The Family

The King of the Wild Things and the man of my heart.

That was then, this is now! Three kids, a military career and 4 states later….I met him when he still played with legos- er, well, ok, he still plays with legos, but when I met him, we were just entering middle school. We had a five year plan that included a picket fence, a forestry degree, a big white wedding and 2 kids in the forest.  God had a good laugh.

He is enlisted now and I have to share him with Uncle Sam; his service has taught me the amazing sacrifice that military families and members make. I love working with military families- I know just how precious photos can be when your loved one is away. As a military spouse, some of my most precious photos, personally, are from good byes and welcome homes.

One of my most precious homecoming photos, when the girls saw their daddy for the first time.

Thing1 loves animals and horses are no exception- in fact, they could be her favorite!

The oldest of our Wild Things, Thing1. Back when there was only one Wild Thing, they didn’t seem so wild, or maybe thats just her. We toted this lil’ one all over- hikes, quads, ocean, boats- you name it, this kid probably did it before she was three.

Thing1 enjoys her time at the stables; Horses for Heroes has given her a great boost of confidence and something amazing to focus on while Daddy is deployed.

Now, she is a generous, caring little girl, concerned with the environment  animals and homeless families. Her favorite thing to do is ride horses and play with friends outside. Her little soul is just so precious- except when she is being mischievous and teasing her siblings, but as the oldest, we couldn’t have been luckier. She is a wonderful sister… when she is’t being overly mischievous

Thing2, posing for a shot in an outfit completely styled by her. It doesn’t get more original than this little gal!

Thing2 is a girl through and through. She believes in ribbons, bows, pearls and high heels, even though we wont let her wear them. She likes everything just so and is very precise. It can be a challenge to keep up with her: her brain, heart and mouth move fast.

Thing2, posing an impromptu “inspiration” shoot.

She has an expectation and believes life will live up to her expectations- watch out life, for disappointing Thing2!  Possibly the most stubborn, if it hadn’t been for the arrival of….

Thing3, the man child. Boys are just different.

Thing3, the man child. Dont let his innocent look fool you- child can charm his way into anything his little self desires.

This particular one is rugged and a little rough on the edges. That is not to say he doesn’t have just as open and warm a heart as the girls. Its just that he shows his love…Differently. Occasionally there is a bruise leftover from a forehead that connected too solidly with a chin, but usually it is only a hollow thump of affection, head on chest or shoulder. Sometimes, its even a spectacular moment, like the one below, of him kissing me. Beware his current small size! Affectionately called “cannonball”, he can take you out with one well placed behind the knees tackle. He believes in all things little boys should- Superman, Firefighters, Airmen, Rangers and going really really fast (like lightning!)- but his favorite thing in the entire world, is trains.

 

Well there you have it! The Wild Things one and all. In case you are wondering, I call them that for a few reasons. The first is that they really truly are wild, all in their own special ways. The second is that it brings to mind the Maurice Sandak book “Where the Wild Things are”, a book about imagination and the power of childhood. I like to keep that in mind when handling my kiddos- they can be trying at times, but they are so precious and are only children still! The third, and final reason, is that I prefer their names not be widely discussed on the internet or known by strangers. I choose to make bits and pieces of my life and my art vulnerable by posting photos and text online, but I would like to protect my family as much as possible. It can be quite a struggle to share my life with readers but protect my families privacy! But Its just safer and better that way. Thanks to everyone for understanding and respecting their somewhat limited but no less valued privacy. I appreciate it greatly.