Melissa Rae Photography - Blog

Tomorrow marks day 40

4/25/2020

A lot can happen in 40 days I mean Noah took animals two by two into the Ark for 40 days and 40 nights. We have officially had children at home doing distance learning for 40 days tomorrow.

There are so many things we are thankful for, there are so many lessons we have learned, there are many days that are hard, and there are many rewards in all of this.

We are both so fortunate to still have our jobs who are both extremely essential and so supportive.

No we are not all on the same struggle bus, some days are good, some days are not so good. Some days we say screw the homework we are going outside and forgetting everything.

But I try everyday to remember the good in all of this. We are making so many memories as a family. We are learning to cook, clean, and play lots of games. We are getting outdoors, taking family walks at lunch, and being together.

The farm is expanding, the closets are getting orgainized, the groceries have increased, but so has the love for each other.

I encourage everyone to find the good, the joy, and make sure you are talking with your loved ones. They miss you like you miss them.

Covid19 here we go

3/14/2020

It's crazy to think about where we are right now. I mean how did things change so quickly, yet move from one country to another?

One minute we as a family are running non stop, to a full stop in just a week. Covid 19 has created mass panic, media totaling the numbers infected, number of those who have died, and the worst part is the unknown.

My husband keeps asking me but don't you remember the previous illness that hit the media. I honestly don't.

I know social media is to blame and yet I love having the up to date information at my finger tips. What I don't like is explaining to my children the media has created a sense of panic in many.

I can explain to my children the need for washing your hands. They understand germs, they understand not spreading germs. What they dont understand is why people are panicking. They don't understand why now one parent is at home working from home while the other parent is still going to work. They dont understand why kids at school are upset and scared.

They do know we will get through this, and in the end it might be just what we needed as a family.

A letter to my goalie...

3/5/2020

Every year we get to a place where we are over running hockey players, over waiting at the rink, over eating out, and over the long weekends.

Don't get me wrong our hockey family is great, I think we just get to a point when we need a weekend at home to get things done, and hey there are a lot of other activities that we look forward to when hockey is over. I know you don't understand how we can look forward to anything other than hockey.

The last day of the hockey season is bittersweet, and I will miss it in a week. A great season is behind us and man do I love watching you tend the net. The emotions are endless, the smiles are great, and those tears you fight back are hard to watch.

Sometimes you need to be put in check with your emotions, with your words, and sometimes with your actions. I mean your first penalty was a shocker and yet it made me so proud. Not all parents would agree but you put your teammates higher than others. You protect them, you defend them, and its just the repayment you give them for defending and protecting you. Next penalty lets aim a little lower ;)

When you come off the ice and chat about what went well or where you could have done better I know you are looking forward to the next game or opportunity. You love being able to celebrate a win, but you enjoy being able to celebrate your team even without a win. As a goalie you are in it to win it and sometimes that means a competition with yourself and no one else.

What makes my momma heart smile more than anything else is the fact that when the goalies cross the center ice you make sure you are there to give the other goalie props for a good period.

Your mental game shows how strong you really are, and sometimes it has me on edge. I don't get what you go through, I don't understand the mental complexity, but I do know you have grown so much this year. Your mental game is spot on! Smashing the stick is the next challenge we face while I know you need to let it out, the stick isn't to blame. I know when you are on the ice you blame yourself, but you are on a team and 5 guys let that little puck down to your end.

This year the other team needed a goalie...you stepped up. You knew full well going into the game you were going to be seeing a lot of shots, a lot of pucks in the net, yet you did your best. You talk about that game a lot and the lessons you learned. One day I hope you can be a coach and let others experience your great attitude.

Coming off the ice you make sure you have been able to reflect and after reflection comes the question "hey mom did you get a good shot of me today". Sometimes it's not about a win, it's about the memory, the lesson, and the experience.

This year the challenge we faced was dividing and conquering between you and your brother. He is growing, learning, and following in your footsteps. I know missing either event wasn't easy but it was a sacrifice we made because we have two hockey players.

