Hey friends!

It’s been quite a year and a lot has changed for me, my family, and my business. For one, we moved up to Connecticut! For those that don’t know, my husband and I both went to the Coast Guard Academy in New London. When he was offered the chance to teach cadets there we jumped at the chance! I closed up my commercial studio in Suffolk, we sold our house, and we made the trek up to CT with a 3 month pit stop at my parents on the way. I’m not sure I’ll be able to unpack the entire year in one blog post, but we’ll see where this goes and I’ll apologize now for the length. 🙂

I sat to make a list of all the things that happened/changed over this past year, and honestly, I’m exhausted (and a bit emotional) just thinking about it. I’ve been challenged in ways I never thought I would be and ready for a bit of a reprieve. Hoping the warmer weather will bring with it a little sense of normalcy for everyone.

We started 2020 with a bang- adding Kathryn Eileen to our family on New Years Eve! We had several newborn sessions with several of my amazing photographer friends and it was everything I could have dreamed of. Over the last year we have enjoyed watching her reach all the baby milestones I love so much to capture. Although I have missed my clients, at least I had my own little baby model to play with! Here are a few of my favorite images of her throughout 2020.

In February, the chaos began. We got orders up to CT and got started with all the things involved with a military move. We did a major house cleaning, finally finished all the DIY projects we had been putting off, and got ready to put our house up on the market. All while looking for housing options in CT. For those who are not military, I envy you. haha This is one of the most stressful things about the military life, and really I’m just thankful we’re on the other end of it right now.

In March, COVID hit. Everything changed and we didn’t even know it. My facebook memories recently showed day 2 of mommy homeschool with the phrase “for the next few weeks.” I could cry thinking about it, but we won’t go there- I’m sure a lot of you are commiserating with me. I was SO unprepared to be teaching my children, especially a Kindergartner just starting to get the reading thing down! I moved out of my studio at the end of the month and our house sold lightning fast.

In April, school went totally virtual and we decided to make the move earlier than later to help our buyers with closing. We found an amazing rental in CT but couldn’t get into it until July so we made the decision that the kids and I would go stay with my parents for 3 months while Jason reported to the CGA to start work. We left the area (it seemed) overnight, which left a hole in my heart barely getting to say goodbye to our friends. I still feel like I’m missing that closure, but I have a feeling we’ll cross paths again someday.

May and June were spent living with my parents, or Mimi and Pop Pop to the kids. We loved hanging out with cousins, crafting with Mimi, and being schooled in sports by Pop Pop. We spent lots of time at their beach house in Bethany, and worked on our swimming and sandcastle building. The boys lost several teeth, and all four kids had grown a few inches by the time we were reunited with Daddy.

In July, Jason joined us at the beach for our final hoorah, and we made our way north. It was a hot, humid summer, and we learned quickly that power tools will rust overnight in front of an open window. The property we are renting is amazing with plenty of room for the kids outside and a basement studio space for me! We love the area and are happy to be back in CT!

August brought my husband’s promotion as well as one of the coolest things our family has experienced- chicks! We became chicken and duck parents and have spent the past 9 months learning how to take care of them as a family. It has been so rewarding collecting eggs every morning and we all look forward to hatching a few this spring! The kids are totally into it too and love helping out.

In September, the kids started up school and it looked as if things were going pretty well in the local area. They were on a hybrid schedule where the go in person twice a week and zoom the other three days. It’s not ideal, but we’ve made it work and are currently working on phasing back to all in person classes over the next couple weeks. The boys also started soccer and cub scouts and loved having an outlet to get that extra energy out! My little sister also tied the knot in Richmond, VA so it was awesome to be able to take the trip down and be there for that.

October-December are kind of all jumbled together into a blur. Our area saw a pickup in COVID in the area and things started closing again. School remained hybrid for the boys, but Jason’s classes shifted to virtual meaning he was teaching from home. While we enjoyed the time together and I loved the extra help, it was A LOT of together time for everyone. We did enjoy the holidays with family and the kids were thrilled to get some real snow to play in (and eat. mostly eat). Kathryn turned one in style with a micro swan party on New Years Eve.

I don’t even know what happened in January. That month seems to have gotten lost in the endlessness of COVID. But in February my older sister and her family visited and we celebrated Hunter’s 7th birthday! We got a membership to the Mystic Aquarium and have been enjoying that immensely.

Which brings us to March. *Phew!*

Things are looking up (knock on wood) and the kids are heading back to school. I feel like I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’re getting back on track to “normal” and I’m here for it! We decided it was time for me to start taking sessions again, so I’ve been working hard to update everything and get it all ready for my website re-launch! I hope you’ll take a look around and if you’re in the CT area, please feel free to reach out! I’d love to meet you and hear your story. 🙂

P.S. I promise my next blog post won’t be so long! 😉