"You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this"

-Trace Adkins

Have you ever felt trapped under a mountain of brightly colored toys or papers with squiggles drawn lovingly with crayon or marker or even your eyeliner? Do you know that tiny little clothes that were so cute at the store get less cute when they are overflowing from a hamper? Have you ever stepped on LEGOs or Barbie shoes or matchbox cars or plastic ponies on your way to check on a crying baby in the middle of the night? And have you ever thought - at least once or twice - "I'd love to have my own house next door where I can read books and not have to share my drink or my snack with someone who will drool all over it. Where I can shower without having to leave the door open. Where I can reach into a drawer and not pull out a lone unmatched sock or a dragon or a spoon still covered in peanut butter"? If you know what I'm talking about, then you are probably living with children.

"Mom! We decorated!" For the month of October I'm embarking on a journey to look at my children and their messes in a new light. And while I LOVE taking pictures of my kids, for this project I've challenged myself to capture who they are when they are totally out of the picture. I want to celebrate the quiet moments left behind when they have started a project, then halfway through, moved on to something more interesting. I want to find joy in the army of cars and stuffed animals and dirty little shoes that march through my days. I want to capture these magical, messy days of crayons and trains and dinosaurs because I realize that all too soon, they will be replaced with giant shoes and back packs and textbooks, and not long after that, nothing at all.

Albuquerque family photographer - ccliberman photography And MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'd like you to join me. If you have children - or even if you don't, BE CREATIVE! - I'd like you to grab your camera, ANY CAMERA (yes, your phone counts!) and capture YOUR life. If you don't have little kids, no worries, capture those things that make your life YOURS and share them. At the end of each week during the month of October, I will post my pictures as a blog post, and I will post a link to my blog on Facebook. You can share your pictures in the comments on my Facebook page or on Instagram. Please use #CCLphotoKidsLiveHere wherever you share. 

I'm excited to do this project, and I'm excited for you to join me! Let's get started!

*I found the idea for this project on a Pinterest pin that linked to this blog.