Country Fair, Summer Fun, Earthquake!

Last week we went to the county fair and it was SO MUCH FUN.  The girls loved the animals.  We almost saw a live birth of a cow.  We (my friend and me) waited 30 minutes (with 5 girls 6 and under) which is no small feat.  But alas, we had to break for lunch.  And as we're chomping on our pizza, Chloe the cow birthed Curtis the calf.  We missed it by minutes!  Sad!  I've secretly wanted to be a doula because I've wanted to witness a live birth when I'm not the one doing it...I thought this might have satisfied that for me, but it didn't.  We went back to visit Curtis, and he was adorable.  We did at least see him stand for the first time.

We also rode some rides.  Get there early and there are no lines...and no one there at all actually.  That didn't stop Eloise.  She rode her ride all by herself and had a great time.

Here's a shot from our RV trip to NC.  I love these piers.  I think this would be a perfect place to get married.  I've been going through some old photos because I'm really behind on personal stuff.  Now that my photography blog is settled and I've got a better sense for my work flow, I hope to be blogging personally at least once a week.  With my point and shoot in my pocket, my family blogging will no longer suffer.  Or, just suffer less.

So we went to the fair, enjoyed a summer weekend, biked around the neighborhood, hosted a church cook-out, and rode out our first earthquake.

Earthquakes are loud.  Did you know that?  At first I thought it was the dryer, then a flash mob in my basement, the house they are building up the street must have exploded, then our house was about to blow!  AH!, I thought about how Jesus said we'd not know the time or place of his second coming and I thought "He was right, I didn't expect this today..." and after a long 45 seconds, while Eloise and I stood in Cordelia's room watching her sleep, I thought, I think it's over.  That must have been an earthquake.  And we are ok.

45 seconds is a long time to shake and think.

Jesus did not come back yesterday, but we did have a once in a century earthquake.  Just like that once in a century snow 2 years ago.  When Jesus comes back, I will be ready.

Have you read "Heaven is for Real?"  It's a great book, especially for those of you who have children and have experienced a death recently.  Or, for anyone who is curious about Heaven. Or anyone who has lost someone and are curious.  It's a really comforting and faith strengthening book.

As the little boy says to a dying man, "It's ok.  The first person you will see is Jesus."  Praise God.  I can't imagine a more beautiful face.

August 1-7. Not so bad!

Can't believe we've worked our way through 7 days of August.  This summer has flown.  I was nervous, very very nervous, about this summer.  Me, the girls, and a lot of hours to fill.  What were we going to do?  Too much freedom is scary.  I need a schedule!

But guess what.  It's been pretty awesome so far.  I'm learning to relax and enjoy.  As I think about Eloise going to school 5 days a week next year, all the activities, my new business, the church studies, the committee meetings, etc, etc, etc, I remind myself to sit back and soak in the boredom.

Come September 25, I'll be longing for summer again.

Want to see what cool adventures we've been up to this first 7 days of August?
Click here:  http://emilylargephotography.com/blog

That's my business blog.  And it's personal one, too.  So follow me there.

Pictures and Personal catch-up

Want to see what my girls were up to yesterday?

See on my new blog: emilylargephotography.com/blog

Want some simple tips to make your photos better?

See on my new blog: emilylargephotography.com/blog

Want to . . .  just kidding.  :-)  Here are some personal updates, though.

After 3 days of Vacation Bible School, we are tired and easing into the home stretch.  It's been a wonderful year with 175 campers, 60ish teen counselors, and lots of moms working off their rears.  It's been a blessing to many and we thankful for the smooth scheduling and safety of the children.

I'm keeping more than busy with photo shoots.  Alex is keeping more than busy with funerals, births, preaching, VBS, and a new rector who will be called shortly.  Eloise is keeping busy with her VBS friends, sprinkler play, and Delia is the queen of the nursery this week.

We're tired, and I'm busy, and I'm going to watch some Yo Gabba Gabba with Eloise.

Facebook

Emily Large Photography is on Facebook now.

I want you to want me.  

I need you to need me.  

I'd love you to love me.  

I'm beggin' you to beg me.

Is that tune stuck in your head now?  Oops.  Sorry!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Emily-Large-Photography/205407696161061?sk=wall

My Girls

These are my girls!  I'm a proud mama.

Happy Belated Alex

I'm weeks late in saying Happy Birthday to my sweet husband.  All your ladies love you!

We didn't celebrate much, but we did have a fantastic night tonight.  We went to the Mumford and Sons concert, loved the energy and music, and made it home in time to watch the final minutes of the Mavericks win.  Completely awesome.

Vacation Bible School is coming up--175 children with us all week at church.  Our whole family will be involved.  Pray that it's a blessing to all who come and participate.

We have a new purple sprinkler and a big box of popsicles and that is what we do most of the time these days.  Cordelia calls Eloise "Wee-Weese" and it's adorable.  Eloise even will call herself "Wee-Weese" from time to time.  Cordelia calls herself "Ya."  It melts me.

I'm switching my blog time to emilylargephotography.com now.  I just don't have enough time for both these days, as you can tell.  This post is completely disjointed, but isn't that photo great?  Happy Birthday Alex.  We all love you!

My other blog

That's right, friends, I now have another blog.  A less wordy and less personal blog, a more photo-rific blog (technically "blogsite").

