Family Photos - Capturing the Now
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This is our last year as a family of six, all living under one roof! Jack is off to college next year and it has been an emotional reckoning the past few weeks with this knowledge sort of looming like a cartoon cloud above our house. I think it has actually put some perspective into Curtis, myself and even Jack that these are the days to cherish. We reached out to my cousin Taylor Stuck who has been killing the wedding photography game and hoped she would be interested in curating these memories for us. She came with camera and Crumbl Cookie in hand, ready to make magic happen! You’ll even see our dog, Bodhi smiling.
It seemed like this was a key time to take family photos so that we could capture what life is like right now before it all changes in a few months. I like to do interior photos because 1. the weather is just not predictable here and 2. I love the intimacy of being in our own quarters. Also, when you spend as much time as I do taking care of our home, you best believe I am going to show that off too.
It’s funny raising a teenager at the same time as raising littles. They are in such drastically different stages in life. We attempt to balance the scales which are at complete opposite ends on the parenting spectrum. On one end, you are teaching these small children life lessons when they are just starting out on the road to individuality. On the other, you have a teenager who is applying these life lessons to experiences he has already set foot in. We all remember being a teenager and thinking that we had a grasp on life. Suddenly I’m a parent to one, and realize how much I empathize with those beginning stages of mature-hood, but also how small a scope one has at that age. Heck, they all think they know it all, right? Perception is reality and even our four year old Radley thinks she runs this ship.
I always wanted a big family growing up. I used to make up these families from magazines completely influenced by the 90’s sitcoms of brothers and sisters, older and younger, getting into all kinds of shenanigans together. Often Curtis and I tell one another how blessed we are. And we tell the kids too, ‘you are so lucky to have a sister!’ ‘You are so lucky to have a brother!’ Course they don’t see it now, but one day. In the future, far, far away. We have that can and can’t wait feeling towards the future, for when our family gatherings are larger and more chaotic as our kids create their own families.
As you can imagine, Jack’s room if off limits to his siblings. It’s a special day, and boy do they ever feel special, when big brother Jack lets them hang out in there. As if you couldn’t tell, he is particular with his things; a place for everything and everything in its place. A perfect example: the shoe wall.
January might be even more particular than her older brother. NO ONE, and I mean no one, is allowed in her room. It was all the patience that she could muster to allow mom to do this bedroom makeover for her. Some days, when she is at school and Radley is home with me, Rad will sneak in there and play. Most times I don’t know about it, but the times I do - I just smile. She’s quiet and content being a part of her sister’s forbidden world.
These two, however, their mantra - all are welcome here! If friends come over, this is where they play. I get asked if they are twins, which they are not, just 17 months apart. Not planned. I repeat, not planned. Nixon is the most easy going guy and he cares for his sisters, both of them. And he looks up to Jack in the cutest way. Radley being the baby of the family plays her role well. She’s fun loving and knows how to push everyone’s buttons until they get stuck.
And Curtis. My bestie. Everyone’s bestie if we’re being honest. I have this joke that everyone likes him better than me. Which is fine, I get it. I do too. He is the most genuine person. He’s a real life, life coach always pushing us to be our best selves and loving us no matter how many fans I want to sleep with. I think it took me all of two weeks to say, ‘I love you’ and he knew we were meant to be before we even started dating. We are almost ten years into marriage and somehow it feels as if nothing has changed with time, except our strength. Ok, love gush over.
I could look at these photos for hours and point out all the details I see being their mom, but I won’t. Thanks for reading this far along and being a part of our home. I wear my heart on my sleeve and these beings are all of that. I play many roles every day; wife, mom, and Mia Interiors being my main positions. I’m grateful to you for allowing me to share my home and all the love that lives within it.
Xoxo, Meegan
Special thanks to Taylor Stuck Photography for capturing these moments.
You can shop any of our looks from these photos on my LTK page here.
