I don’t believe in publishing posts that only serve as filler – the ones that say, “I’m really too busy to be here today…
..stay tuned for another day.”
In truth, I’ve never been able to achieve it. I can’t sit here and open up a post and a line of discussion without it taking on a life of its own. It always develops into something, and what it develops into is what it is meant to be, I always assume. I am very busy. I’m writing an important article today, while editing photos from yesterday’s photo shoot. **My cold isn’t 100% gone, and neither is Des’ cough. Scarlet and Cassidy seem to be in perfect form, so I’m very pissed to be unable to shake this one. Yet.
As Alison said to me last week, “This too shall pass.” And of course, it will soon feel like it was never here at all.
What I have today is a photo share. A love share, if you will. These photos are from after I shot that wedding in Jersey in September. I often have several photo projects going on at once, so sometimes I’m very behind in my personal photography. I can be six weeks behind from one set, and yet, I immediately posted the photos when I went to the King Richard’s Faire. Priorities.
Although these are pretty special to me. I guess that’s why it took me so long. I wanted to handle them with love and care:
**
This is my sister and her boyfriend. They’re pretty adorable and it’s serious and all of that good stuff:
Bonus points for this. And for having my reflection in his sunglasses frames.
Then we’ve got these two:
Only Des could make drool look so photogenic. And my mom doesn’t seem to mind it all over her hoodie.
And then, we fly.
See what I mean? Love share.
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I saved my favorites for last. Schmoopy, golden lake sun, beyond tired…love. Sweet love.
The location is Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey.
**At the time of publishing this post, my cold has just about passed me by. Tomorrow marks two weeks since the virus first entered the home, and all four of us seem nearly completely on the mend. We washed all of the sheets and floors, and scrubbed surfaces. We vacuumed the floors, ate soup, and made fires. There is the tiniest trace still here in Des and me, and I can absolutely feel the virus leaving our bodies and leaving this house. Whew.
What gorgeous photos! Des is such a happy baby.
I'm glad you're getting better. So very glad.
Thank you! Hope you and yours are all staying well too! It's a cesspool out there. And by "out there," I mean everywhere on earth.
Love, love, love for sure!!! They are ALL my favorites.
So glad the cold has left the building!! Keep it out!
Thank you! Once it’s out, it’s generally out for ages. Sometimes Scarlet and/or Des get a little something, and often it’s just Cassidy, but all four of us was extreme!
I love all these photos! And I a so glad you are getting better…we have the sickies now…boo!
Oh no! Well as Alison says, “This too, shall pass.” And it always does but it feels like forever when you’re in it sometimes.
I woke up this morning…with the signs of a nasty cold on the brink. I guess it's just one of those things, and you are right – this, too, shall pass.
Beautiful pictures! Let's see, I think my favorite is either the one of Des and your mom both laughing, or one of the last ones of sleepy Des and your sister. Love.
Thank you! And I hope you fight the cold, but at least you know, it will be over again soon.
Aw, of course Grandma doesn't mind a little drool! 😉
Never, right??
Love the LOVE share! What great photos, especially the ones with your mom and the last few with your sister. Please, please, please come photograph my girls. Please?
I want to so badly. I’ve been asked enough for your region that one day I’ll just do it and do a massive few days of photo shoots and I’ll make back enough money to offset my plane ticket! And of course, I’ll meet all of you!
O.K. I officially want to to come to North Carolina and take pics of my family – every day, forever. These are so beautiful and that last one is sooooooo precious!
I've gotten enough requests for NC photos recently, that I have to do it!!
I too find that sometimes the photos that are closest to my heart are the ones I put off editing and organizing the longest.
These photos are so filled with love – I can just see how much your kids love your sister (and how much she loves them right back!), and the bond between Des and his grandma.
Thank you! I love using photos to tell stories.
And it's funny that I put this off for so long. It used to be that I had enough time (only one kid) and not enough work that no photos I loved would stay on my camera past an hour! Now it can be weeks and months! WTH?!
So beautiful! Happy to hear you are all feeling better! I know it's misery when your sick, the babies are sick and no one is happy. On another note, I think you have the most photogenic family ever! And you captured such beautiful moments together once again : )
Thanks! They all are very photogenic. My mom always claims she isn't so I have to be sneaky with her.
beautiful! I love Des's outfit.
Thanks! It was actually a very special hand-me-down.
