What a year!I was recently reviewing my favorite shots from the family shoots I had last year (just a small handful are above! Those cards covered a ton of my kitchen floor!), and it really got me thinking about what all this year has held.I keep hearing that parenthood has different "seasons," and I do agree with that. There have been times when it is so, so good (and I have been lucky enough to recognize it and bask in it) and other times where it is so, so hard (like the many sleepless nights and ongoing exhaustion). And now that Ezra is 2.5, we are stumbling into the "season of never-ending negotiations." Or, as I'm calling it, the "season of patience."It is so wonderful to see this little human wanting to be independent and wanting to do things himself and not wanting to be bossed around. Please, please hold onto that spirit.But it is also very hard to be on the receiving end of said wants and needs and to be saying the same thing over and over and over again. (Let's brush our teeth! Hey buddy, it's time to brush our teeth! You don't want your teeth to fall out, let's clean them! Real quick hon, we need to clean your teeth! OMG GET OVER HERE SO I CAN CLEAN YOUR GOD FORESAKEN MOUTH. Don't worry. That last sentence is just what's in my head.)But there are also some really fun times. Last night, when Ezra got home from school he was a bit upset because the main floor of our house was empty. Like, literally empty. We are having the floors redone today, and so all the furniture is gone, and this really bothered him. He was about to break into tears, but I offered that we could run and play in all the space, and how about we have dinner as a picnic on a blanket in the middle of the living room! He loved that idea, so this is also the season of "thinking fast on your feet to avoid a meltdown."Anyway, I'm sure I have many, many more challenging seasons ahead. But I also know I have a ton of amazing and fun seasons ahead as well. I'm just trying to enjoy all of them while I can.For your internet shares of the day:+ These human landscapes of Mexico are breathtaking. I cannot get over them.+ I loved this essay on age and how it makes us feel. My mother-in-law and I have talked about this a lot -- how you feel so young, and sometimes seeing a quick reflection in a store mirror can catch you off guard! 

This week has been super busy, but even I have found time to stop and enjoy the beauty of all the blooming trees in Minneapolis.I've never been a huge fan of spring before (blame my allergies and my impatience for "real" warmth), but this year is different. For some reason I'm loving all the rich greens of the neighborhood lawns and the full blossoms on the trees.It's this time of year that I love, love, love photographing families around the flowering gardens, but weirdly this year I'm instead photographing insides of hospitals. Not quite the same, but work is work and I'll take it!You guys, the kitchen renovation is almost done! I cannot wait to show you final photos (I'm hoping to shoot it early next week). I am smitten with how things are turning out.For your internet shares of the day:+ I love this video of Ben Affleck mocking the movie Armageddon (h/t Margaret).+ Nat Geo travel photo awards -- look at that lion! And those reindeer!+ More gorgeous photos of Jupiter.

A few weekends ago, I worked with a dozen or so lovely ladies to build these baggies full of goods. What for, you ask? To give to the homeless.You know when you're driving around town and you see someone asking for help at a street corner? And you either give them your change or your wadded up bills or you pretend you don't see them? I don't really like those options because I don't really know if it helps. But I don't want Ezra to see me ignoring people who need help. I want him to be someone who grows up with empathy and who tries to logically help those he can.And a group of my friends feels the same, and so one of them organized an afternoon where we all brought 50-100 of a certain item, then we set up an assembly line and we all went home with a half dozen of these ziplock bags to hand out to those in need. They contained:• granola bars• wool socks• bottles of water• beef jerky• hand warmers• kleenex• toothbrush• toothpaste• razor• chapstick• wet wipes• a comb• a notepad and pencilNow, when I see homeless folks around town, I feel like I can help them in a more meaningful way, and Ezra and I can talk about it. It didn't take much time, and it was a lot of fun for a quick gathering. If you and your friends are looking for something similar, I highly suggest it!For your internet shares of the day:+ What do chefs check out at other restaurants?+ The coolest curtains ever.+ The history of McDonald's uniforms.+ This read on the backfire effect is fascinating.

How was your weekend?Here in Minneapolis, the weather was stunning. We spent a ton of time outside at playgrounds, on bike rides, eating on patios and at a beer festival where one of Ezra's favorite bands, Koo Koo Kangaroo, played. I think seeing a live "chewbaca" as he called it, up on stage might have been his weekend highlight.The next few weeks are a bit insane around here as I have two big corporate shoots coming up, a wedding to photograph, movers are coming to empty my house as we're having the floors refinished (meaning for several days I won't be able to walk on the main floors) and we'll be living in the basement. So yeah, things are about to get NUTS.Because of that, please be patient if I miss a day or two of blogging. I promise I'll make it up to you down the road!Now, for your internet shares of the day:+ I love this swimsuit.+ This house is a total nightmare. (Dearest Margaret, do not click that link.)+ If I win the lottery, I'm staying at this hotel in Iceland.

For my second pro-bono project this spring, I worked with St. Stephens, which is an AMAZING organization that does outreach to the local homeless population.The organization helps their clients get into temporary housing until they can get back on their feet, they help get them medical care, they have a shelter in town which provides food and laundry services, and they do a ton of street outreach, which means they know almost all the homeless faces within their area.I spent a day riding along with the outreach team, and I was blown away.They have hundreds of names and faces catalogued in their heads, and they make sure they see everyone each couple of days so they know how everyone is doing. This means wandering under overpasses and searching in the places that most of us avoid. They bring those they find water and socks and band-aids and ask where they are sleeping and help get them on lists for shelters, and they even do follow ups after hearing about clients who have been hospitalized. They are truly angels. Besides the ride along, I also spent some time in St. Stephens shelter for men. Below are a few photos I took while there. Needless to say, these assignments are super humbling. I've been complaining for a while about not having my kitchen in working order and clearly I just need to zip it. Sometimes it's good for us all to gain some perspective.For your internet shares of the day:+ This print would be perfect for a mid-century modern home.+ One of my favorite podcasts won a Peabody award!+ I would like my house to look like this hotel. 

A while back, I was hired for one of the most fun jobs EVER. I got to spend two days with Lucy shooting photos of models for JUUT SalonSpa. It was a dream.This blog post includes the images that were left on the cutting room floor. The more amazing images will soon start showing up in the JUUTSalonSpa Instagram account, so please follow them over there. I promise, things will be beautiful.For your internet shares of the day:+ This beauty product apparently makes it feel like your face is on fire, but then makes you look younger. I am intrigued.+ I have bookmarked this interview with Brad Pitt for later, but for now I'll just stare at those abs thankyouverymuch.+ You have to click on this -- I hope and pray I one day shoot a wedding that features this quirk.+ Faces of people as young adults, and then near age 100. Wow.

Last week, after my trip to the countryside, I came back to the city and made some new photos for Perspectives Vision Clinic. I'm not gonna lie, this is where I go for my own eye care, and I adore the lead doctor, Marcie. So if you need an eye doctor, she's your gal! (While I was paid for the photos, I'm not being paid to tell you this.)I just finished up her photos today and so of course I wanted to see them in black and white (because it's my favorite), and here they are. I am not going to lie -- I never thought photographing a medical office could be this much fun! I was so wrong.I have so many internet shares today!+ These shoes are perfect for summer.+ 20 ways to clean your kitchen naturally.+ I want to take this Fauxligraphy class!+ This song is lovely.+ More photos from Switzerland (I cannot get enough...)+ The inside of Aziz's home (and answers to 72 questions).