The End of a Decade ~ Rachel Clare
December 31, 2009 | Filed Under Family, Mine | 3 Comments
It’s December 31st. 2009.
And, it wasn’t until two days ago that I realized (through someone’s Facebook update, of all places) that tomorrow starts not only a new year, but a new decade. For some reason, this made a total impact on me. At the time, I couldn’t pinpoint why, but after pondering over it for the past two days, I’ve come up with some very definitive reasons why my realization hit me so hard.
What’s funny is that tomorrow is just another day. A Friday. I will wake up, say prayers, feed the baby. I likely won’t make my bed, because that’s only happened, ummm, 3 times since Maura was born. Welcome to life with a wee one. I will brush my teeth, put on my slippers, pad into the kitchen and start my kids’ morning ritual of hot chocolate milk. But there will be no PBS or Disney cartoons tomorrow because we’ll be watching the Rose Bowl Parade. The mailman won’t visit our house and most businesses will be closed. People will either be sleeping off the havoc they wreaked on their bodies the night before or up, celebrating a new year. But as I mentioned, we’ll not only be celebrating a new year, but also a new decade.
This is significant to me for a few reasons. I look back at the “aughts” as they will be called (JT informed me of that last night and when I said, “Where did you learn that?”, he answered, “NPR”. Duh.) and realize how much I’ve changed.
In the past 10 years, I’ve:
lost my grandmother
married my best friend
graduated from college
backpacked Europe for almost 9 weeks with the previously mentioned best friend
bought and renovated a historic home (okay- JT renovated. I made lemonade.)
bought and renovated a not-historic home
given birth to three beautiful children
lost two pregnancies
started a business
met some of my very best friends
This list is small compared to the detailed mental list I have running through my mind. Being the very nostalgic and sentimental person that I am, it’s hard for me, in a way, to leave behind this decade so full of life-changing events. Each one of these things listed above has shaped me- has made me who I am. I am forever grateful for the events of this past ten years- all of them, good and bad, happy and difficult, because they’ve placed me here, where I’m at now.
While I mourn (on some level) the end of an era, I’m positively giddy at the prospects of a new year and a new decade. I look forward to the changes that will occur in my life- good and bad- because they will continue to shape me, and I pray for the ability to handle everything that comes with grace and a positive spirit.
I’m an extensive goal-maker. I’ve got lists of goals- they’re divided into categories. Seriously. I’ve got goals for my body, goals for my spirit, goals for my mind, goals for my house, goals for my family. I’ve got daily goals, monthly goals, yearly goals. And now, tonight, I’m going to make a list of goals for this decade. Note: they will include racing in a triathlon and opening a studio space, among lots of other things.
I don’t ever want to be one of those people who lives looking back and mourning the past. I never want to be one of those people who are always looking into the future and saying “as soon as….”. I want to be the person who appreciates the lessons of the past, looks with hope and excitement to the future and lives with fullness and wonder right here- in the present.
Happy New Year to you. Happy New Decade to you. May it only get better from here!
xo,
Rachel Clare
Taking a Break ~ Rachel Clare
December 25, 2009 | Filed Under Babies, Just Because, Mine | 1 Comment
Hello internet, how have your Holidays been?
I’ve been enjoying a lovely, lazy quiet few weeks with my family. We’ve had our tree up since (*cough*) November 6th. And truth: I’ve loved every minute of it. We’ve spent our time listening to Christmas music, watching old holiday movies, making (and consuming) goodies, and enjoying the spirit of the season.
There’s also been plenty of cuddling with this sweet little pea:
Enjoy the rest of December, and we’ll see you in the New Year!
Christmas Card Outtakes ~ Inland Empire Child Photographer ~ Rachel Clare
December 11, 2009 | Filed Under Children, Mine | 5 Comments
In the two weeks before I gave birth, I needed to distract myself. From the discomforts of being almost 40 weeks pregnant, from the baby weight, from the fact that I knew girls who were due after me who had their babies before me. Distractions included decking the halls with signs of Christmas, putting up our tree on November 6th (oh yes, we did. and I may do it again next year!), and working up our Christmas cards. Granted, there was one blank window waiting to be filled by a certain little person who had not yet made her grand entrance into this world yet, but for the most part, I got them done. That’s the only reason that this mother of a 2-week old (and an almost-3-year-old, and a 5 1/2 year old) was able to get all her cards mailed today. Because they were essentially done before the babe arrived.