So glad you're feeling better! And feel free to share the love any time!! Just not the germs!
I love this love share so much. Those last photos make my heart melt. I'm so glad to hear that you're feeling better and that the sickness has passed through the house. I still have a lingering cough and don't completely have my voice back. I'm starting to think that this husky voice will be my new voice. That would be interesting…
Love this so much! The love just LEAPS off the page and you can see how much fun you are all having! :)-Ashley
Sometimes (ok, most of the time) your photos just scream for captions. I can see the emotion oozing out of them and I just want to put a little thought bubble above the subject because I feel like I know what they are thinking. In the first one of Des and your mom (I think?), he is totally saying, "Oh yeah, Mom – I'm super cool and I know it. You know you love me." That one made me smile HUGE!
I’m with you on the filler posts – which is why I haven’t blogged in over 2 weeks now..I love the photos. Lindsay and her beau – could they be a more gorgeous couple?
Yes, because you want it to mean something or to only post from your heart and not because of a schedule. And generally, my heart is really here 3-4 days a week or so. However I am really busy so I thought I’d do a photo share instead of a lot of writing. And you know what? The photos took WAY longer to edit and upload, than writing would have done.
You are the best Ilene!
Yes, she certainly is!
So glad you are all pretty much on the mend now and seriously I know about this virus. It seems that we too had a good two week stretch here, too and so hope for a reprieve now. No more illnesses for a bit. Fingers crossed on that for us now. And I loved the love share. Seriously, couldn’t get better if you tried!! Happy Monday and thinking of you 🙂
Yes, let’s all get rest and wash our hands often! (as if it were that easy)
Thinking of you too! We all deserve some rest and respite.
Yes! Love sharing, but not germ sharing. Brilliant concept.
haha..I promise you it will pass. I have never heard of someone having a cold or cough for life. Although when I was a teenager I had a cough for six weeks and I went to the doctor and got allergy medicine and it worked like a charm.
Love those photos, and so glad you are on the mend, FINALLY! It’s amazing how my oldest seems to never get sick…she has an immune system like Superman, and yet the little one catches everything and then so do I. Ugh. Your photos are always SO gorgeous. I am going to have to start REALLY learning and shooting on manual. all of the F stuff and ISO stuff scare and confuse me, but dang it…I am going to make myself learn it! Plus I have this awesome lens coming soon….
Scarlet and I are usually like that. We get nothing. In fact, Scarlet has had perfect attendance at school for her second year in a row, until I ruined that by pulling her out of school to have an extra day in Jersey last month.
However. She wasn’t sick!
Cassidy gets sick a few times a year. It’s too early to tell with Des. I generally only get sick when I’m not sleeping enough. Historically, throughout life. So..this is telling me something.
Glad to hear you are all feeling better — now everyone out there, wash hands whenever you walk in your house – the holidays are coming!!
You are so right!! Generally I only ever get sick when I’m not sleeping well. Case in point. I’ve been sickest ever in college and when pregnant and right after Des was born. When was I never sick?? When I lived alone post-college and worked an 11-8 job that allowed me to sleep until 9:00 every morning.
Ah, the good stuff.
I love that. Leaps off the page! That's what I was going for!
Yup, it's my mom and I love your caption! Maybe I should hire you to do captions for all of my photos.
Aw, that is so sweet! We are feeling so much better!
Love the photos. I hope your cold is gone 🙂
Thanks! I think it really is finally.
So much love in these photographs, Tamara! You capture emotion and fun so beautifully in all of your photos, I wish you could do some of my brood some day.
I wish so too!! Preferably on your side of the pond. I'm partial to visiting one day.
Oooh, what squishy, huggable, lovableness! Thanks for sharing the joy with us, and glad you are getting better! I remember those days when the family was flattened, and it was no fun at all!
It's nice to know there will be a day when it's not like that, though! So happy to see you here today!!
I'm so glad everyone is feeling better. Sickness is never fun.
It's quite terrible! Although it passes. Thinking of you and your family today!
Colds can sometimes take forever to leave but I’m happy that it’s finally leaving my two favorite people in the world. I love those photos, especially those ones of Des and his grandma. Look at that smile!
