I love Mother’s Day – I love it for so many reasons – because its in May so usually the weather is getting nicer (except this weekend of course it appears to be rainy and gross), because I totally get pampered by my husband and my kids and its an excuse to have a family party with our favorite people and celebrate all of the amazing Moms in our families.  I remember Mother’s Day last year as a day we went for a family walk, then headed off to two parties… I also remember being a bit frustrated with my children who didn’t want to nap in between our two family parties. But then… I remember the evening… I remember the kids (and my husband) indulging me and snapping a couple photos of me with just them.  I remember my sweet little girl smiling with her big flowering headband (which now I can’t keep on her head), and I remember being happy.  just because of them.

And it made me think – even on our worst days, when it boils down to it – these kids, this life – being with them is what matters.  Even on days when Leo doesn’t listen to a single thing I say and he’s running around like a mad man, and Nora screeches because she can’t have every toy that Leo has.  Even on these grumpy days – I can sit and watch them play or sleep and be more thankful for them than I am for anything.  They have made me a mother – the most challenging and rewarding job I’ve ever had and I want them to know.  I want them to know how thankful I am for them, and how happy they make me feel – and I can’t think of a better way to do this than by being in photos with them!  I want to be in the frame with them because I know how much I want to look back and see photos of my mom with me and my siblings when we were little.

Interestingly enough – when I asked my mom for a photo of me as a baby with her she had a little trouble.  She replied to me saying “I have lots of you as a baby, but not very many with me in them.”  I responded to her saying.. “that’s EXACTLY why I want that photo!!!”  and its exactly why i’m writing this blog today.  so here we are – me and my mom (photo cred to gramma!) – and just LOOK at those snazzy glasses mom… so stylish….(and holy cow – i think i just might look a LITTLE bit like leo in this image!  it might be a first!)

My aunt (who watches my crazy kiddos when I’m at work) and I were talking about the importance of moms being in photos recently as well – and she said she often hears grumbles from her kids when she says its time for a photo op!  Then we started talking about one of her all-time favorite images, from 1962 of my grandmother holding her – its simple – its real – its life.  moms and their babes –  and thats what i love.  what i find the most amazing is that this photo has travelled through 55 years…. and i can’t find my digital images from 2011.

its more than just being in the frame – its getting in the photo and printing them.  thats why i print family photo albums, and why my parents have years upon years of printed family images in their living room.  how amazing is it to be brought back in time to 1962 and feel the feelings of this image?!  they may be cut out and a little faded, but they are there… and

i love getting moms in photos with their kids – and theres no better way to help moms relax in front of the camera than with their favorite little people.  kids are fun – they laugh, they snuggle, they tickle.. it always gets parents to loosen up….and they ALWAYS appreciate the images after the fact 🙂 like this one here of my sissy and her girly charlotte.

So the moral of my spiel here is get in the frame.  whether its a snapshot on mothers day, a random tuesday, or a time when you hire a professional photographer.  we know you’re there – be present – and have it documented.  your kids know you were there – they want to see it in 60 years.

print your family portraits – make them last forever.  the power of print is amazing – i’ve experienced it with my personal images and love to share that with others.  so happy mother’s day to all you hardworking mamas out there – its tough, and so incredibly amazing to be a parent – take this weekend to relax,  to snuggle those kiddos of yours, and get a photo taken of yourself 🙂