Reflections on the Best Week Ever

“Best vacation week yet.” That’s what we all seem to say at the end of our annual beach week in Sea Isle City with four other families. We have 10 adults and 11 kids total. And we’ve just passed year 5 with this same group. And we mean it when we say it. It truly does get better every year. The first year, our youngest was a newborn. And man how things have changed since then. There are no more naps, at least in this immediate group. But we’re continuing to welcome new faces each year. And loving every minute of it, Dani and Tucker Dunn. But for the group that has been a solid part of this every year, things have gotten easier and so much more fun. Days and days spent on the beach. Can Jam, football catches, horseshoes, boogie boards, skim boards, body surfing and getting rolled by waves. And lest we forget day after day of Fudgy Wudgy. “Hey, Ice Cream! Two Ball Screwball, Choco Taco!” And then happy hours, while the kids take over the lifeguard stand, until the sun starts to go on us. It’s also morning coffee on the deck with some of my most favorite people in life. And sore abs from all of the laughter (certainly not from the exercise!).

We have all managed to find a group that we are so extremely comfortable living with for a week. We’d make it longer if we could. My immediate family was lucky enough to do that this summer, as we moved from the house with our friends to the house with the grandparents. And we’ve been lucky enough to find many other friends who are vacationing this week that we’ve gotten to “play” with. But on the times we have not found that, my two little knuckleheads have managed to find moments of bliss, between the spats. And I’ve enjoyed being with them. Mostly during the moments of bliss.

So today, on our last day of our vacation, I’m so happy to look back on yet another of the best weeks to date. We love our crew and already can’t wait for next summer’s BEST WEEK EVER.

As Summer Should Be.

I’m listening to the kids play outside for what has to be going on their 3rd or 4th hour now and I smiling as do every time I hear those joyful summer noises. It has been almost exactly 6 months to the day that we moved into our new home and neighborhood. My very first blog post was about an hour before the moving trucks came to transport us here. And that day was such a sign of our lives to come. We had roughly 5 families of friends helping to move us in, organizing our kitchen and making sure we didn’t lose our minds. My parents came in with hoagies and a couple cases of beer and slowly backed out. It was being handled. And what has transpired since that day has been nothing short of awesome. The home is our dream home. And I could go on about the fun we’ve had making decorating decisions and the way too much money we’ve spent seeing those plans through. But what I’ve realized in the past few weeks of summer is that although all four of us love this home, it’s the neighborhood that will most specifically change our lives. It already has.

This summer has been filled witjh endless outdoor play with the neighbors. Not even touching on the many of our closest friends who live within a mile of our home, which, in a few words, has been ridiculously fun. However, in the most adjacent of houses, we have 8 kids total. 4 boys and 4 girls. The age span in roughly 8 years from youngest to oldest. When they weren’t at the pool or at the beach, all of these kids have been outdoors together. From first thing in the morning til it’s time to come in for rests and dinner. And they all play together. Screens have been at a minimum for us this summer and that is nothing short of miraculous given the amount of time we’re home.

They’re inventive and creative. They laugh and scream, and inevitably someone cries. Usually my son. But they’re out there doing water sports, learning to ride Ripstik’s together, playing hide and go seek, card games like War and coming up with many of their very own versions of jail break and kick the can. Their favorite is one they call “territory.” There are ice pops, juice boxes, bowls of Cheez-Its and popcorn. And lots and lots of sunkissed faces. It’s the childhood we had and we are so very thrilled to have moved to a place we can give that gift to them.

This picture is their summer. Ryan and Casey are so grateful to have met all of these wonderful kids. But it’s Henny and I who are feeling the most blessed.

Some days...

