Crazybananas Photography - Personal Archives - Page 5 of 7

The Lake Life

July 16, 2015/0 Comments/in Crazybananas Photography, Crazybananas Photography - Personal, Family, Fun, Happiness, Videos /by Megan

Lately I’ve found myself so inspired by my own life. I don’t say this because my life is totally amazing in every way, but because for a few years I found myself utterly bored by my surroundings. The funny thing about boredom is that most of the time it has nothing to do with what is happening around me, but everything to do with what is happening inside my own head. I spent the last few years learning how to appreciate this beautiful life I’ve been given, and now, when I look around, I can’t help but be in awe.

If you’ve been following along with my photography journey, you may have noticed I’ve been including videos with my family clients’ photo reveals. This is something new that I started earlier this year, and I love it! I think the mix of images with short video clips really brings the experience to life for those of us watching. I think of these videos as a keepsake for my clients, something they can share with friends and family, and hold on to in order to look back and remember these silly, funny days of parenthood.

However, lately I’ve found myself inspired by photographers like Kansas Pitts, who not only makes these videos for her clients, but also for herself! Now, unlike Kansas Pitts, I don’t own a drone or a GoPro or live in a beautiful beach town…but that doesn’t mean I can’t document my own family’s adventures in my own unique way.

This summer has been especially lovely for us because for the first time, my kids are fairly independent and we able to experience more without the hassles of traveling with very young children. There are no more diapers, baby food or loads of gear to drag along with us. For the past few years, traveling to my parent’s lake cabin has been hit or miss…Tate didn’t love the water, Lucy was afraid of seaweed and neither slept well when we weren’t at home. But this year has been fantastic! The kids spend hours jumping off the dock, swimming, fishing and playing. We ride the jet ski and tube, kayak, float on rafts and roast marshmallows over the fire in the evenings. It’s pretty stinking magical, if I do say so myself.

So on our last trip, I decided to try and capture some video along with images and make a little keepsake of the first summer of relative freedom. It makes me smile, and I hope it makes you smile too. Life is good. Lake life is better.

Going West | Kansas Photography

June 12, 2015/0 Comments/in Crazybananas Photography - Personal, Family /by Megan

This past week the kids and I have been in Western Kansas, living a pretty fun little life! My sister-in-law runs this wonderful dance studio (you can see their Facebook page here) out here, and every year she holds a week-long dance camp, which Lulu is loves participating in. Last year was so fun, we decided to come back this year and spend the week enjoying the slower pace of country life. I guess I should point out that farm life isn’t always so slow (during harvest it’s NUTS around here), but this week has been a good reminder for me that rest and easy fun is so necessary for a full life.

While I love living in Kansas City, sometimes I can get caught up in the go-go-go of it all. There is always somewhere to be and something to accomplish. The kids have daily activities and routines, which sometimes can dictate our lives. Out here on the farm, the kids get to be kids. My kids have more independence here than they do at home! They run around the yard or the small towns nearby with their gaggle of buddies, sometimes with no adult supervision. They get to be responsible for themselves and feel that pride of knowing they are in charge. Lucy especially (as at 4-years-old, Tate is still a little young to be all on his own) has really thrived here. It’s been fun to watch her spread her wings and reconnect with all her friends from last year.

I’m sort of in awe of how the communities around here rally together. Yesterday we got to hang out with the local volunteer fire department and they even let the kids spray the fire hose! We went to a local pool, and the whole scene was straight out of the movie “The Sandlot!” Of course, since Lulu knows everyone, everywhere, we walked in to the pool area and immediately there were three or four kids yelling, “Lucy!” who she knew from camp. It was pretty adorable.

I love coming out to Western Kansas at the start of each summer. It’s the best way to kick off the season. Fun, sun, the outdoors, a few bugs and frogs, and of course, a lot of dancing. It’s the best reminder that simple, uncomplicated fun is always the way to go. Hopefully we can sustain this feeling of ease and joy throughout the rest of the summer!

Special thanks to our hosts Adrian and Ashley and the whole Coberly Farm crew! Thank you for letting us crash your serene existence with our craziness!

Strawberry Fields Forever

June 3, 2015/0 Comments/in Crazybananas Photography - Personal, Kansas City /by Megan

All season I’ve been wanting to take my kids to a local strawberry farm and pick our own berries. After several weeks (and weekends!) of non-stop events and end-of-school activities, this past weekend we finally had our chance. While the unseasonably cool weather has kept us away from most of our summer staples like our daily swimming pool trips, it was just perfect for a day picking strawberries! Each of the kids had their own pallet, and it of course turned into a race of who could pick the most.

The staff at Wohletz Farm Fresh were friendly and greeted us with big smiles! Once we arrived and grabbed our pallets, they led us to a section of the strawberry patch that they blocked off just for us. The kids had so much fun digging through the plants to find the ripe, red berries (the redder, the better!). I think they would have stayed all day if I’d let them. Although the strawberry picking season is almost over, I would definitely put this on my to do list every May. The team at Wohletz told us this week would probably be the last week for picking, so if you haven’t been out yet, get going! You can check their Facebook page for updates on when the patch is open to guests.

Summer!

May 27, 2015/0 Comments/in Crazybananas Photography - Personal, Happiness, Lucy, Parenting, Tate /by Megan

So far, our summer has been pretty wonderful! This week I’ve taken a bit of time off (which as a freelancer means “I’m working from dusk until the kids wake up and then again when they are in bed until midnight!”) to enjoy the first few days of their school break with Lulu and Tate. I am thrilled that next week a new babysitter will be joining our little crew to help us get through the rest of summer with minimal work/life breakdowns. But until then, I power the computer down around 8:30 a.m. and we spend the day reading, watching movies, hanging out with friends and, of course, swimming. Now, the weather in Kansas City isn’t exactly pool weather yet, but my little fishes could care less! We are lucky to belong to a gym with a heated outdoor swimming pool, so we’ve been there every day this week. Tate is so much more independent this year, going down the slides like a big kid and refusing to wear floaties or play in the shallow end. He’s already serving as a bit of a mascot for the lifeguard crew, who know him by name and graciously chat with him as he asks them a million questions daily. From the moment we arrive at the pool, Lulu disappears and I usually don’t see her again until she starts to get hungry. Today Lulu said, “Mom, I love summer. I could swim every day forever.” I hear ya, sister. Me too.