Big *HUG* friend, your little boy is adorable and growing up :)

You will always be the most important teacher in his life.. no matter what gradeor school he is in.

I can't believe the love bug is in kindergarten already...Its almost too much. =`)

I hope he had a wonderful first day! I can't wait for the Milwauke wedding hehe

It's a good thing my office door locks because I'm at work...crying! I know all to well what you are feeling. Good luck Hughes!

why did he have to grow up so fast!

Cool photo for such a huge moment! Can't believe he's so big already! As a mom, it leaves a heavy feeling in my stomach too.

Awww, they are big boys now momma, I had they same emotions Tuesday, took Dane into his class, found his seat and he turned to me and said "you can go now mom, I will be ok"...

Aww..they are big boys now momma... I had the same emotions Tuesday, I took Dane to his class, found his seat and he turned to me and said "you can go mom, I will be ok". :(

Wow, Clary, just wow!!!! He looks so grown-up. . . .I just can't believe it! Where did those 5 years go??? This is an awesome picture of him, and you know that I would love to have a copy of this, please? A grandson in kindergarten. . . .wow!!

Clary I bet you'll be great on Wednesday! Best wishes to Hughes on starting K-G :)

wonderful. them. you. xoxox

I can't wait to see you Wednesday!!
My little Riley started Kindergarten today...it sure does tug at a momma's heart strings, doesn't it??

Looking forward to tomorrow!

Good luck with everything, your stuff is just beautiful My son starts Kindergarten Monday and I don't know where the time went.

Great Memories for us, I hope the kids remember it too!

these are beautiful Clary! your babies are precious. :)

This is a beautiful post Clary...and a great reminder to not "rush" through a vacation but to sit back and soak in every sweet memory.

It could be all the pregnancy hormones, but this post made me cry. What a beautiful concept, Clary. And it's true, you may not have hundreds of shots from this vacation, but just looking through the treasured shots you did capture will bring you back to the happiness shared on your trip. You really made me think on this one :)

Clary!!!!!!!!!!!!
i'm speechless!!!
i love hawaii and you captured it in such an amazing way!
your kids are the cutest!
beautiful family you have! Gob bless you all! :)

clary these are (once again) gorgeous! your kids are so adorable :)

these shots are so nostalgic and you blow me away every time you release the shutter.

Beautiful pictures Clary! I can almost hear the waves looking at the pictures on the beach!

Absolutely love your polaroid 600 shots! What a fantastic use for such an awesome trip!

you went to hawaii again?! so is this the 3rd time in 5 years? wow! love the pictures. i miss working with trav and heairng stories about the kids.

you went to hawaii again?! so is this the 3rd time in 5 years? wow! love the pictures. i miss working with trav and heairng stories about the kids.

These are priceless, Clary—not only the touching images but also your commentary. You're a good soul, and it comes through in everything you do.

So bold of you! BUT, the photos turned out gorgeously (not that they wouldn't). Such wonderful memories, too!

So bold of you! BUT, the photos turned out gorgeously (not that they wouldn't). Such wonderful memories, too!

Breathtaking! I just love how you balanced capturing moments and LIVING the moments. Takes quite a bit of skill and wild abandon to do so. So glad you guys had a great trip!

Such a special post. I love how you document each and every important aspect of beautiful children's life. Thanks for sharing!

Oh Clary, these are so fantastic. It seems like, as adults, we're always drawn to a chosen handful of shots in our baby albums, aren't we? I have a feeling these will be a few that have that pull for your little ones :)

You know that I always love seeing pictures of my adorable grandkids, but these pictures also brought back some great memories! Good times and great pictures. . . .Can I have some copies??

What great memories come back to me, as I look at these pictures of my adorable grandkids in Florida. Good times, good memories, and great pictures. . . .can I have some copies?

Okay, this is going to be super lame, but I'm going to admit it anyway! us. My favorite summer song right now is "Jack and Diane" by John Mellencamp. My little guy's name is Jack and my mom's name is Diane. She decided that would be "their" song (with some lyrical changes in it...it's not quite appropriate as is). My favorite line includes "Diane's Jackie's Maw Maw, sitting at the bar." Yup, that is definitely more appropriate! But, we sing that song all the time and Jack dances around and laughs every time. There is nothing better than that laugh!

