Halloween!

Happy Halloween!


From my punkins to you.

Matoska Practice

A few days before I was doing my shoot at Matoska Park, I took the fam to check it out first. And took photos along the way, duh.

They love each other.


Spotted: four deer!


Spotted: one hottie!


Spotted: three whippersnappers.


The tall grass was good for pictures AND fun to run through.


Then there's this perfectly framed dock.


The sun set. And the moon rose.


One last capture but this one's by Sean. Matoska Park was a winner.

Supers

With power like the surging waves of the ocean, Super Liam is here to serve the people!

Super Dash is ready to protect with his lightning fast speed!

Super Grey brings good all around, like a shining star! Except he's off duty right now.

But Super Dash and Super Liam are ready to save the day!

Hark, what's that? A ladybug in trouble! Never fear, help is on the way!

(Thanks, Jaime, for the masks!) 

Anna and Connor Engagment || Minnehaha Falls

It was a round about way that I came to shoot these engagement photos but I feel so privileged to have been able to capture these images. They're such a beautiful couple and so obviously smitten with each other. And I think we got Minnehaha Falls' leaves in their prime. Here are my favorites:

Warm Fall Evening

Fall weather's kind of a fun treat after a hot summer, isn't it? The chance to get cozy, rather than wanting to shed all but the most necessary clothing. But then the cold wind gets frustrating and you just want to go outside without a coat, dang it. And then a warm day pops up here and there and they are the most glorious days of all. Divine warmth! Carefree adventures! Here's one of our little warm evenings.

Everyone's so happy to be in short sleeves that they've burst out in song.


See, everyone.


With all the seasonal change, Grey decides to instill a bit more order, starting with the chalk.


Then a little walk. This is how family walks usually go. Liam and Dash way out front. Grey being held. Me uselessly behind, taking photos, reminding the twins to "stay on the side of the road!"


The destination of our trip: the first tree afire. Which seems silly now that they're all glowing and beautiful. But a couple weeks ago it was just this one against the green. A little treasure on a warm fall evening.

Sheesh

Sheesh, this is a beautiful place.

'Scope

Did you know Sean and I took an astronomy class together? For a brief period of time, I could identify a boatload of constellations. Sean even minored in the subject (and can still identify a boatload of constellations). We like outer space in this family.


Sean was given a telescope when he was younger but we haven't used it in a while. Having just done a preschool session on Space, we thought we'd crack it open and see what we could see. We met friends at a park after nightfall and got to 'scoping. Turns out, it was a bad astronomy month- all the planets were on the wrong side at night, moon wasn't out, etc. We could see lots of stars but that's less interesting to kids. They more enjoyed the playground in the dark.


So a few days later, Sean thought he'd just try to see the moon during the day. It was a perfect idea.


All the kids got a turn and thought it was so neat to see the moon's detail.


Grey's like, "so this goes where?"


He figured it out and became very serious about it.


Sean snapped an iphone photo through the eyepiece. Pretty great view, eh?

Grey Turns Two (Part 2: Everything Else)

Once we returned home from the apple farm, we had a quick lunch and then... CAKE!


Yes, we did do the candle thing twice so I could do a video take and a photographed take. So what? I like documentation. And Grey likes candles.


We also opened up presents!


And then played with presents. Chalk (and an easel)!


Mimi and Pompa's awesome race track! (let's not forget Grandma and Grandpa's Children's Museum Pass renewal!)


No birthday is complete without balloons!


This kid, he had a pretty great day. My lucky two-year-old.

Grey Turns Two (part 1: Apple Farm)

Remember how this little man had a birthday last month? Imma tell you about it (in two parts!).


Sean had the day off and the weather was lovely, how about a trip to the apple farm?


Last year Grey wasn't big enough to ride the tractor train, so this was a big moment!


In most of the pictures of the tractor train, Grey's twisted back to look at his brothers. I imagine he's thinking, "can you believe this? This is awesome, guys!"


A little goat petting (at first I wrote "pet goating." I'd like to see a picture of that)


We spent some time in a hay maze and I'll tell you one thing: It was very stressful. And it wasn't even that big! Where's Liam? Wait, now where's Dash? Hey, now I'm missing Grey AND Liam!


The two-year-old enjoyed his time in line waiting for the hayride. Until he got STUNG BY A BEE a few seconds after this photo. It landed on his collar bone just as he was shifting, causing his shirt to cover the bee. I reached up to pull back the shirt to find the bee trying to escape with his stinger stretched back on Grey's skin. I snagged the bee and flung it away (which now gives me the willies to think about. Mommy adrenaline) but the damage was done. Grey recovered rather quickly, though. That was a very mean birthday present, Mr. Insect, very mean indeed.


A moment to compare heights.

And then I took three photos that I will most certainly have printed.

1


2


3
Those kids of mine...


We stepped inside to see what the shop had to offer. Grey stood like this for many, many minutes.


We got some special birthday donuts and (overpriced) apple cider to finish off the morning.


Besides the bee incident, a pretty fantastic start to a birthday! Stay tuned for the rest of his day.