Cleo Valentine

I mentioned in my end of the year post that we lost our dear 14 year old beloved dog Jules last summer. Jules was a devoted friend, and a gorgeous white colored yellow labrador. This winter our search for a new pup began in earnest, and I am so thrilled to share that we have adopted a spirited new puppy who is settling in (read: eating up the whole house and sucking up all of our free time) nicely!

After applying to various lab rescues and waiting months (dogs were usually not approved for young children) we decided to look elsewhere to other rescue groups. We saw this litter of “boxer lab mix” puppies online and immediately thought the light fawn colored girl was pretty cute. Cut to a visit to a rescue event at a pet store where said fawn colored girl sat in both of our daughters’ laps, sweetly snuggled and slept and we were sold. The story goes that her young litter was found in a box in the woods in West Virginia and taken to a high kill shelter there. Our rescue organization saves many dogs from those shelters and immediately took her litter into foster care in our area. By the time we met her she and her siblings were 12 weeks old.

We committed to adopt her then and there at the pet store, but had to wait a week to have our home inspected and all of our references confirmed. During that time we decided to rename her Cleo. Cleo Valentine (because she came home with us the Sunday before Valentine’s Day)! We are still all settling in together, and while we are slightly sleep deprived we already feel so lucky to have found her. If you follow me on instagram you already know she has become another main subject in my feed, but I did take a few photographs of our first week together with the real camera to share. Here you go… Miss Cleo Valentine.  :)

Found on my phone

If asked what camera I used the most in the last year, the answer would be simple. It is the one in my iPhone*. It is the one I always have on me, and the reason I upgraded from the 4 to the 4s last month when I didn’t need to. It is how I am really able to capture those bits of every interesting moment that comes alive in front of me when I can’t lug around a larger camera. While I rely on it too much, I am grateful for it every day – and here is why:

*These were all taken on the iPhone 4/4s and edited in Instagram.

The winter beach.

In that glorious down time between Christmas and the day we all had to get back to our everyday routines, we drove up to Bethany Beach for a little vacation. We spent a day in Lewes exploring the sweet town and State Parks and fell in love.  I hadn’t planned to take too many photographs, but with no one on the beach besides our family, some washed up crabs, and an unfortunate dolphin (sad but so interesting) it was the perfect time. A little relaxing escape before the new year! There is just something about the beach in winter… the cold, stillness of it all. Of course we will come in the warmer months as well, but we almost prefer exploring busy summer beach towns during the quiet off season.

On a side note:  My family and I travel to the Delaware beaches often (from South Bethany to Lewes). If you have enjoyed these images and would like to schedule a photo session for your family on the beach, please contact me. It is an amazing place to be!

mine. loves. 2011

2011 was a year of so many big developments and changes. Willa started writing her name, and for the first time I saw her as more girl than baby. Luella became an avid reader who finishes chapter books in 2-3 nights, an awesome swimmer who swam her first IM (age 7) and has surprised us with her determination, athleticism and competitiveness. In 2011, Willa officially started swimming on her own! It was also the year Lu cut her own bangs, and subsequently I took her for her first official short haircut (that she is already growing out!). 2011 was the year we doubled the size of our little suburban farm and grew enough of our own food to feed ourselves, our neighbors and friends. We also stored dozens of tomatoes, that Torrey canned himself, for winter. 2011 brought us to many beaches on both coasts, and gave our girls lots of cousin time! As usual, 2011 was a year of learning, exploration and fun wherever we went.

The biggest event for us in 2011 was the loss of our beloved Jules – our official first child and family dog extraordinaire. I couldn’t find the right photo of her to share with this post, but I will sometime soon. I have never met a dog more sweet, loving, and loyal. We will miss her forever.

Going through my photos I realized I had not taken as many pictures of my own family as I expected. 2011 was the year the iphone camera replaced my real camera the majority of the time, and that is something I want to change for 2012. Don’t get me wrong… I LOVE that little 4s, and I will share some of those phonetography instagram pics here soon, but I need to take the real deal out and photograph my own children more often. Saying it now. In print, so there is no going back! I also hope to share more personal posts here, with you all, more frequently!

So, so long 2011. It’s been real. I have enjoyed parts of you, but I am not sad to see you go… Bring on 2012!

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