This is the second posting of an amazing project that I am fortunate enough to be a part of called: KIDS WERE HERE. This is a project that teaches parents to appreciate the everyday evidence that your kids leave behind because they won’t be little forever.
My daughter is just a couple of months old and obviously needs a lot of attention. Her big brother is doing a good job of sharing the undivided attention that he was given for so long. It is easy to get wrapped up in a new baby so I wanted to make sure that this month I paid extra attention to my son.
Now that the weather is improving, we are finally spending a lot more time outside on our front step. Do you think the Lion will scare anybody away? lol
My son loves all creatures great and small…and lining things up…hence:
Nothing melts my heart more than when my son comes running into the house with a present from our yard.
He gave me this foam heart out of the blue and it is a great reminder why I am editing a photo session at 3 am.
Our refrigerator has gotten a bit crowded but I can’t bare to take anything down. This project reminds me there won’t always be new artwork donning the walls.
One of my cherished possessions..a craft done at preschool that brought a tear to my eye when I first saw it.
Trains are a big deal in our house…we even eat dinner with them.
My 4 year old is used to having a camera shoved in his face and has even started requesting his picture to be taken now. However, this project has helped me slow down a bit to really pay attention to the little details in life. I don’t think I would have analyzed things so closely or took a moment to appreciate the little bits of evidence that children live here without participating. The images captured during this journey will be treasured forever because it will help me keep hold close the priceless memories formed during our every day lives.
Fellow photographer and participant in this project, Stephanie Beaty, phrased it perfectly:
“These still life images serve as a daily reminder that my days are awash in chaos, whimsy, laughter and laundry (sometimes all at once). They capture toys and spills and puddles and piles. Sentimental, solitary moments of childhood ephemera. A gentle prodding to live in the now and stop looking toward the “then.” And though sometimes I pray for clean and quiet and still, I know all too well it will come. And I will yearn for tiny shrieks of laughter in my bedroom. For toys and loveys strewn about. For signs of a daily life well lived. For traces of my babies who once were. For reminders that Kids Were Here–and they were life and light and love.” – Stephanie Beaty
If you would like to participate in the KIDS WERE HERE project, feel free to grab the badge below and put it in with your blog. Or you could participate through FLICKR.
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the heart! oh MY heart. love that. and your art. and so many things about your home. i wanna come over!
These are so great Claire! I especially love the turtle and our house has many Thomas tracks and trains too! So beautiful!
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I am beyond excited and so honored to join a group of amazing photographers in documenting every day moments in our lives with a project called KIDS WERE HERE. Here is a little bit about that project:
we are a group of passionate photographers who are setting out to document details of evidence that Kids Were Here. It is a fabulous idea introduced by the very talented and creative Ketti Photography.
“in the the moment it is easy to get frustrated with all the mess and clutter that results from living with children. this set reminds me how quickly it will all pass. one day the toys will be in totes no longer played with. i will miss this. i’m reminded to slow down. to not stress about it. my happiness is not dependent upon everything put back into place and a neat and tidy home.
one day we will have a wonderful reminder. evidence left behind written upon our hearts and minds of our children. photographs that will bring us back to this very day, when our kids were here.” -jude wood
My son’s preschool backpack in its dedicated spot by the front door. Every day before school, we sit on the bottom step to put his shoes and socks on then get his jacket out of the closet. I love the comfort that comes out of our everyday rituals.
This is my son’s prized possession, named “Mommy Elephant”. This is the only toy that he repeatedly pleaded with me to bring home from Ikea and will not go to bed without her. She is his happy place.
Just 4 weeks ago we had our second child, a baby girl. She sleeps in the same crib her big brother did with the same mobile. This is my favorite piece of furniture ever.
The laundry piles up more easily with two but I am so excited to see so much pink in my laundry basket now.
My son is an animal lover and is very orderly – combine the two and you get this…
Every child should have an easel and lots of books.
To see the other amazing photographers involved in this project please check out the following link: http://kidswerehere.wordpress.com/
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Thank you so much Jackie!!! Isn;t amazing how similar things can be in every household without ever meeting each other? I can’t wait to get to know you as well!
these are wonderful & congrats on your new baby girl <3
Claire your use of light is awesome! Love the animals..I can totally relate to almost every pic in this set. Well done..happy to be working with you and looking forward to getting to know you through your images 
Thanks Ginger…we finally had a day when the sun came out and I had to take full advantage of it. Can’t wait to meet you in person…May is almost here!
congrats on your new baby! pink in the laundry is the best! (; love the elephant! <3 and all the animals lined up!
Claire, you got some amazing light in these wow!!! I love the little animals so much..and that back pack ..tells such a lovely story….cannot wait to meet you and your sweet family very soon!! xo
love the simplicity of these images yet they tell such a story. Those animals lined up are so great, and the laundry basket with the bits of pink, I love that too! So nice to meet you and follow your work!
Claire..dear friend! I am SO happy you were able to join this project – you know I LOVE your work, lady! These are all gorgeous shots…that laundry shot is awesome in so many ways – and the colors are brilliant. Beautiful work my fabulous friend!
so awesome!
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback ladies. I already love the dynamic of the group and can’t wait to get to know everyone through this project! There is so much talent in this group…I am in awe.
Lovely Claire! I love Mummy Elephant!
Love all those animals. Great job!
oh ms claire…i adore the way the light seems to dance through your home…i adore the beautiful messes in your home
Love these – even the laundry looks beautiful! (and that’s no easy feat!)
I love these, Claire. Congratulations on your daughter! Really wonderful!
What an adorable elephant and those animals all lined up is so cute!! Love these, gorgeous!
these are really great claire! so glad to meet you on this awesome project! 
These are great!
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Last fall I had the privilege of photographing 20 families from a wonderful down syndrome organization called KIIDS. I spent two crisp fall days with some of the sweetest, most loving, and most amazing children I have ever met. Seeing the love that surrounded these children was so touching. Today is World Down Syndrome Day so I thought it would be fitting to post images of these beautiful families from that day.
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