Here are some of the pictures of Elias and Rowan that I decided not to use on the cards, even though I think they’re darling…
Introducing…
December 3, 2009 | Filed Under Babies, Mine, Newborns | 11 Comments
Well, Aris, Crystalyn, Beth and Tara were right on the date. Kim, Holly, Katie, Shannon, Allyson and Tara K were right on the sex. Elizabeth was the only one who came close to the right weight (but she knows I have little babies…).
Little Maura Clare made her grand entrance into the world last Tuesday, Nov. 24th after 20 (TWENTY?!) hours of labor. Right- didn’t see that one coming! She weighed 6 lbs. 14 oz. and is sweet as can be. We’re so happy that she’s here, healthy and happy. And, *knock on wood*, she’s an extremely easy baby so far. We love her to pieces and are grateful that we get to spend the holidays together as a family with her.
Place Your Bet!
November 11, 2009 | Filed Under Children, Mine | 21 Comments
…Okay, so truth: you probably won’t get any prize in the mail, simply because I know myself well enough to know that after having a baby, I’m simply out.of.commission. for a few weeks, but I thought it would be interesting to know who wins. FYI- I’m technically due the week of Thanksgiving. Praying for an early arrival though, of course…
Comment on this post and include your guesses for the following things:
Gender of our new one (no, we don’t know what we’re having!)
Date of arrival
Time of arrival
Weight
I hope to post soon (tomorrow? oh wishful thinking…) with news!
And, a few shots of sweet Rowan that I took this week. I actually made the headwrap for myself, but *ahem*, it’s a tad small for me. However, it fits her like a charm!
Halloween Catch-Up ~ Inland Empire Photographer ~ Rachel Clare
November 2, 2009 | Filed Under Mine | 7 Comments
I was all set to do a Halloween post. Honest. Then time ran out before the party, so I thought, “it’s cool, I’ll do a post afterward…” Yeah, not so much. After being in those boots for 3 hours (standing the whole time, mind you) and almost 9 months pregnant, my sciatica was raging, my whole body hurt, and my eyes could not stay open. Then yesterday was all about recuperating. And having family over for dinner. And getting ourselves organized for this month of November. And the post didn’t happen… again.
So today, you have it. Happy Halloween! A bit late… sorry.
JT’s sister and her family threw a monstrous party (no pun intended) on Saturday night and their home morphed into the Haunted Mansion at Disney. I kid you not. Think: skeletons in wedding dresses and tuxes floating in the pool, a graveyard, multiple pinatas for the littles, Halloween decor on ever available surface of their home. It was fantastic.
I was in charge of the sugar, essentially. Cupcakes, sugar cookies, and bubbling witches brew. Friday and Saturday were spend baking and icing and decorating (and, *ahem* tasting). It all went off without a hitch, and we had a crazy-fun evening.
You know, my costume was only appropriate given my situation. Seriously, how could I have been anything else? And, I’m thinking that the blonde Farrah Fawcett ‘do really works for me. You?
E, the crazy Count Dracula…
And of course, the stinkin’ cutest little “girl pirate” you’ve ever seen…
Then there was Scary Fairy, formerly known as JT. Rowan asked him last week what he was going to be. He told her he didn’t know. She suggested a ballerina, and he decided that was a good idea. How he went from ballerina to creepy-guy-in-lycra-with-a-glued-on-comb-over-hair’do, I don’t know. But somehow it morphed into that.
So there you have it. Scary Fairy won “scariest costume” at the party. Incidentally, I actually won “funniest costume” which tickled me pink. 
I hope you had a wickedly spooky Halloween! Happy November!
Headed for the Hills ~ Inland Empire Child Photography ~ Rachel Clare
October 23, 2009 | Filed Under Children, Mine | 12 Comments
Anyone who knows me well knows me moderately well has ever read even one of my blog posts, knows that I don’t love the weather in Southern California. I know, I know. Most people think it’s the whole reason to live here. I’m not a fan. I hate the heat, I miss the rain, I desperately miss autumn and winter. Oh how I love autumn and winter. My soul is LONGING for fall- literally. I miss snow (and no, I don’t want to have to drive an hour+ every time I want to be chilly or see snow), I miss seasons. I miss jeans and scarves and sweatshirts. And the fact that I can wear them for 6 weeks every year doesn’t make me feel better. All that said, the weather as of late has been hard on me (especially in my extremely pregnant state). On Sunday, we just had to leave. So, we headed for the hills. I only wish we’d have left on Friday night and not returned until Monday, but we’ll do that soon.
