I actually had a totally different 10 on 10 planned for this month... but at the 11th hour, this happened. :)
Now head on over to Jodie's blog to see her 10 for August!
/10 on 10/ July 2015
Another great 4th of July at the cabin! The highlight of the weekend was Emma finally fishing on her own (she's been building up to it for the past two summers). She was fearless, persistent, and hilarious. She named each worm, named each fish, and comforted the fish as Jared removed the hook. She probably caught 10 fish all on her own by the time the weekend was over, and was so thrilled to be a "real fishergirl!" :) /1/ Taking this big sister thing to a new level
/2/ Perfectly capable of doing it on his own
/3/ My favorite old door in all the land
/5/ Got a bite!
/6/ Back to wandering
/7/ Time to cool down
/8/ I believe this one was "Slimy Joe"
/9/ Reel 'em in!
/10/ My guys <3
Please head over to Dominique's blog to check out her incredible 10 on 10!
/10 on 10/ June 2015
We were in North Carolina this past weekend, and despite 15 hours in the car with 2 toddlers over 2 days, we had a great time. The kids were especially excited about their first hotel stay (that they remember). /1, 2/ morning cartoons
/3, 4, 5/ when in Rome
/6, 7, 8/ back in the car
/9, 10/ big kid cups are the best
Click here to check out Carri's stellar 10 on 10!
/10 on 10/ May 2015
/1/ breakfast antics
/2/ riding the "bus" to school
/3/ a different perspective
/4/ who needs gymnastics when there's mama and daddy's bed?
/5/ school picnic face painting
/6/ Time to wake up!
/7/ waiting for her polish to dry
/8/ she named him John and brought him grass to eat
/9/ it's amazing how one tiny brownie can multiply in volume and mess making potential when in the hands of a toddler
/10/ story time
I'm joined in this project by a group of super talented photographer friends. Please head over to Jodie's blog to see her entry for this month, then follow the circle around until you end up back here!
/10 on 10/ March 2015
We busted the Learning Tower back out last weekend and Jonah is a wee bit obsessed with it. As soon as he got up there we couldn't get him to come back down. Half an hour later, I had my 10 on 10 for this month...
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Please head over to Christine’s blog to see her 10 on 10 for this month!
/10 on 10: 2015/ February
/1/ couch slide
/2/ Huggle Buggle's turn
/3/ love this kid
/4/ chomp
/5/ old tracks at Harper's Ferry
/6/ hold on to your hats!
/7/ road weary
/8/ daddy's got you
/9/ wheeeeee
/10/ time to head home
Now I encourage you to head over to Ann's blog to see her take on this month's 10 on 10!
/10 on 10/ December
It's my last 10 on 10 post of the year! Instead of sharing my usual 10 photos from a single day, I thought I'd do a year-end recap of my 10 favorite photos from 2014. I'm a little relieved that these were much harder to narrow down than I thought - a sign that I should feel really happy with my photography this year. In past years I had many technically good photos, or photos that were personally meaningful, but not many that accomplished both. This year was different. I discovered my vision, I captured what I wanted to remember, I took photos that made my heart sing. So without further adieu, my top 10 for 2014 (in chronological order)...
/1/ Oh, this face. This photo is just so her... girly, but messy, sweet but a little mischievous. Every cup of hot cocoa after sledding was an event unto itself last winter, and I reveled in watching her enjoy every last drop.
/2/ This photo... this photo is every photographer mom's holy grail. Both kids smiling and looking at the camera in good light. It happens once in a blue moon, and I'm so happy it happened by chance because it makes this photo that much more meaningful for me. Both still in their PJs, Emma's hair a mess, Jonah snuggling with Emma's lovey. Had I tried to plan this, it wouldn't have worked nearly as well or meant nearly as much. I will love this photo forever and ever.
/3/ This photo makes my heart so happy... I hope I can always make her feel this content and secure.
/4/ This photo means so much more to me than meets the eye. This was taken at the cabin and it was one of her very first times having french braids. She looked so grown up. But just under the braid you can see the tick bite on her neck - a traumatic experience for all involved and juxtaposed with the braid it was a reminder to me that she's still so vulnerable. She was laying on her daddy's lap here and I remember feeling in that moment how this photo still makes me feel... in awe of her beauty, her fragility, the ache of a mama's heart who can't stop time.
