ter vruggink

beautiful boys

 

man are these guys ever blessed! happy and healthy and obviously thriving in the care of their very much-into-them loving parents. We had a great time at their session, even with working around napping and feeding and how to photograph two little guys who are happiest flat on their backs. I am happy to report that the attacks of the cow (on Carter) and sheep (on Owen) were well received. Brandon and Brenda- you guys are doing a fantastic job, keep it up, and enjoy the sneak peek. :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

a day with my girls

Chloe, Sawyer and I spent last Saturday having a *girls only* day- haircuts, Marie Catrib's for lunch, a little LOCAL shopping, the farmers market and best of all- Sawyer got her ears pierced! I cannot tell you how much fun it is to be a Mom to these ladies, they are wonderful additions to my life, and to eachother. They are 10 years apart in age but still very close- sometimes it amazes me. Chloe has a way with children anyway but we all know when only Sawyer's "sis" will suffice for her. At 16 and 6 they turn a few heads when they go out and Chloe has been asked about her "daughter" more than once. I always thought that was weird- isn't it obvious they're sisters? and then I saw these photos and went "oh. wow." I think looking at them I might have thought Mother/daughter too! Uh oh. Where does that leave me??? :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

summertime...

On this particular afternoon I told Sawyer to "go outside and find something to do". In the future I will try to be a *little* more specific... ;-)

 

 

 

 

can't stop the movement

want to talk about women? and girls? and two Moms who knew what the right thing was for their daughters, and how it turned out to be the right thing for hundreds of other girls as well? Well then you need to go HERE and talk to Beth and Leslie about their journey of opening a dance studio when they weren't even dancers! :-) We have a fun project in the works, and here's a bit of a teaser:

 

 

it's the simple things in life

 These guys warm my heart.

 

 

 

 

Also I think we turned another corner. "6" and "10" sound so big somehow...

my girl is at it again

I found these after Chloe was playing in my family photo files and with my photoshop... she has the eye, that's for sure.

 

sawyer has big news

 

well~ have a good day!

That was a long awkward silence wasn't it? :-) I had a Kronos type debate with blogging and for the past several weeks the spirit just has not moved me. Do not worry, I am back to myself now and it will all be good! Where have I been you ask? ~ let me show you instead some of what I've seen while I've been living. I took a good mind clearing walk last Friday and happened upon this:

 

It reads "HAVE A GOOD DAY" Have you ever run into something like this??? Made my day. Just on some random corner. Just happened into it. Just happened to have a camera with me! I stood there and stared for a few minutes, surprises me that someone took the time to do that! Just way too cool.

 

I also was moved recently by this messenger bag:

 

and then there are the Angels in disguise. I don't do this work (not that good) but I'm starting to hear stories from my man. The volunteers in this country make the difference people! 

 

and some good people just living their lives, at a concert recently:

 

 

 

 

have a good day :-)

Happy New Year :-)

My way awesome friend Stephanie over at 2peas1pod.com whipped up my fam's cards this year when I was burned out, stressed out, and just plain DONE. Thanks girl- you do such great work: detailed, precise, and quick. Plus- it's fun working with you. :-)

Mikhail (21) holding Sawyer (5), Chloe (15 at the time), and Cade (9). Click the image for a larger version to pop up.

 

 

I was asked several times if these photos were in Alaska  (Alaska, Alaska) during our June trip- but they were actually taken in Houghton, MI at an abandoned copper mine up the hill from Mikhail's college. You can't beat the beautiful, beautiful UP for this stuff!  Took these photos on the same trip. And some outtakes:

 

 

 

close call

 December turned out to be one of the longest months I can remember. I didn't realize how worn out I was from it all until it was over. I had not one, but two, cancer scares back to back. They overshadowed everything. We had wonderful friends in town and family parties and the joyful faces of our children but I am sorry to say, I wasn't entirely present this year. I didn't help with the tree, couldn't sleep, kept forgetting things, and I know, I know- didn't blog much. :-) I had just a couple close family and friends that I relied on to keep me going that was as far as I could take it at the time. There is nothing like looking at your own mortality to clear life up for you, and people, I have checked back in! On the very day the last test came back with the all clear! stamp, and I was once again breathing deeply, the video posted below appeared in my mailbox from my friend Noonie. And then I wept. I did. wept. (and thank you girl- you hit the nail on the head again)  I want you all to watch it, but especially my own "life support staff" ~all of you that share some part of life with me :-) ~ you know who you are and I couldn't, wouldn't and won't do this life without you.  