One things for sure, I am proud to be your goalie momma and will always be your biggest fan! I hope one day you will look back and be so proud of how far you have come. Remember to hold your head high, encourage your team, and never look at the losses but look at the opportunities, and never forget those teammates who helped you get to where you are today.

18 days in....

1/19/2020

A blizzard...."Can we go somewhere", "we seriously have to stay home all day", "I am bored", "what are we going to do all day"

I have become old....I didn't have any of these questions but a to-do list a mile long of things that have taken the back burner. These are all very random things like order a new dishwasher, edit some random photos, order my 2019-365 book, and hey just enjoy my coffee while checking things off the list. Crazy right?!?!?!

Well by 9 am, I was bored too. I mean not like super bored but feeling like my list was getting checked off quickly Ok I wasn't bored I was longing for a Diet Pepsi, plotting how to get to town for just one Diet Pepsi. Now I knew my hubby wasn't going to let me out and he shouldn't but man I was thinking about it. I digress.....

I took a little break from my to-do list and thought why not do an hour by hour project. I was stuck home all day with everyone so they couldn't tell me no or avoid me too much considering they were not about to go into a blizzard.

Only problem the oldest has yet to get his butt out of bed, and hey I am not waking the beast because the minute I do the internet won't be working and we will have another dilemma. Bring on the timer and photos all day long. Mommas heart was bursting at the seams for 1. Coffee 2. A to-do list getting cleaned up quickly 3. an hour by hour photo challenge. How can the day even get better....well it did. 2019 - 365 book has been ordered and the night was finished off with full family photo while we enjoyed another Bulldog team's hockey game on TV.

Sometimes a blizzard is just what is needed. Thank You Mother-nature!

Goodbye 2019...

12/29/2019

Where do I start....I mean what a year!

2019 gave us great snowstorms, awesome hockey fun, life with a high schooler, weekends with friends, a summer vacation up north, trip aka adventure for mom with friends, and so much fun filled family time! This year brought less client work (crazy I know), new job opportunities for both mom and dad, but also more time as a family.

How are we ever going to top a great year?!?

Looking back there are so many adventures we didn't get to, which is great because 2020 is here and we need to fill it up.

One year ago I was not sure I should start my 5th- 365 day photo challenge. The boys are getting older, they avoid the camera when possible, and sometimes my trusty camera gets heavy. The boys not only asked me to continue and start year 5, they both loved being able to reminisce over the last year.

The year may be done, but we are ready as ever to see what 2020 has to offer.

I hope 2020 has just as many cabin weekends with our hockey families, game nights as a family, coffee with my girlfriends, photos of those clients that keep coming back, vacations, bunches of hockey games, and adventures everyday.

Another summer in the books

8/27/2019

Every year I get so upset thinking about the little time we have with our children in the summer. And every year I think about the 18 summers and how are we going to make it the best summer ever.

The school year has truly snuck up on me because we were too busy making memories, and enjoying each and every day. I learned a lot about myself this year, and I am so thankful for all of the memories made.

The one thing I changed this year was cutting back on the weddings and family sessions during the summer. I knew my limits, and I know I won't get these summers back. I am down to 5 summers left with my oldest and that scares me so much. Only 5 family road trips in the summer can happen before he flys the coop..

This year I was not sure I was going to continue doing the 365 project and the boys said "but mom you have to. Its our favorite part of the year when your book arrives". So I knew they knew I needed it, they wanted it, and heck its pretty amazing to look back on one year. One year where so much has happened, so much has changed, and so many memories have been made. I always say "I want to blog more. its a self care thing", yet I never find time to blog.

This summer may have gone fast, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a fun one. We hit almost everything on our bucket list, and the last few items will be hit in September after school starts. We had so much fun with our Hockey families, we enjoyed some fun time up north as a family, we fished, we ate ice cream, we enjoyed Valley Fair and the Minnesota State Fair, we did adventures at home, we watched baseball games, we had hockey camps, we tie dyed, most importantly we made memories that last a lifetime.