That is a great question! There are so many good ones and I just can't get enough of summer :-)
Hmmm...I guess I would have to say pretty much anything by Bob Marley, because it takes me back to Jamaica, which is one of our favorite places to visit. Everything is so relaxed and "No Problem", which also happens to be the name of my favorite drink we had there. Another good one is Sugar Magnolia by the Grateful Dead, because I'm a "summer love in the spring, fall, and winter."

It's such a lame song, but The Ataris' "Boys of Summer" always reminds me of good summer times. :) I remember one summer driving around to the lakes and fairs and all around the state jamming to that song on the radio. It was played CONSTANTLY.

Other favorite summer memories are:
-taking a big RV with 15 friends to this music festival - Cornerstone. Such a blast.
-many many summers spending time at the lakes -fishing, rocking the raft, paddle boat rides, tubing behind the speedboat, etc.
-movie nights in the park! Love them.

Oh, and I love The National. :) Love love love.

excellent playlist- you have some of my favorites!

i'll never for get the summer i started driving - ah to be 16 again. and i started driving carpool for a few girls in my class. the first afternoon we drove home i took off the t-tops (do they even make cars with t-tops anymore???) and we blared playin with the boys - by kenny loggins (from top gun). of course every song on that soundtrack was awesome so we would let it the rest of the tape (wow - i'm showing my age!) play on...wind blowing in our hair, best friends in the car, not a care n the world. those were the days!

The song that seems to be stuck in my head most this summer is "In The Sun" from Zooey Deschanel. Don't really know why...it just keeps popping in!!

The song that seems to be stuck in my head most this summer is "In The Sun" from Zooey Deschanel. Don't really know why...it just keeps popping in!!

I know it sounds silly, but "Dancin' In the Streets" reminds me of that summer the Cardinals used it as their theme song, so hearing it makes me think of happy baseball fans in the summer time. And by the way - thanks for everything this weekend - we are so excited to see the proofs!

Whoops. I put "Dancin' in the Streets" when really I meant "The Heat is On" - I guess they are both good summer songs...but upon viewing my late 80's Cardinals t-shirt, I realized I submitted the wrong song!

I'd have to say "Summer Breeze". It always makes me imagine lying in a field of jasmine with my love and just soaking up the sun until it sets :)

I love summer. I love the heat. I love it all. Recent faves: Better Together – Jack Johnson – Not only was this played at our favorite breakfast spot in Kauai on our honeymoon but now I love singing it to our 7-month old son. Stay (Wasting Time) – Dave Matthews Band – Oh, this just makes me want to lounge on a blanket in the park on a hot day with my man. Oldie but good summer song: Paradise City – Guns and Roses – This is about being 14 and having awesome parents who would take me and my girlfriends to state fairs, carnivals and the like to play. We would cruise the midway testing every ride with the music the carnival workers played blaring in the background, specifically Guns and Roses. I can still feel the wind in my hair, my best friends next to me, going in crazy circles on some ride, laughing hysterically, without a care in the world.

Blue Rocking Chair by Kenny Chesney. The summer we were building our home my husband, son, and I had to live in a camper. Yes, I said LIVE in a camper. Every night when I cooked dinner in the tiny little oven with 2 burners on top, we would put that CD on (because it was stuck in the CD player and all we had to listen to) and open the windows and feel like we were truly alive. I don't even like Kenny Chesney that much - but when I hear that song - I remember that difficult summer in a camper - when my family was closer and happier than ever.

Blue Rocking Chair by Kenny Chesney. The summer we were building our home my husband, son, and I had to live in a camper. Yes, I said LIVE in a camper. Every night when I cooked dinner in the tiny little oven with 2 burners on top, we would put that CD on (because it was stuck in the CD player and all we had to listen to) and open the windows and feel like we were truly alive. I don't even like Kenny Chesney that much - but when I hear that song - I remember that difficult summer in a camper - when my family was closer and happier than ever.

