Before 8am {Jessica}

“Life is an adventure, and there is no script. I see something in ordinary moments. I believe that perfection comes not when you are dressed perfectly and wearing lipstick – but in little moments and interactions that make up our days and build and sustain our relationships. Let me show you the beauty in your unscripted moments…” – Karen Jacot, photographer

Ohhhhhh, Karen!  You say you want to come to my house before 8am to take pictures of what our real life looks like?!?!?  Huhhhh??? No planned coordinating outfits?  No safe outdoor neutral meeting space? No time to clean up yesterdays leftover mess?? Huhhhhh????

From the time the first little person sneaks into my bed at 6:45ish, until 8:15 when we head out the door to school, we typically follow the same routine everyday.  But y’all, there is soooo much unpredictability!  People might cry because there aren’t anymore waffles in the freezer.  A certain girl who never wants to brush her teeth might lose it when she sees me pull out the toothpaste.  I might be running 10 minutes behind schedule therefore taking out my stress on everyone who crosses my path!  Sooo much to go wrong, but my friends…I have to tell you, just like all the contributors who have shared their mornings with you thus far have shown, soooooo much can go right! I have looked at my photos over and over and over and over.  The backdrop isn’t beautiful, the sun isn’t setting over the trees in the distance…it’s just us in our space doing our thing.   Josh is the star of our mornings and these pictures show that off so well.  The man who is usually behind the camera, is making lunches, dressing babies, and just being the superdad that he always is.

First two up…panties and peanut butter on waffles.  We’re still struggling with pull-ups at night y’all.  **I’ll accept any advice on that issue in the comments.**

My sister is in nursing school and lives with us.  These are their moments.  The ones when they are eating matching breakfasts and half of our house is still sleeping.  What do ya’ll think Laine was telling her that was so funny??

It took Owen a little while to warm up to having a stranger in our house.

I’ve convinced this one she is great at getting dressed all by herself!

Breakfast round 2 for Laine.  Owen thinking…I want to do that!

This one still needs a wardrobe assistant if we want to be out the door before noon.

I started leaving notes on the girls’ lunchboxes this year.  I know they can’t read them, but they know it’s from me and we share a little moment each day even though we’re not together.

See how he warmed right up to Karen??

This is what I miss when I leave the party to take a shower.  They’re all staring at the tv…Jake or Sophia or if Owen had his way, The Wiggles.

Teeth!

My favorite pic of the morning.  My boys. Belly to Belly.  This one is going on my wall.

The one who was protesting teeth brushing.

Her favorite shoes.  Scrapes on the toes from using her feet as the brakes while bike riding.

Last sip!

Out the door we go.

Living the mini-van dream!

We’ve already made a coffee table book with our pics, and I hope this series inspires you to look up Karen Jacot Photography and reach out to her.  Formal family photos are treasures, which I’ll continue to have taken each year, but Karen’s journalistic style creates something completely different…something that coordinating outfits and perfect blow outs don’t quite portray.  Thank you Karen!!!

To see the rest of the pictures that Karen took, be sure to check out her blog too.  And be sure to take a peek at the rest of the posts within this amazing series as well!