Now its on to our favorite season of the year.....Hockey season! The chaos, the running, the cold rinks, the snowstorms during a game, and so many more memories.

2018 -- 365 #4

3/9/2019

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could get through another 365. The year goes so fast, the memories we made were so much fun, and its on to the next 365.

I was going to quit as my boys get older it gets harder to do a photo a day. But then they begged me to do another because they love being able to look back at a year of memories.

Not every day was a fun day, but every day was a memory.

Now that I have finally finished up the collage for 2018, the book for 2018, its time to move to a new year.

And hopefully this blog will get the attention that it needs now that hockey season is over ;)

Miss Mya

3/9/2019

If someone told me two years ago that Miss Mya would eventually like me I am not so sure I would have believed them.

But now Miss Mya begs to have me come play aka take photos of her. And what is better than a lifestyle session with this little girl....nothing! She is a true champ and we have a blast. Now her brother on the other hand....well her thoughts on him. "I wish my brother liked you too". Clearly it takes time and Mr Owen will come around too.

Where did 2017 go?

1/10/2018

Seriously every year passes so quickly, sometimes I feel like its just gone in the blink of an eye.

Not only was 2017 a super fun year, it was a great year of meeting so many new people. The weddings this year just reminded me why I love capturing the I Do's, the dancing, the fun, the love, and I can't thank those who hired me to be part of their big day.

I had the awesome opportunity to all capture all those family sessions. The end of the year there were some pretty cute babies, the fall brought great joy with all the returning clients, and I can't forget all the new friends I made.

Personally 2017 was fun, trying with some great challenges, and it was quick. My fall starts to end sooner than before so that I can be the mom that my kids need. School starts, hockey starts, and well the calendar is full. But so is my heart! My oldest is growing and learning so much in school and then plays his heart out on the ice defending his net. Its a pretty cool thing! And yes you will catch me at the rink with my camera almost always when it comes to games. Oh yeah and you will catch me with a hotdog in hand for the little guy. Sports photography is growing on me, and its making me wanna pull my heart out at times, but its the love in his eyes that I see that makes it worth it.

Why do you take so many everyday photos?

9/27/2017

Why do you take so many everyday photos?
So people have been asking me why do I take so many everyday photos? Well because everyday passes so quickly that I have to have some way to document it. I know sounds silly, but documenting our life is going to be something that my kids look back on and I know this because they are very active in me documenting their life. And I am doing this for me and them. This is my hobby, my passion and my therapy. I enjoy teaming up with Ethel (aka Canon) because without Ethel there is no need for Lucy.

I love the opportunity to grow and learn while doing something I love. And everyday life is pretty cool when you stop and look at it. The ordinary is the best, the events are fun, and hey who doesn't love farm photos. Its my diary in pictures, its my story with color, and its my joy.

How do I find the time?
Well that isn't always easy, but Ethel goes where Lucy goes so Ethel is always with me. I don't leave it in the bag, I leave in the kitchen so I have access to it when I need it. It is about making the time for me, and doing what I love. I am on year 3 of my 365, and each year I have improved, learned new things, and felt amazing after looking back.

Doesn't life get boring everyday?
Its the boring times when I realize its life, its a challenge, its fun, and its really short! Earlier this week I read about a 12 year old boy who was killed in a car accident, and it hit home. My boys are my world, my life, and I would be lost without them. So instead of worrying about the boring times in life I am going to turn the boring times into documented times and do everything possible to show my boys the best life ever. The mundane cat pictures, the crazy goat pictures, and just the random boring times are much greater than boring times.

Do you print these everyday photos?
I sure do! I have more everyday photos on the wall then posed photos. These are the real photos, the reminders that life is crazy, but remember it goes fast!

So go out, take the boring photos, make the memories, and always remember that life is too short for boring. Life is too short so make those memories now while you can.