Summer 2005 I was in my third trimester of pregnancy with my first son. I would always have the radio on while I got ready for the day, and at that time, the radio was playing the pussycat dolls--don't cha--over and over again. Three mornings in a row that song was played on the radio, and during its entirety my baby would start moving around/kicking like crazy. Every time I hear that song now it reminds me of that hot summer and feeling baby kicks from inside. :)

That would have to be; "All she wants to do is dance." by Don Henley. Reminds me of a carefree time hanging out with good friends, staying out late and closing a few places down.

That would have to be; "All she wants to do is dance." by Don Henley. Reminds me of a carefree time hanging out with good friends, staying out late and closing a few places down.

Ah!! I love all of your entries!!

The winner is Maui, because she has the coolest name that reminds me of summer:)

Ah!! I love all of your entries!!

The winner is Maui, because she has the coolest name that reminds me of summer:)

Where does he get all that hair? Five years of blessings, laughter and love. sigh. Happy Birthday Hughes!

P.S. Great Pics to my lovely wife.

happy birthday hughes :) awesome images, i love his outfit :)

Wow...what a cutie!

5 seems so old! Hughes is definitely looking taller and more like a kid. We're about to go through the same "they grow so fast" moment next month when Keller turns 5.

Happy #5 Hughes!

When this entry showed up in my Google reader I thought to myself... "wow, Clary photo'd a kid that looks like Hughes will look when he's grown up" Then I realized it WAS Hughes... and he IS grown up! WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?!?!

Happy birthday Hughes.... I can't wait to see you again!!!!! :D :D :D

Happy Birthday Hughes! From one Taurean to another, You Rock!

Beautiful Beautiful post! It is sad how life seems to be on fast forward when it comes to how quickly our children grow. Happy Birthday to your big 5 year old guy!

look at him! he's like a real kid now- not a toddler or baby. he's such a handsome little man.

oh love this post!

Love! My 4 year old just asked if he can have a skateboard when he's 5. And he's decided he is growing his hair out.

Happy Birthday to Hughes! Love the 5th birthday pics, Clary!

Hughes = way cooler than me! :) Happy 5 Hughes!

Love he skateboads in flip flops! LOL! Happy Birthday Hughs! PS, I'm curious about the silly string party. How was it?

Oh jeez Jake's little noggin is sleeping on me and I saw this post and I started crying. Sigh ... :)

Oh Clary, these images, they just take my breath away. What a beautiful boy he is.

You keep your words to a minimum on your posts but make every.last.one.of.them.count.

Well done you :)

Wow 5 already where has the time gone, he is so darn cute!!!!Happy Birthday Hughes!!!!

You make beautiful babies! Just Sayin!

Oh so sweet. Just a perfect and precious post. (Man, I wish I could photograph like you! So clean!)

PS You are freaking me out at how fast boys grow!

It's funny how you are able to make so many of us feel like we "know" your family when we haven't really met them. I am floored that he's so big, so old...man, it DOES go quickly. He is absolutely adorable, though. Or do you say "handsome" once they reach 5?!

Your pictures have once again captured some amazing moments in life.

Wow Clary your son is going to be quite the heartbreaker! He is so fortunate to have a mom that takes amazing pics of him growing up :) Thanks for sharing.

He's looking like such a little man!! So cute!!

Clary ... this is so beautiful!!! Don't you just wish time would stand still just for a few minutes?? They grow up so fast! He is a handsome guy and I know you are so proud! Hope you are doing well!

Clary, Hughes has turned into a beautiful little boy, I so loving looking at all your photos of your family. Congrats on two beautiful children and the success of your business!! I am very proud of you!

WOW- he is getting SO big!!!!! What a handsome guy- Our little men are less than a month apart in age- 2005 was a very good year!!!!
Happy Birthday,!!!

Cheryl McDonald, yes! Does waving a polaroid really make it develop faster? Breakfast for sure... BEST french toast is at Tavern on the Green in Manhattan... simply scrumptious!

Kellie
Never one of my own!!!! I have really been wanting one of these! They look so fun!!! =]
Breakfast ... definitely Breakfast!!

