-
singing at the islanders game
The boys school was offered the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at an Islanders home game. And although both boys tried out, only Jack made it. You can’t imagine the level of disapointment for Patrick (and long it went on for). Part of me (the mommy part) wanted to just ask the music teacher (who I adore) to just stick Patrick in there too. But the less emotional, rational side accepted that he didn’t get a spot and we would all just have to deal with it.
Be prepared, I’m whipping out the soap box for a minute here.
The way things are in school and well, really in life these days just pisses me off. The whole ‘everybody wins’ attitude is just beyond ridiculous. Not only does it totally denegrate the success of the ACTUAL winner and minimize the joy of winning (cause if everyone wins, who cares who the real winner is), it doesn’t give these kids a clue on how to deal with dissapointment in life. And life? It’s sometimes really dissapointing. There is really only ONE first place. That’s the way it is. If they gave everyone who raced in downhill in the Olympics the gold medal, what sense would that make? Did everyone win? Do you get an Olympic medal for trying your best?? Or showing up unprepared but everyone should feel bad for you and you should win anyway? And if there is one job or one spot available for a college applicant- does everyone who applies get it? Do they make extra jobs or extra spots available just because you tried? Nope. So why should it be that way in school? Because of this nonsense, no one knows how to win graciously, without gloating, or without feeling guilty that everyone didn’t win. And certainly, no one knows how to lose. Everyone has a sense of entitlement that they SHOULD win, just cause they showed up. Sometimes even giving your best isn’t enough. And that’s life. Deal with it. And maybe we should let our kids know that too and stop shielding them from dissapointment cause it’s only coming back to bite them. As they grow up, they need to learn how to deal with not winning. Cause it’s gonna happen, probably more often than not.
Soapbox is back in the closet. Feel free to leave your thoughts in comments.
And here are some of the pictures from the singing. They aren’t great. They wouldn’t let me on the ice to get any shots, so I had to shoot from the other side of the ice through the scratched plexiglass and without a real zoom lens cause they don’t let you in with professional cameras with a serious zoom. So, here’s the best I got.
The kids all worked really hard and sounded great!
Daryl Strawberry was there accepting an award for his work with Autism.
It was a good game, but with no fights. Bummer cause that’s my favorite part!
-
the trai family
A little backstory here to set the scene so to speak. Dean and I were friends way back in high school and lost touch after that (although we were both in Florida for college, just different schools). We reconnected on Facebook (of course) and I guess he’s been following my blog. When he saw that I was going to be down in S. Florida in December/January he asked if I would be willing to come over to his ‘side’ of the state and do a shoot in Sanibel/Captiva. And although it was my vacation after a craaaazy few months I thought it would be so fun to do. Besides, I had never been to the west coast (sad but true, even after living in Fla for 5 years!) and we made a family trip out of it.
Met Dean’s lovely wife and two gorgeous daughters. And it was so great seeing him after all these years, too.
When the first picture of the shoot is the one on the left (look at that yummy light!) you know it’s gonna be all good.
The girls were sweet and so gorgeous. Could’ve taken their pictures ALL day but we were racing the sunset, so there was limited time.
The little one is such a pip. We went out to dinner after the shoot and all she did was walk up to me at the table and smile. Of course when I asked her to smile (or did silly things to get her to smile) it was like pulling teeth. Stinker!
The older daughter is so SO smart. And beautiful and sweet. Great combination. She also rides horses (quite well I’m told). She has such a beautiful spirit that totally shines thru in all the pictures.
The water was really pretty cold (you can see it on their faces as the tide came up) but the beach was so beautiful.
Such a happy couple!! And thanks Tami for the shells!!
I had such a great time hanging out with you and taking lots of pictures for you. Dinner at the Bubble Room was the perfect end to the day and I’m so glad our kids all got along so well.
Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I loved taking them!
-
6 for saturday
1. Gave my blog a little face lift (botox? nip/tuck?) to celebrate my almost 1 year anniversary over here. New crosshatched grey background and a new header. Do you like it?
2. It was so hard to choose pictures for the header. I didn’t want anyone to feel left out, but with the huge # of shoots I did in 2009 it’s just not possible to put a picture from every shoot on there. Maybe I’ll update it again in a few months, give everyone a spot. But tried to represent a little of everything I do.. little kids, big kids, families, babies, weddings, parties, big groups, the band. Am I missing anything do you think?
3. ipad, iphone, kindle- in a quandary. When I saw the ipad debut this week, my first impression was ‘iwant. now.” But on further consideration, I’m not so sure iwant. What I really want is an iphone but can’t do it until they are off AT&T and on Verizon. And god knows when that is gonna happen. I think the iphone would really work out well for me. As for the ipad, I’m not sure my 40 year old eyes will do well reading on the backlit ipad instead of the e-ink on the Kindle. I spend far too much time on the computer as it is. And I loooove my Kindle, wouldn’t be able to give it up. Would like to see the ipad with a phone, a camera, a way to change over to e-ink for reading books. You listening, Steve Jobs?
4. Went to the ‘Taste of Rockville Centre” fundraiser tonight and had a great time. Lots of friendly faces and even made a few new friends (and maybe even a new client or two). Kathy, Keely & Suzanne- great job, ladies! (I know more people worked on the night, but those are the ones I know!)
5. Trying out a new babysitter today. A boy one! The boys are so excited as he’s a big Mets fan. Should be a hit all around. And he’s a triplet!
6. Lots more travelling coming up soon. Disney next month and then a girls weekend in South Florida in March, and the wedding I’m shooting in Jamaica in May. I’m so, so miserable with this cold weather and can’t wait to be back in the sun and warmth. Or maybe we could just skip ahead to July? Global warming my ass.
Off to a shoot this morning witha really fun family, now expecting their 4th child. Pictures soon….
-
don’t fight the love
Is what Timmy told me the other night while cuddling in his bed. He’s so awesome, I can’t take it!
Another one is “we’re connected” and he puts one hand on my forehead and his other hand on his forehead.
How can you NOT love this kid?
It breaks my heart more than a little that he’ll be turning 5 in about a week and heading off to Kindergarten in September. NOT READY. He is, but I’m not.
-
the powe baby
Ok, so I’m in love.
And after looking at that picture, so are you. It’s okay, you can admit it. We’re all friends here.
This gorgeous baby is Patrick’s first grade teacher’s second little girl. Her first little girl has been heavily featured here on the blog over the 2 years she’s been around to photograph, and actually, even before that! She was one of my very first clients ever (maternity shoot, newborn shoot, announcement, christening, christmas, etc), and I’m so glad to have them back- especially for such a happy occasion.
This new little one is basically the polar opposite of her big sister. While Miss M was nothing but open eyes, looking around, not wanting to miss a single thing (I totally remember thinking that she was way older than 2 weeks when I shot her first session way back when), the new little Miss M was just interested in sleeping. And eating. And just generally not being disturbed from her slumber.
The ‘original baby’ (aka the dog) was such a good boy and is great with his human sisters. He’s a trooper.
And big sister. I love this kid. She’s a total pip. (how much do you love the chef’s outfit. She wears it everytime she helps her mommy in the kitchen).
The happiest little family.
And yes, it is completely ridiculous that mom looks this good. The shoot was done before the baby was even two weeks old!! Beautiful!
Oh, and C? The boys were around while I was editing and were oohhhing and aaaahhhing over the baby and M. They want to know if they can skip school when you come over to work on the announcement and hold the baby. I told them they’d have to take that up with the principal. Like maybe they could get credit since it was a school related baby.
