the church calendar. We wait to sing and praise the Living God. We wait for the things that haven't been redeemed. Today we enter the church with a heavy heart. Today we wait...

But Sunday is coming....

Laura + Josh = LOVEly engagement shots

Last month Whitney and I set out to capture the love of our friends Laura and Josh. It was a brisk, but sunny, March afternoon; the sun gave us some serious light! Between the light and the local we got some completely different shots than our first shoot together. Whitney and I fell into a good rhythm working together and had a blast with this fun couple.

Loving this light. This picture feels so *right* to me; the sun behind creating an ethereal beauty.

Snap, snap, snap-snap. I fell in love with these pics and had a hard time choosing my favorites. You can even see in the final cut all of these and more exist. Again, thank you sun!

They were so cute, and in love; dancing and dipping (and smooching) in front of the Capitol with the Washington Monument in the background. And the light, oh the light framing their love.

And then some casual shots. At one of their favorite eateries!

Enjoy the rest here. These are just a few of my faves.

Something Beautiful

This video created by my partner in crime, Whitney, is just so lovely, I want to share it with all of you. (all 8? of you who read this blog!)

Something Beautiful from Whitney Porter on Vimeo.

Top 10

The cruise was fantastic! We came back refreshed, relaxed, and with a tiny bit of sun on our cheeks.

The top ten favorite things from the vacation:

10. The break in our 1/2 Lenten fast of being vegan.
9. The oh-so-fluffy omelet we had for breakfast multiple days.
8. The balcony off our room.
7. The bottle of wine (a birthday gift from P and A) that we enjoyed on the balcony.
6. The indoor pool which Phoebe mastered with her water wings.
5. Phoebe loving Camp Carnival (daycare on the boat) which gave us a few hours of free time.
4. The proximity of the Port to our house, just one hour!! Yes, Cruise ships leave from Baltimore.
3. Not cooking or cleaning for 7 days.
2. Sunshine on my shoulders while sitting on the white sand beaches in the Bahamas.
1. A chance to vacation with the Mr. and P for 7 whole days, our first family vacation. The beginning of a new tradition!

I am sure I am missing some, but the point is that we had a delightful time!

packing

All we are doing here is Packing. Packing for the mountains, packing for the beach, and everything in between. Cheers.

Right Now

Sometimes things move so fast, I am not even really able to appreciate the little moments of sweetness and growth that happen around our home; here are a few things I am excited about and thankful for...right now....

*the most sunshiny warm spring
*the cruise that awaits our family-of-three in one more week
*Phoebe wearing underwear rather than diapers
*HEALTH!! {we had some nasty stomach bugs and colds the last few months}
*New Neighbors, a friend of ours from church is closing on a house 2 blocks from here!!
*more photo shoots with Whitney Porter...pictures to come soon
*bread rising in the kitchen
*dreaming about my birthday next week
*no plans for tonight, we are home with no guests! {i do love guests but it will be very nice to just be the three of us tonight}
*the planning of the garden that has been happening over the last week and will be put into place this weekend, at least the lettuces will be planted this weekend, HELLO arugula!
*a cup of hot tea on the table just waiting for me

I hope you all are finding yourself thankful today! Cheers.

and so Lent begins

You do not delight in sacrifice,
or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.

Psalm 51: 16-17

alter frontal created by me, Ash Wednesday 2010

taking a bow

Phoebe was flitting around the kitchen while I was trying to get a picture of her very first french braids. After her dancing I asked her to take a bow....voila!...a perfect picture of her (not quite symmetrical) french braids.

I was able to do this braiding by persuading her with a little Charlie and Lola while she was eating her favorite breakfast; oatmeal and yogurt.

Love, Love, Love

My newest creative cohort (WP) and I sauntered around town a couple weekends ago with the cutest engaged couple. WP and I were clad with as much photography gear as we could find laying around the house and we 'played' photographer. All 4 of us had a smashing time....and in the end we got a few good shots. Here are some of my favorites...

There are a *few* more here. (ok, more than a few....but we cut the number down significantly!!) This is the start of a fun adventure, WP and I are planning more ways to find space for the creative.

{this moment}

we went on a picnic today. a warm, beautiful, friday afternoon. the mister started his weekend early!

Happy Valentine's Day

She is cooking up something extra sweet!

*LOVE*

sending Love - ly - ness

I saw this print yesterday and just had to get it for someone...that someone is my LOVELY Sister (in-law). She* always looks trendy, cute, together, and all around Lovely! She has a birthday coming up, and she almost has a brand new(ly renovated) house to move into so I am hoping there is a place for this sweet little print.

I Love the idea of hanging this in the bathroom just as a reminder that who you are looking at IS Lovely.

Happy Birthday Sis, this is on its way!

*SIL rarely reads this blog so I am am fairly certain I won't spoil the surprise. Not to mention she is really busy with that house.

back to the beach

a little treat I made for my niece. a place to stash her treasures and hopefully the sand will sift its way out through the screen. its in the mail...happy birthday Big Red!

in my dreams

Today I spent nap time dreaming of a vacation to a beach in the dead of winter. Too bad we have to buy 3 tickets these days, those prices don't really work in my favor as I put together my plea to the mister. Maybe I will just bake some bread to warm the house up.

{this moment}

one of many sweet moments yesterday when P was entertained by S and S, it was like they were all BFFs.

{this moment} inspired by SouleMama.

The Glam

Friends, it is Movie time again! I am sure you all remember when the mister and I had time (B.P.) and we would go see all the Best Picture nominees. Well, we haven't been able to do that since P and, honestly, with 10 Best Picture nominees I don't think we could! Who has that much time? (Or that many babysitters?) We hope to see a few movies between now and the Awards Show on February 27th just so we can follow the opening sequence. (The hosts are Anne Hathaway and James Franco, which I am thrilled about but apparently I am one of the few.)