/5/ As much as I want to remember the good stuff, it's important to remember the struggle, too. So many nights after work and daycare were spent just like this. All Jonah wanted was to be held by his mama, but dinner had to get made. I was already so tired, but couldn't say no to that face, those eyes. So this was our beautiful compromise.
/6/ My favorite shots of Emma are always the ones where I feel like I thoroughly capture her personality. This kid has energy for days and jumping on the bed is one of her all-time favorite things to do.
/7/ This is my second favorite image of the two of them. Every morning they would stand at that window and watch their dad walking Rocco. They'd knock and wave and it was the cutest thing ever. I just love their connection here.
/8/ I love this one for two reasons... 1) Jonah is just so stinking cute and I vividly remember this stage of constantly chewing on everything. And 2) because it reminds me of what an unsung hero my husband is.
/9/ This is probably one of the best photos I've ever taken and I'm so grateful I happened to be standing in the right place at the right time so I could capture this moment between Jonah and my dad.
/10/ Not the best photo from a technical standpoint, but one I love dearly because of my mom's expression. She's so silly with my kids, so free. She wasn't always like this and it makes me so happy to see her this way now. My kids are immensely lucky to have her for their Nana.
I encourage you to head over to Felicia's blog for some more 10 on 10 fun, then continue around the circle until you end up back here!
/10 on 10/ November
/1/ He's a climber, alright
/2/ Bounce house fun
/3/ Jonah was a big fan
/4/ Kicking back with Phonics Island
/5/ Always so happy when he wakes up from a nap
/6/ Rollin', rollin', rollin'...
/7/ Asleep at the wheel
/8/ Look at me, mama!
/9/ Love that smile
/10/ Golden girl
I’m joined in this project by a group of crazy talented photographers. I urge you to click over to Sherry’s blog to check out her 10 on 10.
/10 on 10/ October
We're at the beach this week and this has been one of my favorite days so far...
/1/ morning train
/2/ and she's off
/3/ races
/4/ practicing her "guh-mastics"
/5/ focused
/6/ wedgie
/7/ building Arendelle (of course)
/8/ hide and seek with Nana
/9/ found you!!
/10/ tickle time
I'm joined in this project by a group of crazy talented photographers. I urge you to click over to Felicia's blog to check out a day in her life.
/10 on 10/ September
Doing something a bit different this month... All of the previous month's I've documented an entire day, so I'm switching it up and documenting a single moment this month. These are from the cabin over Labor Day weekend. Emma had been fishing with her little toy fishing pole for the past year and this trip she was ready to fish for real... I'm so so grateful I had my camera with me as this all unfolded!
I’m joined in this project by a group of amazing photographers… head on over to Davina’s blog to see a day in her life, then continue around the circle until you end up back here!
\10 on 10\ August
Park + Pool + Kidstock = best Saturday we've had in a long time...
\1\ The only benefit to waking up so early
\2\ Digging
\3\ Thirsty
\4\ Adult swim
\5\ Chompers
\6\ Metamorphosis 
\7\ Festival kid
\8\ Big Blue
\9\ Like no one's watching
\10\ Sunset over Kidstock
I’m joined in this project by a group of amazing photographers… head on over to Christine’s blog to see a day in her life, then continue around the circle until you end up back here!
\10 on 10\ July
Back for another 10 on 10! This month you're looking at a Shellaway Summer Sunday...
\1\ Remote thief
\2\ Trucks 'n Chucks
\3\ Run like a chicken
\4\ Two of a kind
\5\ Step right up
\6\ Emma McStuffins
\7\ Pool snack
\8\ Making breadcrumbs
\9\ Pre-bath raspberries
\10\ Goodnight, sweet girl
I’m joined in this project by a group of amazing photographers… head on over to my sweet friend Carrie’s blog to see a day in her life, then continue around the circle until you end up back here!
\10 on 10\ June
A little something different for this month's 10 on 10... a couple of the other working moms in this circle and I made a pact to document a work day in June. I feared it would be super boring, but it ended up feeling very personal because, well, it's my life!
/1/ Rise and shine
/2/ Hang time with my sweet boy
/3/ Wavy gravy
/4/ And we're off!