This is actually quite perfect because the pictures tell a tale a mile long. Which is why I adore your blog! I totally thought that was you getting all chummy with that cute guy! *whew* although I totally wouldn't blame you LOL! and hey, if he is good with Des, he is GOOD with me! Not that it matters much, you know what I mean. 🙂
That’s so funny! You thought she was me?! Ah, I love that. You’re hilarious. And being GOOD with Nellie IS good with me!!
I'm so happy that you shared the love with us!!! The love leaps off the screen in each and every shot.
Your sister is just as gorgeous as you.
And, those pictures of Des laughing – best thing in the world – that completely unabashed laugh from a child!!!!
thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Kim! You’re the best ever ever ever.
I absolutely love those photos, Tamara! And of course Grandma doesn't mind Des drool on her sweater. It's Des drool! Who would mind?
It sounds like you wouldn’t mind! Perhaps when we stay in your guest room, Des will drool on you!
Haha! Drool accepted!
Glad you're all on the mend. Thanks for the love fest –
beautiful photos 🙂
Thanks! Feels so good..to feel good.
I love that you and your sister look like twins or irish twins or something like that haha! Des is an angel. You are right! Your sister and her boyfriend do look adorable together. Maybe there will be some cute wedding photos of that on your blog one day? 🙂
awwww thank you Brittnei! I'd love to look like my sister!! and absolutely on the wedding photos! xoxo
haha, Irish twins! Almost. We’re 22 months apart though, and not 11. I hope to take photos of her wedding! I can’t be THE photographer because I’ll be toasting and delighting and all, but wild horses couldn’t keep me from my camera.
Wow, looking at your photos made me so happy! Beautiful photos! You are an amazing photographer!
Thank you so much! I love to make people happy. I think we all need it on a Monday.
You are 100% right:) xoxo
I can't manage the filler post either, and I'm also very behind on my photography projects. LOL
Isn't that the way? If only I could have just one whole day to just edit photos with no interruption. I can't even imagine.
Totally see what you mean about a love share. All of the photos are great, but those last few are just spectacular, Tamara.
Thanks! I’m so partial to them. I let them sit around for way too long before sharing. It was time.
Those last 3 pics make me want to pick Des up and hug him! Love them. Your sister…beautiful!
AWWWW!!!!! Andrea xoxox
Thanks! He’s very huggable.
I love a good “love share” photo post. I know that sometimes it may seem like ‘phoning it in’, but it still takes a lot of time to pull all the photos together to create a story…and you’ve done that beautifully. As always. Clearly your kids and your family love each other dearly. (BTW, love how your sister’s boyfriend and Des match like a staged family shoot…too adorable!)
Thank you for saying that. Yes, photos take way more time than writing! I don't know what I was thinking!
Such sweet photos!
Thank you very much!
Those pictures are so amazing. All of them. Gorgeous, model family!!!
Aw, thanks! They’re all easy on the camera.
Before I saw that that was your sister, I thought “wow, Scarlet and her sort of look a lot alike” in that side profile pic. Love these photos. Your sister and her boyfriend are a gorgeous couple by the way! I love the photos with Des and your mom, so sweet.
Interesting! Like aunt, like niece.
There's a lot of love in these pictures! Beautiful!
Thank you!
Oh my goodness, I just want to reach right into my screen and scoop up Des! What a little love bug. I can see why you wanted to spend more time on these photos. Glad the virus is leaving you house! Must have been very cathartic to cleanse your house (I'm going through that right now).
Yes, it’s wonderful. Wishing good health to you both! To you three, really..
This is definitely a love share post! 🙂 I love these family photos! You can't even tell that little Des is under the weather. You and your sis have gorgeous hair! I hope your household is all better now. I hate clingy viruses too!
Thank you! We all have such thick hair. It looks like Des got it too. And we all seem better, thanks!
I scroll through these gorgeous pictures and see people who truly love each other! What an amazing thing that is!
Thank you so much. It's what I see too, and really wanted to capture.
I used to feel the urge to post the "brb" posts just to fill in days, but Ive gotten over that. I post when it's important. Those love photos are super important!!
haha! A “brb” post would probably make my day.
Oh how beautiful those pictures are!!! And OHMYGOSH how GORGEOUS that couple of hotties is!! 😉
I am so so glad you are feeling better, my friend. I have been praying for you, your yuck, your well being all around. I thought of you late last night when I looked out the window and saw the snow pouring down- I had that deep sigh….