sweetest thing

  This little guy stole my heart. He has the sweetest personality, and is very clearly, to me at least,  quite bright. He loves to read, and read, and read and will repeat the books verbatim. You all know I read quite a bit and have been around a lot of children, so take my word for it here! This is going to be a short post however, because his beautiful, dynamic, animated Momma has refused me permission to post any photos containing her! And she was a model. People- we have got to learn to be easier on ourselves! Trust me I am plenty flawed, and I need you all to know there is still much beauty in all our normalness. Little Mr. Cole:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Cade's holiday opinion

ok so this morning Todd was off doing ski patrol and the kids and I were running around the house getting ready for the holidays. As I carried a box of ornaments through the living room Cade walked by with a Santa hat on, completely in his own Santa world, practicing his best Santa voice, and I heard:

"Ho Ho Ho. Ho Ho Ho. Ho Ho Ho...   man I gotta find a new catch phrase..."

*happy birthday beautiful girl!*

 

you are a joy and we are blessed to have you in our lives! :) 

I could have stayed here all day...

I try not to be a scary photographer. When I come to do photos of your family I really come to play. To run my mouth about raising children. To laugh and sit back and watch your relationships until I get a feel of what's going on. I have to say these guys looked a little panicked when I showed up. ;) When it dawned on them that I wasn't going to force them into any contortionist poses or command their boys to "Say Cheese!" they all relaxed and we had a great time. It never hurts when a family is beautiful and well connected and happy, so working with these guys was easy. Oh, and they have great taste in decorating to boot- so it was fantastic. :) Seriously- I could have stayed all day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and you think you're busy???

 

The Conley family has a good thing going here. I sure appreciate Mom and Dad's efficiency too- that's 5 kids in three pregnancies! {I can't imagine being a triplet but I think I would have loved it.} Then right about when their house was starting to feel empty of little ones- *poof* they get to be grandparents! And their little guy commands the show, let me tell you. He is very sweet. Oh, and Grandpa might be a little wrapped around his finger... :)

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

show me the love

You all know I am a gift giver right? Oh how I love to give gifts. Recently I received 3 gifts that mean the world to me and I need to share as I start looking toward holiday shopping.

The first is a little bouquet Sawyer came home with. That girl is forever talking flowers. I think she has my sister's green thumb. Good thing too. I don't.

 

Then Chloe added 3 little paintings she did in art class. She has my sister's talent for drawing. Yeah, I don't have that either. :)

       

   

 

And I should mention now to any budding photographers that photography really takes over your life. Yours, and the lives of those around you. I have mentioned several times before that both Mikhail and Chloe have "the eye" and see the world 'through the lens' on occasion, as I do. What I haven't mentioned is that even my man is getting in on the deal. Prior to this he has limited himself to car photos (cars being a passion of his) but when he took the little kids camping without me this Fall he came home with this gift for me:

 

Taken with our family camera- the Canon digital rebel XT which I highly recommend. This shot is SO Cade. And SO Todd. And I can hear the noises Cade is undoubtedly making. He, it appears, shares his Dad's love of mountain biking. Perhaps someday Cade can have a conversation about mountain biking with current president George Bush. Just like our friend Steve Goulet did while having lunch at the Schnitz a few weeks back.  :)  (Seriously- he did! Steve was having lunch and in walks the president and strikes up a conversation about mountain biking. who knew? I don't care what your political persuasion- that's pretty cool.) Oh, and if you're local you know the Schnitz is the best deli around. period. right?