I have never owned an instant camera =( Breakfast for dinner!!

oh, and the kite flying photos are amazing...

can i play too?? hehe 1.Paula Leme Marques Arrais (sorry, it's too long!) 2.No, i haven't. 3.breakfast, no doubt!!!!!! lovely images by the way, clary :)

I have an old Polaroid SX-70 but having trouble finding (affording) film for it =(
Breakfast, of course!

1) Amanda Dawn Zika
2) Yes and still have one :) Brett and I used one a lot when Connor was a baby. I still have it.
3) Brinner - breakfast for dinner. A fav in my household.

1. Darbi :)
2. No, but it's on my list.
3. Dinner for breakfast. (I'd rather eat pizza or chinese food at 9 a.m. than pastries, granola or OJ)
xoxo you!
D

i live a deprived life- never owned an instant camera. and breakfast. always.

1.) Lauren
2.) No :(
3.) Breakfast! Now I'm hungry for a belgian waffle.

1. Liz
2. Unfortunately not. :(
3. Breakfast all the way.

Destinee
not yet
breakfast for dinner! Hashbrowns, pancackes w/ buttermilk syrup, mmmm.....

(by the way, I just found your blog and I love it!)

Love these photos! I have an old polaroid camera and loved it...until I ran out of film. :( Dinner...though breakfast is growing on me.

my name is kristin
i've never had an instant camera but i've been dying for this one!
and dinner. for sure. then dessert.

hey clary!! these are gorgeous :) to answer your questions...
hi, it's sarah, and yes i used to own a kodak polaroid camera, but i lent it to my boyfriend and never saw it again!
and more importantly: BREAKFAST, all the way. and sometimes even breakfast FOR dinner. nothing beats pancakes or french toast after a stressful day at work.

First things first - your kids are adorable (but I tell you that a lot). Secondly, Jettie's turquoise flats are so cute!

1. Brit
2. I used to have one before my dad stole it from me (Yes, stole, when I was younger).
3. Totally breakfast. No day is complete without it, just ask B.

1. Wynne Chow
2. Yes
3. Breakfast. I love breakfast food at any meal.

meredith huntley. no i haven't but i've always wanted one! breakfast. cracker barrell all the way :) yum!

GAHHHHHHHH - Clary, do you know how long I've been COVETING one of these???!!!!! I so, so, SO would love to have one for my Europe trip with Nick in July. Would love to win ;)

PS - These are so sweet of your family!!

GAHHHHHHHH - Clary, do you know how long I've been COVETING one of these???!!!!! I so, so, SO would love to have one for my Europe trip with Nick in July. Would love to win ;)

So my answers:

1) Gail Werner
2) Haven't owned a Polaroid in YEARS (had one as a kid, then the sticker kind in high school)
3) Dinner person; but does breakfast for dinner on occasion count too? :)

Clary, your kids are so cute! Actually, the whole family is beautiful!
1. Lindsey
2. Not me, but I remember my mom's polaroid in my tween years. She LOVED that thing, and even had some crazy prism lenses for it too. I find random photos from it every so often, and they always make me smile. Sadly, I don't know what happened to the camera though. I wish I had it.
3. Breakfast at dinnertime! Tonight in our house it's lox with cheesy eggs :)

1) Hanna Salonen
2)Yes! Love the fact that you can't control much and the results are unexpected and fun!
3)Breakfast. with bacon!

I love seeing your family photos. I can't believe how big Hughes and Jettie are!!! Sarah, no and dinner...although pizza for breakfast works for me, too. :D Hope you are doing well!!! Tim says hi, too.

These photos make you feel like you're getting a hug from a long lost friend!

1. John
2. I have never owned one!
3. Breakfast!!! Love me some First Watch & my waffle maker gets some great usage at home.

1. Heather Edwards 2. Yep, at 6yrs, a Retro hand me down. The kind with the really stiff board/paper love loved it (till the ocean swallowed it on a family vacay= devastated) 3. Breakfast

1. Kate 2. Nope, never! 3. Brinner (breakfast for dinner!!) by the way, I love XOCO!! Their hot chocolate is to die for.

Such great photos!
1. Lynsey
2. My dad had one I always used when I was little. Shake it like a polaroid picture!!!
3. Breakfast!!

