First Real Cut

Two weeks ago after Millz had a shower with Hubbs, I decided enough was enough. I had to rid her of her awful tresses.

She had a haircut when she was six days old. We did it with all of the kids, you know, to keep some of that sweet, super dark newborn hair before it all falls out. Then she had one when she was about six months old because we had been giving her beautiful little faux-hawks and wanted t0 keep that style.

As she got more hair, that haircut backfired and she ended up looking more mullet-like than adorable toddler. All she needed was a creepy 80's stache and all would be well.

So, I sat her down, and in my haste forgot to take a photo of the before, plus it is really hard to cut hair, take photos of said cutting, and then take photos after. I got one of the three, not bad.

I cut about 1.5" off of her adorable curls. (I know some of you are scoffing and saying, "Curls? What curls?" Just so you know this is as curly as it gets in our house.)

She went from such nicknames as, "Witch hair" "White Trash Hair" "Rat's Nest" "Ugly" Etc, etc (Aren't we endearing?), to pretty much calling her the same thing. Girl is all business in the front and ratty party in the back, but at least now she lacks the mullet-like rat's nest in the back.

Today she actually looked pretty darn cute if I do say so myself. As of today, no one has even noticed her haircut.

Love this squishy girl. Love, love, love, love her.

Also? She moves a lot when taking photos. Hence why these are so out of focus.

I leave you for the weekend with this:

...may it be merry and bright.

xoxo

Never ending summer.

Aren't you loving this never ending summer? (At least here in Utah it is staying blissfully warm.) I like it like that. Where there is just the teensiest bit of chill in the morning and in the evening that is letting you know fall is on its way. But, it can take it's time.

Some photos from the past few weeks.

All taken on a Yashica Mat24G the SUPER close up ones were with the CRAPPIEST close up filters I have ever seen. I swear they are made of plastic or something. The film? Some OLD Kodak Portra 400NC I got from THE Ryan Muirhead. His work is bomb...you should check it out. Anyway, the older film gets the more whack the color is. Hence why these look so...well, whack. But all is well, I love them all, for their plastic-lensy feel and for the subjects. I think they turned out beautifully and truly express how I am feeling these days. Like the summer, I never want these days to end.

Hope you all have a BLISSFUL weekend. I have an amazing session in the morning and then I am free to spend it with the ones I love. Hope you can too.

Enjoy.

xoxo

New York: Part 5 Statue of Liberty

Advice and things we did while waiting to visit Miss Liberty. (In no particular order.)

Get there EARLY. As in, 6:00 a.m. to stand in line early. (Or so is the word on the street.) Or else stand in a REALLY long line for 4 hours, and MAYBE get a chance to see her.

Be super disappointed when finding out they only give out 3,000 tickets daily to go any farther than the height of the island. We got to stay on said island while we watched hundreds of people enjoy her feet. (Sorry Sam, I couldn't get your shot because we were shunned to the ground.)

If you want to hang with the cool kids, get your tickets here, so you can go to the crown and see the statue as she was meant to be seen.

The wisest man I have ever met in my life was selling water to the hot and huddled masses standing in said line of death. He must be a millionaire.

Sit on the benches if someone can hold your place in line. Make sure to sit by someone wearing a beautiful Sari.

Try to divert the attention of your children from the 90 degree weather and 70% humidity by letting them get super dirty and pick up rocks, sticks, and pull the seeds out of the tree pods. Then take photos of all of those things so they can remember them.

Look down at the ground. There is a lot of spit out gum on the sidewalks of New York City, and really pretty sewer covers. Wait, can sewer covers be pretty?

Get teary when seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time, up close from the ferry.

Take a rare family photo with the New York City skyline behind you. And thank film because you can actually see the skyline.

Edit photos of New York on a gray background in photoshop, because if you use black, you will see the negative on your scans. Oops.

Lastly, take a photo of your kids in front of Miss Liberty. You may have to lay on the ground on all of that gum we discussed (because of the lack of a wider angle lens) but it will be worth it. See their smiles and be thankful you came. Five hour trip and all.

I sure am.

New York: Part 4 Central Park

The evening of our first day, when we were all beat and tired and hot, we ended up in beautiful Central Park.

I cannot tell you the feelings it brings to my heart to have given my children this experience of traveling. Since our trip, whenever they see the park, or a show set in New York, they remember.

This trip was to celebrate our ten-year wedding anniversary that is coming up in December. Of course it would have been much cheaper, simpler, faster, to have gone by ourselves. But that is the thing, it was so much better taking our kids with us.

I love sharing my dreams:

Hot dogs and pretzels in Central Park.
(really stale hot dogs and pretzels.)







(She was the only smart one, she is only pretending to eat here. She spit is out immediately.)





Kids were enthralled with the rocks.











And the bridges.



It was a short stay that day in the park, I wanted to go back, the kids wanted to go back.

Hopefully one day we will.

New York: Part 3

My family arrived bright and early, courtesy of the red eye flight.

They came looking ragged and sleepy. Luckily we were able to sneak in a small nap for them at The Hilton before we had to attempt a check in at The Wingate. A little known secret if you haven't been to New York: good luck finding a hotel room to accommodate five people. So I lied. I blatantly lied that we only had 2 kids and spent my entire time in New York hiding that fact from the hotel.

Unluckily they wouldn't allow us to check in until 3. (Effers) So we dropped off our stuff at the hotel and went walking. The kids were in jammies, I hadn't thought ahead to change them, thinking they would let us check in early. I had changed Millz, but not the other kids, so off we went after breakfast/brunch at the RUDEST Burger King on the planet, then off to the largest Macy's on the planet. We got the kids some clothes and then we went walking...and walking...and walking. (Please ignore the black film line on my scans, I didn't notice it until uploading, as I edit on a black background...that is changing right now.):

Still exhausted. Sweet thing.



Joth lost a tooth in NYC! It was amazing the Tooth Fairy found him SO far away from home.







Uhm, most definitely my most favorite photo at the moment.

We ended up at FAO Schwarz, the famous toy store (or infamous if you are not going to buy your kids a thing...i.e. me), and finished up with a walk on the 'Big' piano. That was rad. I loved that movie when I was a kid. We would watch it over and over and over while staying at my aunt's house. It was fun for us adults and super fun for the kids.

Making a belt out of a plastic bag. We are stellar parents in case you were wondering.







Probably my favorite view our entire trip. Love looking at these tiny, squishy feet.

Stay tuned for more New York minutes later this week.