The End of the Year Post and Around the House at X-mas

I really love digging through Cole's cell phone. She takes so many pictures of this family and has an eye on things in ways that I just don't have.

A couple things to note about this set that Cole put together, ** the picture of the curious little collection of items was discovered in the seat of the Radio Flyer Rocket that Tessa has taken over. The seat lifts up, and there is a little storage area under it. Well, Cole went to move the Rocket and heard some stuff sliding around and found this secret stash that Tessa has been collecting like some little hoarding gnome. Is this an early warning sign that the kid has thieving hands, or is she going to grow up to be a hoarder? ** and I also wanted to point out that Tessa received her very first Steven Seagal style ponytail, she wants to trend set already. All the other little girls on the block want the Seagal now. Stream lined for martial arts, or just for some stylish toughness, it is a sensible ponytail indeed.

I also looked on my camera for some pictures from holiday time and wanted to contribute to the around the house post this time.


it always amazes me how causal Tessa is in the morning. She just kind of stands and waits and greets you with a little smile or a small hello.


I find that at the times when Tessa still appears to look tiny in her surroundings I want to take a picture. Almost like, aww look how tiny she is, isn't that adorable. I wonder if this is from all of the "Tiny Elvis" sketches on SNL or if everyone has this same reaction to their toddler.


Tessa loves hats, and so we bought some different styles to place around in her bedroom for her to marvel at. I think Cole needs to find a way to work this one into an outfit and sport it at work.


This was the first picture where I actually thought she looked like me, same skinny jeans, and the exact same belly. Although at 36 it just isn't that adorable anymore.

We had a great Christmas, and I really love the downtime and how slow everything gets right after the holiday until after the New Year. We have been playing with the kids and their toys relentlessly, and just feeling excited about the New Year coming. We had a tremendous 2010 filled with some of the most stress we have ever had to face as a couple, and it did no damage to the love levels in this house I am happy to say. We have emerged an even stronger unit. This year also marked a big evolution on the job front-- For the first time since I started running down the dream of becoming a photographer I actually feel like one a little bit, and Cole evolved from an apprentice into a full on stylist with over flowing books. We are really starting to get the hang of this having a career thing. The big goal for 2011 for me is to try and get to a place where I am not constantly writing emails and begging for work or creating opportunities. I want to put some projects out there that start to bring the work to me. Where people see what I can do, and love it so much that they say... "we have to get that Marshall guy!"

I have some really big plans for 2011 and this blog, and Cole and I have come to a final decision on the further building of this family--The last addition I guess you could say. Exciting. So it is definitely going to be an interesting year for us. I kind of decided in a weird move that I wanted to put even more energy and heart into this blog, and so I have found someone to construct some new components to it, finally create a portfolio space for my professional work, and a permanent space for Cole, and a really big project I hope to announce later in January if all things go well. The point of saying all of this, is that I am really excited going into 2011 and that is new for me. For the first time I am not approaching a new year with the attitude of-- "well this year I am finally going to get it all figured out and do things different." I am approaching it instead with this really wonderful feeling. I am not quite sure what it is. It isn't confidence, I think it might be optimism?

Of course I can't leave this post without saying a huge thank you to everyone who reads here, all the encouragement and belief in the things I am trying to do that is left behind in this space, is devoured by me and used to keep coming up with projects and plans and trying to rundown the dreams I did not want to put up on a shelf. This blog has become such a gift, and I really can't say thank you enough for your energy, and in return I really hope that I am able to give something back to you in this space. Whether it be some inspiration, some hope, some laughs, or just a different perspective-- I hope that is why you come back. So thank you, and as always, from all of us...

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