Everyday Art Photography {blog} » Our Family

merry christmas! | bismarck, nd natural light child photography

Megan — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:20:41 +0000

As I said in my last post, I’m doing a little rewind. After getting a horrible stomach bug (like just about half of Bismarck), my Christmas was spent mostly on the couch, so I didn’t get a chance to share these with you when I had originally planned. Please close your eyes and imagine that today is Christmas. Okay, now open your eyes, and take a look at how adorable these little Milbradt’s are! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas…sans the flu!

Our 2011 family Christmas card

Megan — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:19:16 +0000

REWIND! Okay, so just for a minute, let’s pretend that Christmas has not already come and gone. Because I was planning to share this before Christmas, but then, well, Christmas came and everything was crazy busy and it didn’t happen. I thought it would be okay to wait until Christmas day, but it turns out Santa brought our family the stomach flu that has been going around Bismarck, and then absolutely nothing has been accomplished at my house ever since. So…

Merry Christmas from my family! This was the card we sent out this year, using some of the photos that my dear friend Erin, of Erin Vournas Photography, gave us. It was a folded card, so the bottom image was the inside spread, and it folded on the left edge. I think this cards is one of my faves!

jessie & buzz | halloween 2011

Megan — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:13:13 +0000

Oh, did we ever have fun this Halloween! First of all, Cohen is OBSESSED with Toy Story, and has been since early this summer. I had other ideas for cute coordinating costumes, but in the end, it was a no brainer to let him be Buzz, and Rory was super excited about being Jessie. Another bonus for me…no sewing! The Disney store saved my sanity this year.

I had a special location planned for a mini session with them in their costumes the day before Halloween, but Cohen woke up crabby from his nap, so it didn’t happen. Probably for the best because that would have meant we’d deal with two major meltdowns. We knew once he saw this costume there was no way it was coming off, and we were right! Before that meltdown, though, we had so much fun. We took the kids into town to trick or treat, and they had a blast. Cohen walked up the sidewalks repeating over and over, “Happy Halloween! Happy Halloween! Happy Halloween!” On and on, in his tiny little voice. It was adorable. Rory was running from house to house, with pure excitement. And it was seriously the most beautiful night. Not usual Halloween weather for North Dakota, that’s for sure.

Anyway, here are some photos in front of our house before all the excitement began.

Oh, and this face? That’s what you get when you tell him, “No candy!” He has such a mean mom!

Everyday Art Photography | Bismarck, ND children’s photographer

esabelle | nine days old

Megan — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:30:20 +0000

Auntie again! I am telling you, I am SO loving the idea of having all of these babies around, yet not having to go through a pregnancy myself. My baby is not so much a baby anymore, so getting to spend time with baby neices and nephews is a treat for me. It is such a blessing to add another member to our family, and while I love them all, no matter how old they are, having a brand new one to snuggle and smell and photograph is defnitely extra special!

Everyday Art Photography | Bismarck, North Dakota newborn photography

1st day of kindergarten

Megan — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 02:32:40 +0000

It went off without a hitch! It sounds like she had a great day. She was a bit cranky this evening on the way home, but once we got some food in her and a little down time, she had all sorts of stories to tell and even a new song to sing.

It was so funny, this morning, I wanted to make sure to get a couple of photos of her before we left. I figured I’d spare her the embarrassment of me bringing the big camera to the school. Last year when she started pre-k (ugh, look how much she’s changed!), she was pretty annoyed with that. So, I was rushing her to eat her breakfast, which I guess made her think that we were going to be late. She was quite concerned and asked me no less than six times if we were running on time. That’s my girl!

I’m so glad she had a good day!

Everyday Art Photography | Bismarck, North Dakota kid and family photographer

the day before kindergarten

Megan — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:10:54 +0000

Oh, what a week. Tomorrow marks another huge milestone in the life of our Rory Jean; the first day of kindergarten. It seems like that is all we’ve talked about for the last month, and it has been so exciting, but this week everything has come so fast. I am feeling overwhelmed by all of the details. Forms, fees, lunch tickets, drop off’s, after school programs, dress codes. I have put it all off in hopes of remaining in denial as long as possible, but now I think I am behind, so the stress added to the fact that my first-born is going to kindergarten…it may be too much.

Last night, we were in the car and she said to me, “Mom, it’s okay if you cry a little bit when I go to school” I asked her why she thought I was going to cry. “Because I’m all growed up,” she said. Ugh, she is NOT all “growed up,” but today, it does sort of feel like it. Let’s hope that the rest of the many milestones to come don’t get any harder than this.

Enough about me, though. Rory is going to kindergarten! She has been so excited, but we went to the school today to take care of some things, and I could see it. She’s nervous. I know she’ll do great, though. I’m so proud of the smart and confident girl that she has become in the last five years, and I look forward to seeing the girl she becomes in the future. I can’t wait to see how she changes in the coming years; the things she’ll learn, and the interests she’ll have.