Henny and I both had a really hard time falling asleep last night and then not long after I finally did, I was awoken by a needing to be replaced smoke alarm battery. Beep. Beep. Beep. But I needed some yoga badly this morning so I dragged myself out of bed at 6:30. I’m never sad I that I went. But in the class, a strange feeling of discomfort came over me. Perhaps it’s because swim team is over for my kids and we’re heading into the second half of a summer that’s going too fast. Or practicing with a friend who I am sad will be moving away soon. Or thinking about the big changes that will come our way in the next year. Could be any combination of things, but as a result, I left class with a heaviness. I don’t like feeling sad or unsure about things. Who does? But I’m learning to accept those times, let them settle and be, know that they will move on and to try not to panic about them. But what they often manifest in me is feelings of self doubt. That I’m not on the right track. That others are doing things way better than me. As a Mom, a business owner, a spouse or friend. I’m not a huge fan of change. Even though 95% of the time, it’s a good thing. The process is a tough one for me. And it’s easier to be hard on myself than it is to trust in myself, my instincts and my abilities and the truth that everything will turn out as it should.

So today is one of those days that I’ll have to do my best to remember that self doubt does me no good. That my children are happy and know they are loved. They are enjoying every bit of summer and I’m certain I’ve had something to do with that. That my husband is my best friend and biggest supporter and that I am a very good friend and have gotten my complete return on investment in that department.

And finally, that even after 5 years in business, getting worried or nervous about my work is ok, but it gets me nowhere. That people hire me because they love what I deliver and the way I do it. For no other reason. And that zone I get into when the lens cap comes off is my zen and my gift.

But we’re all human and days of heaviness will come. It’s all in what we do with them. Right? Right?

No Predicting It

Put together a business plan. Isn’t that what they always tell you when starting a business? Whoever “they” are. Well, I started one but things began moving too quickly for me to complete it. What that reaffirms for me is that I could never have predicted, nor put to paper, what has transpired over the last 5+ years. The O’Shea family is no exception. Over the last four years, Amy and Sean have brought me into both their family and professional lives, time and again. From surprise Christmas gifts and numerous family sessions to professional portraits for more than 20 of Amy’s colleagues and helping Sean build his acting portfolio. They are my biggest source of referrals and two people I’m also lucky to call friends.

Our first project together was pictures of the kids as a surprise Christmas gift for Sean. Amy and I had only met in yoga so I did not know much about her family. Their youngest son, Quinn, is on the autism spectrum and Amy was understandably a little worried about how the session might go. I can assure you, her worry has since dissipated and I’ve been able to chronicle Quinn’s growth along with his twin brother and sister, Jack and Zoey. Oh and that first session had me driving over to Amy’s house late Christmas Eve with prints so the surprise would be legit. Don’t get any ideas. I don’t plan on doing that again.

What a lovely ride it has been since that first winter together. Most recently, Sean tried to return surprise Amy with some newer pictures. However, he and I both decided, the best gift would be family photos with her in them. And I’m so glad we did it. O’Shea family, I can’t thank you enough for the continued trust in me to work with your family and your colleagues. You have been a huge part of this “never could have predicted it” ride, and I so hope you will continue along with me.

Thank Heaven.

Is there really anything more that says it all like “thank heaven for little girls?” I’ve been blessed to work with a lot of beautiful children and families. And I recently got to spend separate days with two lovely young ladies. Both just about the same age and both with the kind of spunk you’d expect from girls of around 3 years old. As I told one of the moms, I love seeing spunk and chutzpah in a little girl. Although I completely understand the challenge this poses for Mom and Dad, it likely bodes well for her future. You hope that sure ofherself attitude now, translates into sure of herself later. That her strong personality will help her stand up to peer pressure and stand tall in her confidence. It’s tough enough being a young girl today. Starting out with a little bit of built-in sass can’t be a bad thing. These are things I think about as I have a little lady of my own. At the ripe old age of 7, she’s already dealt with her fair share of girls being tough on each other. It’s scary to see as a Mom because we’ve all been there and we all hope to shield them from it. We can’t. But we’ll try our hardest to prepare them to handle it with dignity and grace. To rise above it and know they’ll be better for it in the end. That empathy and understanding will make you way cooler than most anything else can.

Well, these two lucky girls have wonderful families and, in particular, Moms who I know will go to the mats for them to ensure they rise up. They are both proud and hard working and completely head over heels for their girls. So Kinley and Madeline, you keep that spark and that spunk. It will serve you well. Ask your Mom.