To the best of my recollection, I have only seen three movies in the theater since the last Oscars; Harry Potter, Twilight's Eclipse, and Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I am kind of embarrassed to write that list but it is the truth. At least Harry got a few nods from the academy.

Looking forward to the red carpet and all that glam that will surround February 27th!

little Favorites

P has been loving this little set of books she got for Christmas, Little Hoot, Little Oink, and Little P. She has had Little P since she was born but since getting these companion books she has found a new love for these sweet 'twisted' stories. Little hoot can't believe his parents make him stay up so late, all Little Oink wants to do is stay clean, and Little P would just like some broccoli for dinner! If you have a little one, these stories by Amy Krouse Rosenthal are fantastic with beautiful images by Jen Corace.

3 is a Magic Number

This sweet song that I first heard on Elizabeth Mitchell's cd, You are my Sunshine, has become our family's *song*. It is a sweet little tune that makes me love our little unit that much more!

Three is a magic number,
Yes it is, it's a magic number.
Somewhere in the ancient, mystic trinity
You get three as a magic number.

The past and the present and the future.
Faith and Hope and Charity,
The heart and the brain and the body
Give you three as a magic number.

It takes three legs to make a tri-pod
Or to make a table stand.
It takes three wheels to make a ve-hicle
Called a tricycle.

Every triangle has three corners,
Every triangle has three sides,
No more, no less.
You don't have to guess.
When it's three you can see
It's a magic number.

A man and a woman had a little baby,
Yes, they did.
They had three in the family,
And that's a magic number.

fashion links

A fashionista I am not, but for some reason I think a lot about what I wear; it has to be comfy and toddler friendly, flattering and cute. Every time I think I am set on clothes for a while I get bored with the uniform I have created for myself so I have been looking around for a few ideas to spruce up the dreary cold winter.

source: WWD

What do you think...is the fashion pendulum swinging? Will Skinny jeans be left out in the cold?
I have been eyeing these guys; not exactly bell bottoms but not skinny either.

How many of you shop at Forever 21...I haven't ever shopped there (where have I been?) but I have been looking for a skirt to complete my winter wardrobe and thinking this might be the place to go.

Somewhere in my blog reading I came across this fun blog, I love the graphics and the sweet outfits that I would never wear fully but like to look for ideas.

For the next few days I will stay focused on just staying warm. Happy Friday

Rhythm

Getting back to the *everyday rhythms* after Christmas and New Years has been a bit of a struggle, but it is oh so necessary for this momma and little one. The bread is a good sign that we are on our way back.

Pretty in Pink at the Park

We had the park to ourselves New Year's Day! It was a balmy, cloudy day- great day to be outside.

When I got home and looked through these pictures, I couldn't believe how old P looks. And I love that she was rocking the John Elton glasses all day New Year's Day.

Cheers to 2011

Welcome to 2011!

The end of 2010

To everything there is a season, and
a time to every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, and
a time to die;
a time to plant, and
a time to pluck up
that which is planted;

A time to kill, and
a time to heal;
a time to break down, and
a time to build up;

A time to weep, and
a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and
a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and
a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and
a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and
a time to lose;
a time to keep, and
a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and
a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and
a time to speak;

A time to love, and
a time to hate;
a time of war; and
a time of peace.

Ecclesiates 3: 1-8

What will the New Year have for us? What will our Lord have for us?

funk

I am in an after-Christmas-funk. It may be an after-Christmas-before-New-Years-funk, I am not sure.

Our house is full of stuff that needs to be put away, some of it is new and needs to find a home, but a lot of it just stuff that needs to be put away. Dishes from two nights ago (and everything since) sit in the sink wishing someone would just wash them already. New toys sit with old toys wondering what shelf will be there home. This two-week old cold is still resting in my sinuses hoping to be banished by the New Year. Do I sleep, or put things away? Either way I feel like I need more time. Part of why it is so overwhelming is because there is just so much, when I try to start in on one project another catches my eye and I am paralyzed by it all. This is a serious case of post-adrenaline-shut down.

I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes, The FUNK is all around us.

I trust the energy will come back...

Happy Birthday Jesus

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

read to me

her love for books is infectious as she climbs in a lap and asks, "will you read to me, please." (if only it was that polite...these days it is more of a demand...but you get the picture!

presents

Every morning, every time she walks past the tree, every time we come indoors, every time she thinks about it; she asks if she can open her presents. She has no idea they aren't all for her.

Indulgent

Ever since I got the cd of our wedding photos from the photographer I was unhappy that he didn't capture this particular pose; a replica of my grandmother's bridal portrait. I wore her dress for my wedding too and thought I had the pose down in my head and tried to explain it to my photographer but the shots were just off a bit. I decided I wanted to do something about this missed opportunity so I hired a photographer to take a bridal portrait, 5 years later.

My friend, Carrie, who I have worked with a few times came to mind and she was totally up for it. We got a glorious fall day with bright sunshine- which is good and bad for photography- and we danced around the National Mall, National Gallery of Art and Capitol Hill till the sun went down. It was a lot of fun and quite self-indulgent. Everyone treated me like I was a bride for the day (they had no idea I was about the celebrate my 5th wedding anniversary), a number of tourists captured pictures with me, and Carrie got some fantastic shots.

a moment

these moments are inspired by the moments over at SouleMama

Introducing: Niles

As is our tradition; the Mister has named our Christmas Tree. We would like to introduce you to Niles, he is a 6'-7' Frasier Fur brought to us by the Home Depot, his scent is lovely and his branches full.

a moment

moments like these make me love her so much.
"I read my doll baby a-book" she exclaims.
she is a nurturer. she loves her doll baby.