On Sunday evening, Rory and I went for a walk to take some photos of her. A photo adventure, as she called it. I enjoy spending time like that with her so much. We had a blast. She’s got tons of ideas, she’s silly, she has the biggest smile and an even bigger laugh to go with it, she’s my beautiful baby girl. And, as of tomorrow, she’s a kindergartener!

Music: Mindy Gledhill, Whole Wide World

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Everyday Art Photography | Bismarck, North Dakota back-to-school kid photography

aden | six days old

Megan — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 02:20:23 +0000

I’m so excited to share these with you all! I have a new nephew! He is the sweetest thing, too. I enjoyed my time with him, and as I was editing these images, I found myself wishing I could go over and visit him again. I’m so happy for him mommy and daddy, and we are so blessed to have him in the family!

Everyday Art Photography | Bismarck, North Dakota infant photographer

splish splash birthday bash

Megan — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:49:47 +0000

Only being a little more than a week apart, Cohen and Emma have both turned two, and last weekend we celebrated with a big birthday bash. It was so much fun, and I swear the day was a reminder to me that God really does answer prayers. First, the weather…the weekend before we had unbearable heat and humidity, and there was a call for thunderstorms the day of the party. The weather turned out to be absolutely perfect. We really couldn’t have asked for a better day. Then, Cohen…a couple days before the party, he started to not feel well. The night before, he was up at 2 am with a fever over 103. Not good. I literally prayed every 10 minutes that he would be okay in time to go to the party on Saturday evening. I would gladly take the fever, runny nose, all of it, if it meant that he would be well. All of our family had come in from out of town, and I just wanted him to have a super fun time at his party. I’m happy to report, he arrived at the party with a huge smile on his face, and he had so much fun! All of the kids loved the playground. In fact, Cohen and Emma had such a fun time, I didn’t get even one good photo of them the entire night! I kind of slacked on party photos in general, and it was so nice to just enjoy spending time with all of our family and friends and, of course, all the yummy food and desserts KaCee and I made.

I did get this one iPhone photo of Rory and Cohen, and I love it.

I didn’t get a photo of the real invites (see, I’m a slacker), but here’s the digital version. Loved how these turned out! Perfect for our beachy theme.

A banner for the birthday boy and girl!

They each had their own cake, and both were delicious!

Of course, we had to serve sand cups with gummy sharks.

And these amazing push up cupcakes! Aren’t these SO cute? A huge hit with the kids.

It was a huge coincidence that Target happened to have all sorts of summer supplies in the perfect colors to match our theme. We didn’t even plan it that way. Now, if only we had purchased them two weeks later when it was all 50% off. You can’t always win, I guess!

We made custom beach themed coloring books for each of the kids’ favor buckets.

The taco-in-a-bag was also a hit with all the guests!

What a fun party! I’m so glad we got to celebrate Cohen and Emma turning two with everyone. And now, after a party in May, June, and July…I’m partied out for awhile!

Everyday Art Photogaphy | Bismarck, North Dakota famly photography

emma grace

Megan — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:57:04 +0000

Oh, Emma. Where do I start with her? She is about to turn two, and she is as sassy as ever. Don’t be fooled by her tiny little frame; she has a BIG personality! She loves playing kitchen when she comes to our house. That’s the first thing she goes to when she gets here. Her and Cohen love to hate eachother. One minute they’ll be getting along great, the next someone is crying. Typical two year olds, for sure.

One night, Emma stayed the night at our house, and right before bedtime I had both her and Cohen on my lap for a few bedtime snuggles. Emma leaned over and started to kiss Cohen on the forehead, then the cheek…forehead, cheek, forehead, cheek…she got about ten kisses in when finally Cohen got a scowl on his face, stared her down, pointed and said, “Nemma. NO.”

That perfectly describes their relationship. Emma will do her thing, and it takes awhile, but eventually Cohen thinks he needs to put his foot down! Oh, I’m afraid of the trouble these two are going to cause.

She is my sweet little neice, about to be a big sister, and I love her more than ever. And you’ll see, it doesn’t take much to get her to smile!

Everyday Art Photography | Bismarck, North Dakota children’s photographer

time for tea | bismarck, north dakota children’s photographer

Megan — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 02:25:10 +0000

Her “purple blankie” was given to her by her grandma when she was first born. Who knew she’d grow so attached to it? Kitty is from our very first trip to Barnes and Noble together. She had just learned to walk, and she walked right up to the first shelf she saw that was at her level, grabbed the kitty, and refused to let go. So he came home with us, and he has slept in her bed ever since. Hunny Bunny was given to her by the Easter bunny on her first Easter. Another friend who is always by her side. He is being propped up by her children’s Bible, which sits next to her bed. We’ve read through it, front to back, twice since she received it last Christmas. I’ve put it away in the closet many times, worrying about what might happen if her brother gets a hold of it, but it always ends up back next to her bed. The tea set was a Christmas gift when she was three, and is one of her most cherished toys. And the doll, the special gift she received when she turned five.

This weekend, I came up from switching the laundry around, and I found her quietly playing. It is funny how just one photo can say so much about her. All that is important in her five year old world is right there. Add this to another moment that I never want to forget…