Cindy Mills Photography

We have been SO busy this month that it seems like VBS was just one more thing on the long list of things to get done. After looking through the photos of Mia I can see it was a very different experience for her than it was for me. She woke up each morning asking “is it time for CVS?” She loved it! This was her first year to participate in a group instead of being in the little kids nursery for VBS volunteers.

She had lots of “firsts.” First time to use a public restroom was the big one! Thanks to her teachers (my friends Ronna and Jill) she dealt with her fear of public potties. Another big first was climbing the rock climbing wall. She didn’t really climb far, just a couple of feet, but it was a major accomplishment for her to even give it a try. I was so proud of Mia for putting on the harness and actually going through with the attempt to climb. She has been a little bit of a chicken in the past when it comes to things requiring a bit of bravery. She was VERY brave in this case and I’m so proud.

Another first was jumping in the bounce house. I know that seems silly, but she has always been scared of the blower that keeps it inflated. This time she took her shoes off and was one of the first ones in. No Fear…..finally.

She even sang on stage at the closing program in front of a church FULL of people. She sang and did all the hand movements!

So now that VBS is checked off on the list we are on to a full summer of hanging out at the pool and fun with friends.

Mia=growing up……Check.

I have gotten to know Joanna and David over the past several months as I’ve worked with them shooting their engagement, then bridal sessions and then their wedding this past Saturday. They are so sweet and fun and I feel like I can call them friends now instead of just clients. Their families are fun too and were so full of complements that I went home with my heart full and thankful that out of all the wedding photographers they could have hired they chose me! It was an honor.

Well, get ready because this is going to be a monster post. 21 photos! That is narrowed down from the 72 I originally selected for the sneak peek. It was seriously hard to choose just 21.  Gotta save something for the slideshow. 

By the way, as a side note. My husband, Saylor, came along to be my second shooter for this wedding. He did a wonderful job (again) and I just can’t get over how lucky I am to have such a wonderful husband.

O.k………..now the photos.

I haven’t posted in awhile and it is because we have been so busy around here. We are in full fledged summer mode. Mia has been taking swim lessons. Every morning at 9:00. It’s not as easy as you think to get both Mia AND myself ready and out the door by 8:40am. NOT as easy as you think!

Hi Mom!!!

We also had company this weekend. If you are a long time reader you may remember Ginger and sweet Joshua…..well Josh has a new little brother, Benjamin, and Ginger brought him to meet us. They are on their way to California. Her husband is in the Coast Guard. Let me tell you how impressed I am with Ginger’s ability to care for two kids on her own while her husband is on ship. She is amazing! Not only does she take care of them by herself for months at a time she TRAVELS with them. I was honored that she took a special trip to come visit us. It was great to visit and reconnect with a dear friend. Mia and Joshua had a great time also. Well, Mia wasn’t exactly a gracious hostess, but she tried her best.

We also had the time to do a quick mini-session with Ginger and her boys.

My favorite!

What do you take photos of? If you sifted through your photos what would you find? Perhaps, birthdays, weddings, holidays, family vacations………How about your daughter brushing her teeth? Or your son mowing the yard? Would you find photos of your messy living room and piles of laundry? What about images of yourself doing everyday tasks like making coffee or putting on makeup?

Think about all the little mundane, day to day occurrences that we don’t even remember. Sometimes when I look at a photo I think to myself ‘hmmm, I don’t even remember when this was taken’. So think about all the other memories that have already been lost that were NEVER caught on film to begin with.

Sometimes, when I look at my daughter I have mixed emotions. What I mean is that there are some things I wish she would be grown up enough to do on her own. For example, wash her own hair, or be fully potty trained or be able to entertain herself for hours so I could get some work done already! But, then again I don’t want her to grow up because I love how she calls pancakes ‘pantcakes’ or when she sings “You are my sunshine” she sings at the top of her lungs ‘you make me happy when skies are grapes’. So in a vain effort to remember these little everyday moments I take pictures. Lots of them. Hundreds and thousands of them. Recently I have been busy capturing memories for other people and haven’t had as much of a chance to take pictures of my own family.

Yesterday I came across something interesting. Really, really interesting. There was a guy, Jamie Livingston, who started this project in college and continued it until his passing in 1997. He took a Polaroid photo of something virtually everyday from 1979-1997. There are even photos of him on the day of his death. A lot of the photos are of friends, family and just things he saw and liked. He captured people, places, things, moments and his life. The photos are ordinary but when you look at them as a whole it is extraordinary. Here is the photo he took on the day of my high school graduation May 27, 1994. http://photooftheday.hughcrawford.com/94/05/05-27-94_std.jpg And here is a link to the blog with all the photos on it. photooftheday.hughcrawford.com
If you have time you should check it out. It really is amazing and beautiful.

So as I struggle to do exactly what Jamie Livingston found so easy I remind myself that’s it’s o.k. to have photos of birthdays and family vacations, but I’m going to try harder to capture the little things too.

My daughter is watching Dora on TV….if you’ll excuse me I need to grab my camera.

Thinking of my little brother.  This afternoon he gets on a plane and heads to U.S. Navy bootcamp.  He’s going to do great, but I can’t help but be a protective big sister and be a little nervous for him.

Here is a picture of him from our recent camping trip.

Do me a favor and if you have a moment today say a little prayer for Ed.  Thanks!

On Saturday I met with some very dear friends at Prairie Creek Park in Richardson for some family portraits.  It was CROWDED!  That is a very popular place.  We saw several families, a few engaged couples, 2 brides, and an entire bridal party in a limo.

Here are my favorites: