Say “Cheese”…and “I Do!”
My cheeks hurt from smiling.
My feet hurt from dancing (or maybe just dancing in three-inch wedge heels I hadn’t quite broken in).
My ego hurts from negative comments realizing that my “come hither” look looks more like “go away.”
I’m not sure we could have packed another thing into our Saturday and if we had, I’m not sure I’d be alive to tell about it.
Up first, Photo Shoot #1: The Farmer’s Market.
We tried to casually make our way around the market so Brie could capture it on film.
Let me point out that there is nothing “casual” about walking around at 9 am with black patent wedge sandals on and a huge wicker basket in tow. The enormous camera and slow-motion produce molesting didn’t exactly scream “inconspicuous” either.
The girls took advantage of the process, taking it upon themselves to pluck whatever produce from the stands and sample it, meaning Pea Daddy was chasing us around peeling off dollar bills like…a vegetarian at a Farmer’s Market.
As a result, we ended up with enough local organic produce to last us…
okay, a few days, but we hopefully got some really fantastic shots.
Off to Photo Shoot #2: My Grandpa’s Garden.
After eating a pint of peas on the way home and changing clothes, we headed over to my grandpa’s house to take some shots in his garden.
I hadn’t been back to his house since he had his stroke last month, and it was really hard. It was the first time in my life that I’d been to my grandparents’ house and had to choke on the fact that neither one of them was there. I didn’t like it.
I spent the first ten minutes trying to compose myself, fanning my eyes furiously to keep from ruining the makeup that I’d carefully applied as I always do when going to pick squash and sit in dirt and smile.
I got it together, though, and even if none of the shots we got make the book, I’ll at least have some great pictures of this place that is so special to me.
And I have a fridge full of squash.
Then it was, Photo Shoot #3: The Kitchen.
I think at this point, Pea Daddy was tired of taking pictures of taking pictures. Just know that aprons were donned, cookies were baked, some vegetables were nervously chopped while looking into a camera and not at the huge blade that was methodically inching closer and closer to my left hand.
“First, you must, stop the bleeding!”
I think it was also at this point that Lulu decided that she’d had enough of “Simon Says put your hands on your lap…Simon Says put your dress down from over your head…Simon Says look at the camera,” and she just wanted a nap.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have blankie, a strong sedative or a child who even takes naps, so we forged on to another clothing change, some peanut butter crackers eaten in the car and the wedding!
Libby was one of my family friend’s growing up and she was a gorgeous bride during the beautiful ceremony and elegant reception.
We were able to spend the evening with Mimi and Poppy,
and many of our old friends. Of course, the girls were exhausted, so I busted open the lollipop favors as fast as my butter knife could with a severed thumb. I think Lulu was shocked to be getting candy before dinner.
I was almost equally as surprised with the vegetarian dinner option: spaghetti squash with a lentil pasta sauce.
It was delicious!
The girls were on their last leg at this point, but had one goal in mind:
MAKE IT TO THE CAKE.
So through speeches, first dances and photographs, Pea Daddy and I were either across the hall from each other in “his and her” bathrooms with each of the girls doing “their business” (Farmer’s Market produce must have extra fiber) or having some really awkward lap time.
I’m not sure who looks more tired there. I’m very sure of who looks more pissed off.
Somehow, we made it to the cake, though we ended up stuffing two pieces into some cocktail napkins and the girls ate it in their laps on the drive home. At least they were still in their dresses…we can just wake them up and roll on into church, right?
Haha, this post was hysterical, as always.
What an awesome vegetarian option! I kind of want that for lunch now. Where are all the good squashes when you need them?
Oh Sarah! You and the girls look so BEAUTIFUL in your blue print dresses. I LOVE the dresses to bits!
Sounds like you had a wonderful (if trying) day, thanks for sharing it with us!
Those pictures will be so beautiful! Omigosh what an utterly exhausting–but very fun and productive day
Beautiful! All of you. Looks like a great weekend.
Wow! I have NEVER been to a wedding with such a great vegetarian option. You all looked beautiful.
You are BEEEEEEAUTIFUL!! And so are your girls!!
Love all of the pictures!!
Thanks so much, Em, and everyone else for the sweet compliments!
I second the comment that your dresses look really gorgeous. As does that beautiful cake!
I’m kind of exhausted just reading about your weekend! Hope today is more relaxed!
Uh, no…I’m taking Gigi to a movie and then having friends over for dinner. And Lulu was up at 5:30 am. I did not go back to sleep.
Sounds like a great (and busy) Saturday. All the photos look lovely though, and that meal at the wedding sounds great!
Not gonna lie, go to the farmer’s market in NYC (if you can call it that, it’s more like Whole Foods Outdoors), and it looks pretty much like…that. Fashion citayy.
Regardless, you’re hot, and all these photos are beautiful so I bet the rest are fantastic. My goodness when I “grow up” I want to be just like you.
I LOVE your dress in the first pic and your hair looks fantastic. That Winnie the Pooh quote the couple used makes me cry every time. Even right now. *sneef*
You are so pretty, and your girls are just yummy!! Can’t wait for that cookbook!
You guys looked great! I am so anxious to buy your book!
Also regarding the negative comments…it makes me so mad because it’s obvious by reading your blog that you are a nice, loving parent who truly values family, healthy living and fun. I don’t understand how people could be mean. I guess that’s just the blog world for you.
I think it’s great that you did a photo shoot at the family farm.
Your hair looks great – love it!
Tired? Please. You look gorgeous. Your kids are also so lucky to have a mom who is so enthusiastic about all things vegetables
You and the girls looked so pretty in your dresses yesterday! What a wonderful opportunity to have someone else take pictures of you and the girls:) And those Farmer’s Market peaches looked AMAZING!
Also, I’ve never noticed how much Lulu looks like your mom! Too cute!
Your hair looks amazing! And all the pictures look so wonderful too. I can’t wait to see the finished product. Your book is going to speak so well to people I can just tell.
I think that is great that the vegetarian option was something more creative than a basic lasagna or pasta. The cake looks delightful too.
Looks like a busy but memorable day. How special to have photos from your grandparents’ garden. Like you said, these will mean more than a load of farmer’s market shots. I can’t wait to have your book in my hands!
I can’t wait for the boooook!!! G and L are so photogenic.
I found a few photos of my 3 year old self that remind me of Gigi…I’ll have to send you the link when I post them
Congrats on making it through the photo shoot – you all look amazing in your sundresses heading off to buy produce. I can’t wait for the book!
That is one long day. But you are super mom for even getting them to the cake.
I love the vegetarian at the farmer’s market joke. It just made me giggle on a hard day.
ah, i’m sure you had some beautiful pictures taken! i can’t wait to see what you decide to use in the book! i’m so excited for it!
What a day!!!
Go super mom!
You sure cram a lot of good stuff into one day! Beautiful pictures. Makes me want to go back to Oregon big time. Also, I made your faux Balance Bars the other day — with the “secret ingredient” of wheat grass (whose overpowering pea-green color superbly ensured that no one else would go near them – mwhaha) — and they were great! Really looking forward to your book.
I can’t wait for your book to come out! You and your family are so beautiful
What beautiful pictures of all of you!! And also the veggies at the farmer’s market……..it’s making me drool.
I love your hair blonde! and the one of you and Lulu is too cute … even if she was a little tired and cranky.
so glad you got pictures at your Grandpa’s farm!
where did you get the purple dress you wore to the wedding? gorgeous! i might need it for my residency interviews…
Hi Carin! Actually, the dress is brown and I got it at Nordstrom during their Anniversary Sale. This isn’t the exact dress, but it’s by the same designer: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3077064/0~2376776~2374325~6011038?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6011038&P=1
I bet the photos from the shoot are so beautiful and the ones they pick for the book are going to be great! What a long day for all of you, and I know how hard it was for you to go to your grandparents house, I can imagine : ( I just had to move all my grams stuff out of her apartment last month, we put her in a home, and it was so tough to do that, it was just so upsetting, to know gram was not going to be there ever again : (
Hope you and the family get a lot of rest today!
xoxo
Wow, good for you for getting through all those photos with two kids in tow! Looks exhausting to me… sorry
Love your dress you have on at the farmer’s market! Was that another TJ find?
Actually, I think I love ALL the clothes I see you wearing in your posts! You and your daughters both look healthy and beautiful! Congrats on your upcoming book!
You are sweet, Erin. The blue dress was actually from Macy’s.
LOVE the hair and the setting for the pictures! i can’t wait to see them on the book
Hope you had a blast. I love the hair. The pic of lulu is classic.
Hey mama pea
im a loooong time reader, first time commenter 
but i just wanted to say that i really hope those negative comments you get dont make you ever question your mothering (is that a word?) abilities! im only 19 years old but i often dream about what kind of mother ill be and although i love my own mom to death, she worked for the majority of my childhood and i feel like maybe if i had my mom around, i couldve avoided the things ive went through with body image, unhealthy eating, and a need for attention and acceptance. It sounds silly, but since reading your blog I find myself looking up to you and mentally taking notes for when its my time to be a mother. I love what you do for your girls and for your family and I know your daughters will look back and appreciate everything youve done for and with them 
lots of love <3
I understand what you wrote about your grandfather’s garden. My Papa died in April. He had been gardening on this freestanding piece of property for 20 years, and he actually died in his garden among his spinach of an unexpected heart attack.