1. Kari
2. no, but I've always wanted one!
3. dinner. I'm a sucker for delicious dinners.

1. Keisha
2. I remember playing with my mom's Polaroid camera. I was obsessed with the instant pictures!
3. Nothing beats fixing a big breakfast for the family on a weekend morning (or early afternoon)!

1) Ryan
2) Sadly, no.
3) Breakfast. Any.Time. Of. Day.

1. Michelle Ross
2. No, Can you believe it?
3. I say Breakfast FOR Dinner.

1> erika
2> i know i had one when i was a kid....so much fun waiting for the photos to develop...i remember having no patience!
3> breakfast......my fav spots in chicago are Wishbone, Toast and the ever-greasy Sam & George's!

1. Jamie
2. Unfortunately, no. When I was a kid I thought View-Masters (remember those red binocular-looking things that you looked at wheels of pictures in?) were instant cameras. Imagine my disappointment when I realized I never took all those mountain-range photos!
3. I frequently find myself eating last night's leftovers in the mornings. So dinner for me.

Meg: no, sadly I never had one... though I was allowed to use a film camera of my mum's that was a "half frame", boy you could get a lot of pics on one film!! Who could not want one after seeing those pics (above I mean)?
Pretty keen on breakfast myself, toast with vegemite preferably, yum yum. I reckon the constant loading does of vitamin b keeps the mosquitoes away.

-Kim
-I have never owned an instant camera, but I sure would love to!
-Breakfast for sure. French toast and hot chocolate make me want to get up in the morning :)

In the suburbs there is this great breakfast place called Walker brothers. I have only been to the one near Evanstan ( I don't think it is in Evanstan, it is in a city next door...maybe Wilmette).

Meredith*****I had one of those goofy polaroids that says a message when you press the shutter. My favorite message was, "smile and sayyyy, hapmanajinglewadaloofaha!"...guaranteed smile-how can you not laugh at that?!*****breakfast all the way...I LOVE some crispy hashbrowns with fried veggies!!!

Jennifer...yes I owned 3 polariods! I loved using the prizm len cover! Yes I still have it! :) Breakfast is my fav! Eggs and hashbrowns! Yum! Thanks for the great pics and the contest!

1) Erin
2) Yes long ago in childhood, it got lost somewhere along the way.
3) No brainer, BREAKFAST (IHOP Chocolate Chip Pancakes- YUM)

1. Andrea
2. Totally had a Polaroid back in the day! My grandma definitely still loves them...there is just something about instant results =)
3. Dinner...it seems like breakfast always includes something sweet (pastries, syrup, etc.) and I am more of a salty kind of girl...I could always go for some hashbrowns, though!

1) Kaila
2) yes, I have owned a few while growing up; however, since going to college and getting married I have not had another
3) Always dinner... and might I add I LOVE to eat dinner things for breakfast- like pizza or anything easy to warm up {i realize I should change my habit :)}

1. Erin Weber
2. No, but I thought they were neat and would always help with pictures at high school student council events.
3. Breakfast. Scrambled eggs are one of my faves and you can throw stuff in them *And breakfast for dinner is awesome.

Kristine
I've had several, used to take lots of pictures of rainbows with the Polaroid.
Oh that's hard! I love both for different reasons...

THANK YOU CLARY!!! THANK YOUUUUU!!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM! Your kiddos are getting so big, absoutley precious!

I didn't realize how much I've missed seeing photos of Hughes & Jettie!! They have both gotten so big & look so grown up. These photos are absolutely beautiful!

clary, these are lovely!! film rocks! and great job with your first roll, it looks awesome! the second one is my absolute favorite!!!

so sweet!!!
loved it!

I LOVE these!!! I can't believe how big Huges and Jettie are getting!

these photos are fantastic and your kids are adorable!

I need to meet your kids again! They are too cute! Give one of your cameras away? What? Are there lessons that come with the give away?

I love your kids - seriously adorable!! And, the look of film is just awesome!

Just breathtaking! They are so cute! And I have to say, your pictures make everyday life seem so...well...extra-ordinary!

