Photographing children

I would love to have the time and resources to learn to be a great photographer.  I have been taking a night class at UNC in their continuing education program in photography and I have enjoyed picking up a few new skills, but I can tell the road is long to really learning what I'm doing.  Mostly what I need is time to practice.  And I know I don't have that kind of time right now. 

So for now, my goal is to occasionally capture my kids in their pure essence, being exactly themselves.  Every now and then, I take a picture that just captures their little personalities so perfectly.  I can sometimes force them into situations that improve my odds of getting that moment. I know enough to find good light.  I know enough to get in close. But sometimes, that's just not enough.  This morning before camp, in that lovely early morning light, Ella was joyfully jumping and playing and exploring the garden.  Dash, well, he just wanted nothing but for me to hold him.  I took this picture of the two of them hoping that her joy would rub off on him but I can definitively say that it did not.  I suppose this is a real life shot but it's probably not one to frame and put on my mantle. 

Me v. the 'pecial cart

Ella was only two or so when she noticed that at the grocery store there are lots of normal carts and some "pecial carts" (as she called them).  'pecial carts are those carts shaped like race cars and such, intended I imagine to keep kids happy while their parents pick up groceries.  My kids have both always liked the grocery store just fine on their own in the plain ole boring carts, thank you very much, but once Ella saw the 'pecial carts, she started asking for one every time we went to the store.  I wouldn't mind except that everything about these carts is exceptionally irritating. 

1)  The steering is atrocious.  It is a miracle I haven't knocked over a 1000-can display of baked beans with one of these yet.

2) They are heavy as sin.  Are the car parts made of lead? 

3) The basket is about half the size of a normal cart which is just not helpful when you are buying a week's worth of groceries.

I hate these carts.  But my children love them.  And because being a mom is one big lesson in "It's not about you anymore," I gave in this weekend and got the 'pecial cart and sheesh, look at them.  Could they be any happier?

Just like Sheila

<Disclaimer:  This post is about poop.  I have mixed feelings about posting about poop.  It seems so very Mommy cliche.  Although, really, everything I say is pretty mommy cliche.  Even so, I do struggle with the question of how much people really want to hear about my kids' bathroom habits.  I decided not to blog about the great poop-capade that happened at the pool last week.  You don't need the gross-out and frankly, I don't need to remember it.  But this gem from tonight is just too hilarious not to share.  Or maybe not.  You can let me know>

The scene:  Bath time in our upstairs bathroom.  Dash is running around like a wild man, totally naked.  He has just parked himself in the circus tent currently set up in Ella's room and refuses to come in for a bath.  Ella has decided she needs to go potty before getting in the bath.

What happens:  Ella poops.  There is one big poop and three small turdlets (what, you haven't named those small pieces?  Ella has).

Ella:  Mommy, look!  I had a good poop!  It's a big one and three babies.  Like a mommy with three babies!  It's just like Sheila!

Me:  Wha?

Ella:  You know, H, O, and J's mom?  Sheila?  My poop is just like her.  A mommy with three kids.

My friend Sheila will be thrilled when I tell her that Ella likened her to a poop, won't she?