The only other gift I need right now is for our oldest to come home from college for a while. We miss him. Oh, and if you see Todd, maybe an iphone. yeah, that will do. ;)

and then there was halloween

A long time ago I put a moratorium on taking Halloween photos, and I have no idea why. I just never seem to bust out my camera on that day. The kids have to remind me to take a snap so they can remember what they were. This year my friend and neighbor, Dan Socie, who is also a professional photographer and advertiser, sent me a photo of Sawyer that he took when she was trick-or-treating at his house. He sent it along with a note that said "didn't notice the Chucky in the background until I downloaded it". Too funny! No kidding! It is at once cute and creepy. I will have nightmares about that chucky by my baby kitty!

wow

When I pictured blogging this Fall I thought I would have so many observations to share about our daily lives and all the changes the kids go through and here it is mid-November and I have said very little about our personal lives this year! I thought it would be less busy this year as I am no longer teaching and Sawyer (finally!!!) started Kindergarten. Somehow we seem busier than ever. Though I feel much more focused and balanced and not spread so thin.

I nearly missed my opportunity to give my man the shout-out he needs as well. He did the Bridge Run 5k again this year (last year here) and this time came in 3rd in his age group- and he was sporting a head cold and not feeling his best! Pretty amazing considering he's only been running a couple years now. Sawyer gets a little nervous, as you can see below :) and One of Todd's partners in crime (who teaches at Grand Rapids Community College M-Tech center with him) Chad, ran a great race as well!

      

    

 

There is always such good karma at these runs. I love taking the kids, I want them to grow up knowing a healthy high! Todd and I think it's like the feelings we get at the ski mountains- there is a general contentedness and appreciation for life when everyone is good and tired. Something about that sense of accomplishment. Speaking of skiing, it's starting to snow around here. wow.

*brand new*

  meet Sam, highly anticipated youngest brother to Ben, Tom and Anna. He is about a week and a half old here, and what a delight. It never ceases to amaze me- the sight of a newborn baby. What a miracle. Congratulations to all of you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~what is this~ an engagement session?

Sometimes in life you hit the jackpot. Like we did when Lisa and Eddie moved in two houses down from us on our old block. We had no idea at the time that they would quickly populate the block, or that they would become some of our closest friends. We had some good times watching Eddie, in particular, adjusting to life in the midwest. Eddie grew up in the Bronx and one of our first favorite stories from Lisa was how he couldn't find the mailbox in the house (that's because it's outside) ;) Lisa puts practically every woman I know to shame when it comes to productivity...the woman can single handedly remodel a house. No joke. Probably in a day (with the proper child care- that is). They are great fun and have reminded all of us that we need to keep time for friends (and I'm not even going to tell the story of the bride and the breath mints...) So it's no surprise that when we went out for a family photo shoot we had a great time- despite several young personalities and a time crunch and oh, just hear me when I say you don't want to miss the last shot in this group!

 

 

 

 

 

Surprise! Twins!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Priceless! :)   (click on this photo to see it bigger)

oh baby girl! can you believe it?

I'm going to be a tease this morning, I don't have time to post the rest~ look at this beauty:

 

wait 'til you see her twin brother... ;)

One of my *best* girls

I just want her to know I love her and our 22ish years of friendship are some of my life treasures! I, for one, am glad she moved back to the states. Also I think this marks the first time we had a decent photo together...(thanks Ryan)  ;)

Don't know what I'd do without your advice Steph. No stray cats. I'm working on it. :)

 

What is it about editing that eats whole days? I get lost in it sometimes, just ask Todd. Good thing the housework is finished. I have several sessions I'm finishing, I'll try to share some here this week. I have THIS on repeat today, I am a long time Sarah MacLachlan fan and I think this one is particularly beautiful. It has been crazy busy around here, and I won't lie- I like it like that. Enjoy your day!

~maybelle~

 These guys let me bust in on their 11th anniversary to take snaps of them and their beautiful little girl! I'm so glad they did- thanks Bill & Emily, enjoy the sneak peek!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the shots I get when they think I'm watching the baby...

 

Check out the eye lashes on baby girl!!!

 

This is a little number I like to call "look at me with exactly the same look~would ya?" :)

 

 

 

Um, well we ran out of raspberries. Never a good thing.

 

We have plenty of coffee though, so no worries.

 

Guess who can put the hat on by herself?

 

Success!