/5/ Empty carseats... the saddest part of my day
/6/ Workin' and pumpin'
/7/ Taking my handsome coworker for a walk
/8/ The best rear view
/9/ Nom nom
/10/ Time to edit... (and yes, I do have freakishly long toes. They're very handy when my arms are full of babies. Evolution for the win!) ;)
I’m joined in this project by a group of amazing photographers… head on over to Jessica's blog to see a day in her life, then continue around the circle until you end up back here!
\10 on 10\ May
Finally a weekend without anything going on, so we decided to take a day trip to Harper's Ferry for some hiking...
\1\ family breakfast at Family Meal
\2\ Sweetness
\3\ Driving to Harper's Ferry
\4\ Singing along to The Avett Brothers covering "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" by request... she can't get enough and we're happy to oblige
\5\ Very buggy, \6\ but very pretty
\7\ Taking in the sights of the Shenandoah River
\8\ Post-hike treat
\9\ and \10\ They sleep...
I’m joined in this project by a group of amazing photographers… head on over to Kyla's blog to see a day in her life, then continue around the circle until you end up back here!
\10 on 10\ April (Portraits of Fatherhood)
For this month's 10 on 10 I wanted to do a day in the life series on my husband, Jared... For all the curveballs life has thrown us the past couple of years, and how tough the transition to two kids has been, I look at these photos and know I married the right person. Aside from being a genuinely great guy, he's such a wonderful father and husband. I feel blessed to know the example he's setting for our children of what a real man is.
\1\ Start your engines
\2\ He always makes us breakfast on the weekends
\3\ Driving to gymnastics
\4\ Jared to me: "Don't draw attention over here! I just want to eat my yogurt without having to share it with Emma." as he spitefully savors the last spoonful :)
\5\ They're starting to spend more quality time together now that Jonah is going longer between feedings... I love the bond they're developing
\6\ These two have so many little games they play... this one is where he "makes it windy inside" by blowing on her and she just cracks up 
\7\ Pre-bath potty time, \8\ brusha brusha
\9\ Story time
\10\ Kicking back
I’m joined in this project by a group of amazing photographers… head on over to Christine’s blog to see a day in her life, then continue around the circle until you end up back here!
\10 on 10\ March
This month's 10 on 10 depicts a typical Saturday for us these days...
\1\ up way too early
\2\ watching TV on the big bed
\3\ Nana and Grampa Ed came to see Emma do her thing at "mastics"
\4 & 5\ playing and rolling
\6 & 7\ lunch time antics
\8\ up close and personal with my sleepy guy (hand held self portrait)
\9\ wheeeeee!
\10\ dinner time tunes
I’m joined in this project by a group of amazing photographers… head on over to Kyla's blog to see a day in her life, then continue around the circle until you end up back here!
\10 on 10\ February
10 on 10, cabin style... we were up there to celebrate my husband's birthday, so I thought I'd do a little day in the life of a winter cabin weekend.
\1\ Just a wee bit chilly...
\2\ Pretend menu reading
\3\ These two are pretty cute
\4\ Frozen stream
\5\ Rollin' in the snow
\6\ While the kids are napping...
\7\ It was all I could do to not eat these cheeks
\8\ Dusk
\9\ Make a wish
\10\ "Oh Lord Jesus, it's a fire"
I’m joined in this project by a group of amazing photographers… head on over to Jessica’s blog to see a day in her life, then continue around the circle until you end up back here!
\10 on 10\ January
I'm so happy to be kicking off the year with a new photography project - 10 on 10. On the 10th of every month I'll be sharing 10 photos taken on a single day in the life of our family. This month, I decided to document the day of Jonah's surgery. It was a day I'd been dreading since we first found out he needed surgery, and I figured a little photo therapy would be a nice distraction.
\1\ Early - and very cold - drive to Children's Hospital
\2\ Our tiny little patient
\3\ This was the hardest part for me... right before he went back. He was starving and miserable and all I wanted to do was take him and run the other direction. Instead I had to hand him over to strangers and trust he was in good hands.
\4\ Coming out of the anesthesia... the surgery was a success and he did great!
\5\ Tummy full, time to sleep
\6\ Family nap time
\7\ No more hernia
\8\ Hanging with daddy
\9\ Getting back to his smiley self
\10\ I think I needed this as much as he did
I'm joined in this project by a group of amazing photographers... head on over to Catherine's blog to see a day in her life, then continue around the circle until you end up back here!