That ‘ugh. I’m not ready for this.’ And I thought, I may perhaps soon be entering what Tamara entered a few weeks ago. Kids are getting stuffier and coughier by the minute. It’s okay. The sun is shining now- and THAT makes all the difference in the world to me. You know what I mean?
Just give me the light. 🙂
Thank you for thinking of me! The snow – yikes! We haven't gotten it here yet. I'll think the way you do, though. Snow means bright white. Bright white reflects all of the light. That's what I'm going with here.
Your love share is perfection. So sorry that your cold has lingered for so long but am happy that it’s leaving your bodies and your home. We’re fighting one here too. Yesterday, I was downstairs on the phone with my son’s teacher. My husband was upstairs with our son. He sent me this text:
Can you come see whether I have a fever
The ? at the end was obviously too exhausting for him. Oh and the thermometer is upstairs. Sigh.
You and your sister look so much alike!
hahaha!! So does he have a fever?
I never thought I looked like my sister but maybe we do more as adults!!
Your pictures ALWAYS make a smile appear on my face. I’m in such a slump and not feeling upbeat in the least, but then I see your pictures, your babies, your family….and turns my frown into a smile.
Funny how your two “Little’s” look alike, as do you and your sister! =)
Thanks! It's funny to think about us looking alike, and like my kids looking alike! It's hard for me to see.
T, my sweet T, as I referred to you to the Hubs the other day down here on the farm… phenomenal LOVE shots!!!! Your sister & her beau look great together. Filler posts- yucky, sometimes, I'm just not feeling it, like this weekend when we were all sitting around & I said anybody wanna write the sing off Sunday? They said "can we take a week off?" LOL… xoxo, darlin'
I love that you called me "my sweet T" to your husband! It sounds like a delicious beverage. I loved your "in place of" Sing Off Sunday post!
Pickin' and grinnin'!
I just realized all my posts are fillers. I’m just waiting for that one big idea.
And it occurred to me as I sit here with achy skin and warm eyes that I might be coming down with something, but it happened before I came to your blog, so I don’t blame you.
I am also grateful that you and your family and everyone involved is beautiful, but I would think such excellent photography skills paired with an ugly family would be tough to take, you know?
I have a photographer friend and one day she said to me, “It’s ok. You can admit it. It’s easier when people are pretty.” I laughed. It’s not necessarily true, but it is easier when some people don’t freeze up and scowl when I aim the camera at them. And I’m talking about adults!
Gorgeous photos. And can I have your sister’s arms?? Ask her for me mmm-k? LOL
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(¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
http://raising-reagan.com
haha, maybe she'll see this and answer you!
Your photos are beautiful. I was thinking of you as I was posting to my blog today, I love your style of photos and words and while I was not imitating you necessarily, knowing how you deliver your thoughts gave me permission to be free-er with mine. And I needed to allow myself that freedom. So thank you, I hope you are feeling better, and thank you as always for sharing your lovely family!
I am so glad to have read it. I think it was beautiful and definitely in your unique style!
These made me smile. I can relate to the Auntie love.
I’m so glad you and Des are feeling better.
I think (or perhaps it’s just me) that you are partial to pics of Des in his half away half asleep dream state. Now if I had to use my mommy guesses as to that it would be because there is something about holding a sweet “baby” (really any child three and under) that is asleep or about to be asleep that gives you that nice calm feeling. The one where you can crawl into a blanket, snuggle, and take a nap. Even though you weren’t really tired. It’s just that calm. All is right with the world.
I love your pictures. 🙂
Those photos made me feel “happy” so beautiful. BTW your entire family is gorgeous! I am so glad you are feeling better or at least are starting too!
Thank you so much!
And all better now. 100%!
Your ability to capture the moments is magical. Your children are going to treasure these when they are older…you truly document all that is good in life!
Thank you! I can’t wait for Des to be older enough to comment on my photos the way Scarlet does.
The Auntie love is some good love!
I do love to photograph (or see) Des in that state. I know I won't always get that chance, but for now, he's still my schmoopy boy.
des is so scrumptious, like a little teddy bear. so huggable!!!
This is lovely.
So glad you are feeling better. Being sick is yucky.
I've done a couple of filler posts over this last year my friend. I will admit it. I am not proud of them but mostly they turn out to serve a purpose. I LOVE the idea of YOU sharing pictures in the event that you need a filler.
I think your sister is so beautiful. She won't be girlfriend for long 🙂