The night before the funeral, we ate asparagus from his garden. It was delicious and it would have made my grandfather so happy to know that everyone he loved was sitting around a table together consuming the product of his sweat and hard work. Still, I found it too difficult to visit his garden or his dentistry office (he still practiced 2 mornings a week at 82!) As I write this comment, I am crying. It is okay to be sad and even mad about the fact that aging affects our grandfathers, and it’s healthy and good to engage with those emotions when they arise (even if it’s during a photo shoot.) I’m really proud of you for the way you’ve continued to go on even though huge, foundational aspects of your family life have changed. I’m sure he was very honored that his garden could serve another purpose for the next generation of the family that he loves, and I hope you find those photos comforting as the years go on.
Oh man, I can’t wait to see the book photos. I think you choose the perfect locations for the photo shoots.
This weekend must have been “the” weekend to have a wedding! I love that spaghetti squash with lentils was the vegetarian option- it looks amazing.
gorgeous family
The shots look great! Wholesome and natural, and perhaps it’s a little wingnutty to say, but they give off personality and good energy. Looking forward to your book!
I heart the Peas! You guys looked great for your photo shoot and I’m LOVING your new hair – HOT MAMA!!!!!
dearest mama pea,
you have a beautiful family and are a wonderful caretaker/mother/wife/woman/blogger/role model to me (+ swarms of readers). THANK YOU for putting up with the shenanigans of bitter, judgmental, jealous, rude commenter(s) so that we, your loyal readers, can continue to find so much joy and inspiration in your fabulous words. it is my sincerest wish that karma bites said commenter(s) in the derriere, and (until they change their attitude), gives they a generous serving of red lights, broken dishes, missing left socks, and prematurely spoiling produce.
yours truly,
emilie
(p.s. i hope you got my email the other day/i sent it to the right place! let me know if not!)
That looks eerily similar to my wedding cake, we had burnt orange “ribbon” too. Love that you had a vegetarian option for dinner!
You are so beautiful… the perfect smile!
Beautiful pictures! Really enjoy all of your posts! You are such a great mom!
Those photos are going to be amazing!! I’m so excited to see them. I love the fact that Gigi has a wicker basket. You mean you don’t carry that thing around every Saturday morning?
How awesome that you took pictures in your grandfather’s garden. Those are going to be such beautiful shots.
Whoa. I read Negative Comments crossed out. I also read your last post and have no idea what could have sparked them on. But trust me, I have gotten a few neg comments, ahem more like an a**load of them, but I have realized they are about THAT person, not about me. I just spark something that person is working thru and it manifests as hatemail in my inbox. I won’t tell you to try not to take them personally, b/c I have never been able to take them as anything EXCEPT personally. However, please know, I have been there…and it sucks. So, big (((HUGS)))
Ok your hair…lookin’ so sassy! I love the highlight shades…so carmel-ey and pretty and the sun hitting it oh just right.
The veggie option wedding meal…nice score there!
I knew the photo shoot would be great! You guys are even more lovely than the fresh produce, and that’s saying a lot
Lovely day, and I hope you treasure the images forever.
love your hair. love, love Lulu and her attitudes. love, love, Gigi and her ways too! Still praying for Papa! You are a hard worker M. Pea and it is a blast to watch. Oh, and I followed a rabbit trail from one of your posts and found PW! So fun.
I think it was wedding weekend – everyone had a wedding to attend this weekend! Your veggie option sounds wonderful! Mine was sauteed veggies and pita, how perfect right? I was just missing the hummus.
Love the photoshoot!! Please tell me there won’t be any Speidi styled shoots though
I am seriously so flipping excited for your book to come out!
great pics!
So exciting to see the book publishing coming along! I’m jazzed to see the final result – those pictures will have to be totally precious.
oh dear, how ironic—there is a sign for LONGHORN BEEF right next to your head in your first photoshoot photo!! Haha at first I thought it was some sort of watermark.
I thought about you guys all day- hoping that you got through the day! As always, these pictures are stunning! How fortunate are you to have captured such amazing moments/memories!? I would love to be part of you family! I think I could be the cool ‘older sister’ or aunt? I am an absolute delight (so I hear lol). I only have one suggestion: worry less and enjoy these moments more! I don’t have words to express how happy and proud I am of you! You have worked so hard and deserve all the great things coming to you! Enjoy your family time!!!
xoxoxo\
Barbara (open for adoption) lol
YAYYYY – i am SO glad the session went well! you are pretty much superwoman for going from that to a wedding. sheesh, i am tired just thinking about it. anyways, your hair looks fabulous! a little cut and color job? ME LOVES!