Here she is:  emilylargephotography.com

Check it out.  It's been taking a lot of my time and energy but is turning out to be fantastically fruitful.  I'm in "summer business" mode and am quickly becoming accustom to shooting sessions, editing, and mailing off my images.  I'm still shooting for lots of friends but have also started meeting and shooting for new friends, references.  Did you know that a large percentage of business success comes from references?  People, friendships, relationships are what drive most consumer choices.

Speaking of that, my friend Stacy helped me tremendously with design.  Check out her creative card business at bumbleberryink.com  She's an awesome woman with great vision in the DFW area.

I'd love for you to check it out, check me out on Facebook, and spread the news if you want.

Like I said before, I hope to keep the Large Story up and running with family news and photos but for the time being, it'll be playing second fiddle to my newest venture.

Thanks, y'all, for being such wonderful blog friends to me!

This Blog

I'm not sure what my future holds as a personal blogger.  All the time I used to devote to our beloved Large Story is now being spent on my new photography venture.  I'm booking sessions, editing photos, adding and editing my website, ordering business cards, looking into tax requirements, etc.  It's taking all my free time.

My once over photographed children are now under photographed.  I didn't even post a Happy Birthday post to Alex.  And I haven't even looked at all our RV photos yet.  Instead I'm oohing and awing over this beautiful family with 5 children from Tuesday night and the little newborn I met in the hospital on Wednesday morning.  I'm slacking on the personal blog front and that's just the way it's going to be for now.

I'm pleased as punch with my creative venture and as soon as I complete my new photo blog I hope you'll follow me there as well.  But don't worry, Mom, the Large Story will remain, it'll just move more slowly.

And now I will tell you how important it is to know how to use the self timer on your camera.  It's very important.  And, eating smores on an RV trip is crucial.  There's no right way to eat them, just do it.  Every night.

Will we go RVing again?  Absolutely.  We loved it.  We were gone for 4 days, 3 nights and that was a wonderful amount of time.  I should have brought a broom though.  We never used the potty in the RV.  I wish I had been more organized.  We loved Topsail Beach and can't wait to get to the beach again soon.  Raleigh is an awesome city but seeing Aunt Molly was even better.

Do we recommend it?  Yes.

Next up: Beach photos and Eloise's recital.  So cute!

An RV art show

We are home from a quick RV trip to see my sister in NC.

It was awesome.  

There's not more to say than that.  We loved the adventure of driving out of the crowded city in a tacky Cruise USA RV, the nature and beauty that the campsite offered, the flexibility, the coziness.  Alex said he felt thousands of miles away from the office.  We've come home refreshed.

I have lots of details to fill you in on--our beach day and Eloise's ballet recital in particular.  But I can't get to everything tonight because we have a house guest.  My close from the big D is here and that time is precious.

So I'll post a few photos from the art exhibit we experience.  It's a luminary created by "Architect of Air."  So very cool.  If you have a chance, go visit your sister in Raleigh and then go to this art show.

These photos are unedited so that you can get the full effect of what we were feeling.  Look at the photos, imagine the natural colors from the sun, the cool air against our skin, and then play some groovy music in your mind. That is how it felt.

A Family Photo Shoot

Nothing is getting accomplished tonight except going through these beautiful photos--laundry to be washed, dishes sitting out, toys strewn around me.  I usually care about these things (well, sort of care about these things) but after a photo shoot I have to get to work.  I have to see what I treasures I got!

And this family is a real treasure to us.  In seminary, they were members of our dinner club, no wait, there were rules, right?  The first rule was "there is no dinner club..."  So never mind about that.  :-)

So long time friends, a fellow clergy family, a stylish mom who is a mama extraordinaire, and 5 lively little ones running around.  I loved coming out to see you guys tonight!  Thanks so much for your friendship, encouragement, and love.

Today

Surprise, girls!  The school inspector didn't think the trampoline was such a good idea, so guess who gets to enjoy it now?  There are some great perks to having your dad be the pastor.  A free trampoline (score!) and a leftover church lasagna (double score!) in one night?!  Thank you very much, we love it.

Here we are at 7:30am this morning, jumping and playing on the back deck in blissful 50 degree weather while Alex and I sip our warm coffee.  I love Spring time.  

And I hope they never get tired of our new tramp.  (And never stop wearing all pink.)

The fairytale day came to a screeching halt for Eloise.  Cordelia had to go to the doctor and get 2 shots.  It hurt her but it hurt Eloise even more.  The sweet girl's empathy is enormous.  Stage crying will be a cinch for this little lady.  I know her spot in Les Miserables is sealed.

But home we came from the doctor.  We made a pitstop in the front yard.  Picked some dandelions.  Watered our new bushes (thank you to our neighbor who gave us 4 of his azaleas) and our vegetable garden (tomatoes, lettuce, green beans, basil, and "fairy flowers").

And then through the house to the back porch to jump some more.  

Thank you Mr. Preschool Inspector man!

A Family Photo Shoot

Happy Mother's Day to my good friend and mother to these beautiful children.  She's been my friend from Bible study for several years.  She's faithful, thoughtful, and has a shabby chic style that's perfect.  (Can you come help decorate my home?)

Here are her little ones from tonight.  They are loads of fun and full of life!  A set of twins and a little sister following, or leading . . .  I think the baby is leading the way.  :-)

Thanks to you all for a fun evening.  And again, Happy Mother's Day!

Garden