We drove into the San Bernardino National Forrest and found our way to Lake Gregory, near Crestline. What a lovely little mountain place. Now, mind you, it was not cold. It wasn’t even chilly, but it was nature and mountains and water and ducks and the feeling of a small-mountain-town. It made me feel at home.
We didn’t stay long- just until the sun set. Long enough to fill up our souls a little and enjoy some time away from the congestion and noise of the city. Rowan fed the ducks leaves. Elias wandered and found little natural treasures like sticks and pinecones and acorns. JT skipped rocks. I took pictures and sat on a log. It was lovely and calm and quiet. And that’s exactly what I needed. Rest assured, we’ll be back up in the hills before long…
Pardon Me? ~ Rachel Clare
October 4, 2009 | Filed Under Mine | 5 Comments
Tonight’s conversation with Rowan went exactly like this:
Rowan: Look at the moon!
Me: Yeah! Do you know what that moon is? It’s called the “Harvest Moon” tonight!
JT: See how big it is Row?
Rowan: Yeah, so big just like Mommy is so big!
Hmmm…. think it’s time to have this baby and start running again? I think so.
Mine, at the beach ~ Inland Empire Child Photographer ~ Rachel Clare
September 15, 2009 | Filed Under Children, Mine | 19 Comments
Slowly… slowly… I’m digging my way out. When it rains, it pours, right?
I decided to take a break from the monstrous list of things I need to get done and edit some images of my own kids from our time last week on the Oregon Coast.
We had “lovely” weather- as in, warm and sunny. Exactly the type of weather I was secretly hoping not to see, but alas, it followed us up there. Fortunately, it didn’t ever get “hot”, so I was able to deal with it…
Just a few captures of my littles enjoying a day at the beach…
I completely understand why some animals eat their own young. It’s because they’re SO DANG CUTE. I seriously feel the urge sometime. Like during this shot…
E’s reaction to someone yelling “Watch it! HUGE wave coming!!”. This face is PRICELESS. (ps. that water is like 42 degrees or something… it’s no wonder he freaked!)
9 Years ~ Rachel Clare
September 1, 2009 | Filed Under Mine | 14 Comments
Sept. 1st, 2000 (a date we decided would be easy to remember), I married my best friend at 8:something a.m. As I’ve mentioned before, we didn’t tell many people, and we invited even fewer. We wanted it to be small, personal. A light lunch afterward at a cute little Bistro and we were off for a quick 3 days in the mountains before heading into our Senior years of college. Since then, we…
*Lived for a year and a half in a 400-sq foot studio (and if we could make it through that, I was convinced we could make it through anything!).
*Graduated with our undergrad. degrees.
*Found tickets from Albuquerque to London, round trip, for $427. We jumped on them. We backpacked Europe for 8 weeks (coming home early due to a horrific sinus infection in my face). We did England, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium.
We spent D-Day in Normandy and Bayeux, ate crepes in Paris, enjoyed the architecture in Barcelona, rode on lots of trains, stayed for 4 days longer than planned in Cinque Terre because we couldn’t get enough, realized that Venice was nothing to write home about, had scary experiences in Munich, experienced our first tornado in Berlin, went to an opera in Gyor, got sick in Prague, slept in a barn in Gimmelwald, and ate lots of chocolate in Brugge.
*Moved to Lawrence, Kansas (right after experiencing our first tornado in Germany) for graduate school and you agreed to let us buy the old 1920’s historic home that I wanted, even though you didn’t, really.
*Added on 500 sq. feet to the aforementioned home, doing most of the work ourselves yourself.
*Got your Master’s degree in record-time, jumping right back into the Ph.D.
*Had a beautiful baby boy.
*Moved from the lush green of Lawrence to the dry motherland of northwestern NM.
*Started a photography business.
*Graduated with your Ph.D.
*You worked a job you hated for a year and a half so I could be close to my family.
*Had a sweet baby girl.
*Decided it was more important to have a career you loved that allowed you lots of time with us rather than a job you hated where we never saw you, even though we moved away from my family.
*Moved to Southern California where we’ve you’ve completely renovated our house, all while doing research and teaching.
While I’m leaving lots of things out, these are the things that come to my mind. We’ve both changed a lot, we’ve both sacrificed. More importantly, we’ve grown closer together through it all.
I’m hoping the next 9 years will be even more wonderful and adventurous than the first!
