{Sneak Preview} Prosin Family

Today I had the pleasure of photographing the Prosin Family. They have a 3 year old boy, the exact same age as my 3 year old. As boys are he was full of energy and much more interested in the playground than taking pictures. I need to rethink taking pictures near playgrounds with the under 5 crowd. Its very distracting although the background is gorgeous and we worked with it very well.

Aaron and Amanda were so much fun to work with. Amanda is a fellow academic so we related well and Aaron is also a photofile so we could talk shop easily. Zach, well he was just a three year old with some of the most gorgeous blue eyes I have seen and full of energy. You could easily see how much love and how well this family worked together.

We spent the afternoon in the park trying to capture some family pictures; some in the moment and some posed. The highlight of the day, a tree Zach could climb himself and an old fashioned playground where he could climb everything. This boy was definitely a monkey in his past life.

 

 

 

 

Learning to ride a bike

This is a major milestone in a child's life. I had vision of all of us heading to the park or Erik's school yard since that is the nearest flat ground, and I would have my camera out while Carl carefully instructed Erik. He is my first and this is what I thought happened with every child because that is what the movies told me. I am serious when I say that!

Then this summer right before Erik turned 5 he expressed an interest in learning to ride a bike without training wheels so we purchased bikes to use in Michigan. We went to one of the many deserted asphalt roads and tried to teach him. Erik just couldn't balance, over and over again he would go about 5 feet and fall and get frustrated and hurt. After a day or two of trying he decided he didn't like it and we gave up on the idea of a two-wheel bike and stuck the training wheels back on. I wasn't going to force the poor guy.

There is one thing I know about my first born, he likes to be in control and likes to do things independently in his own way and in his own time so when I least expect it he already knows how to do it and I didn't even have to teach him. This is exactly what happened yesterday.

We were at his friend's 5th birthday party and while I was watching Elliot in the bouncer Erik is in the drive way picking up the two-wheel bike and trying to ride again. The hostess instantly informed me worried he might get hurt. I walk over there to see my boy riding down the hill perfectly steady like he already knew how to ride a two-wheel bike.

Now I know for a fact that this is a new thing for him. We were at this exact same house and he tried the exact same trick just two weeks ago. Instead of riding, he kept falling and couldn't balance, but in just two short weeks, something just clicked for him yesterday. Their house provided the perfect Erik learning opportunity, an environment he could control himself. He rolled down the hill to get the bike started and then crashed into a wall to stop himself. Complete control and the only way Erik would do it, no teaching involved for my very independent child.

So we came home, it was dark, but after the birthday party we were all excited to try again and see how much of a fluke it was. Carl took off the training wheels and we went outside to play while dinner was in the oven. Guess what, he did it again on his own without and help, he just needed us to start him. Then realistically we waited until the next morning to teach him the final step.

So here are some pictures of my "little" boy who taught himself how to ride a bike. He can now start, stop and break all without falling. Our next step will be mastering our crazy hills without putting his life in danger. I definitely see some bike path rides in our future and he goes so much faster on a two-wheeler than with training wheels. This is going to be an adjustment for all.