I absolutely am in love with the picture of Jettie fishing. It reminds me so much of my own childhood at my grandparent's farm. Seeing your blog makes me even more excited about you shooting my wedding - only 3 more months!

Gorgeous! I love the soft look that they all have.

Absolutely breathtaking!

Can't believe I'm saying this but Hughes' hair is soooo short ;) !!!

Have fun and enjoy the sites. My fav is the fountains and glass ceilings at the bellagio.

Oh my gosh girl, I love this post so much that a comment cannot contain it. Expect an e-mail tonight or tomorrow. :)

OMG, Clary. These are gorgeous. LOVE. And, I love her hair so much so in fact I'm taking it to my hair trial with Holly next weekend.

P dot S You rock :)

I love these photos and the processing is so sweet and simple! =)

=) I still love the line of Hughes. Daddy Mommy doesn't catch them on fire when she makes hers.

I love, love, love it! I guess it's important for us to figure out the REAL whys about why we do things, and find our true passions. So glad you've found yours because you're fantastic!

these are gorgeous, clary!!

p.s. yay for the instax photos!! :)

You all are awesome...thanks for the love:)

Love the light that day! Can't wait to see the rest.

Adorable! She is so precious!

Adorable, love that third one :)

Aww Libby Lu is sooo cute!

Libby Lu is such a cute name! I love how adorable the baby looks wrapped up in the polka dot cloth!

Beautiful! I love her precious little name. What a sweet baby.

Beautiful! I love her precious little name. What a sweet baby.

pure love! kelly, she (along with you other babies) is just precious! great work, clary.

She is precious! What a cute family. Beautiful work, Clary.

how adorable! really love the polka dots!!!

Love the name, the baby...the photos...AND THE PURPLE COUCH!!?
Way to rock it. ;)

Oh my goodness, get out of here with that second one!! :) So beautiful - pictures and the family!

These are GORGEOUS!

Beautiful family, so much fun to see the Manno's on your blog! Libby Lu is gorgeous, she fits in perfectly with big bro and sis ;)

What a fabulous baby name! Beautiful job Clary!

what a cute name, i love it! the last frames are my favorite ;)

Fun family!!! All the names are great....and is that a Dr. Evil gesture???!?!?!?! Sorry if it's already been mentioned.
Adorable !!!

Fun family!!! All the names are great....and is that a Dr. Evil gesture???!?!?!?! Sorry if it's already been mentioned.
Adorable !!!

Great images Clary! Even in these blah days there is fun out there for us. I went sledding over the weekend with my kids and even though I nearly fell in a ditch and met my death we had a blast.

Aww Clary your kiddos are always so cute and stylish!!! I can only hope one that we have such an adorable little family like yours. These photos are precious.

I dunno why your last line made me tear up, with a smile. Or maybe I do know. Maybe it's cuz I'm jealous that you seem to have such a refreshing perspective on life. I'm thankful to have you as a friend, Clareball. xoxo Luv ya!

Clary, I saw you Tweet this earlier today and my heart just melted. If you haven't see "Where the Wild Things Are" yet, something tells me that, when you do, you'll think of your little man. You've got your own version of Max! LET THE WILD RUMPUS BEGIN!!!!

those photos are why i love photography! snapping away with the one you love- what a perfect day.

I'm in love with these images!
Thanks for the beautiful inspiration!
:)

The kids are seriously adorable! And, so is your Westie!

Clary that made my Wednesday!!! Adventure is out there is going to be my motto today especially when I'm feeling overwhelmed. Please give Hughes a hug for me!! Too cute!!!

Hughes and Jettie are lucky kiddos! What a fun life you have. PS-Good seeing you yesterday :)

oh my... best blog entry in the history of blog entries. I LOOOOOVE YOUR FAMILY!!!!!! And that photo of Hughes on the sled with Jettie holding on... AHHHHH MELT MY HEART!!!!!!! Love and miss you guys...

I kinda feel warm and fuzzy inside after this one.

What a great day; captured as always by your awesomeness. love.

Life is what you make it... oh so true! Thanks for the reminder today and for the beautiful photos of what family looks like to you! Oh so precious!