I take hundreds of photos every month, and most of them don’t get shared with anyone, let alone online. And yet the moments in time that those photos capture are just as important a part of our story as the other images that I do choose to share.
I created this blog as a way of documenting our lives, a way of watching the girls grow into who they’re going to be and a way of remembering who they once were. It’s something I want them to be able to look back on as they get older, because memories fade but (digital) photographs don’t.
It’s easy (and tempting) to only focus on sharing the fun bits, the memorable parts, the highlights and the celebrations. But I’m learning more and more as I continue through this crazy journey of motherhood that it’s really important to me that I capture the ordinary, everyday times that we spend together as well. The bits of the jigsaw that fill in the gaps to complete the picture. The tantalising glimpses into who our girls are becoming.
The chaos, the calm and all the moments in between.
This monthly feature – The Moments In Between – is a space for me to share all of those magical bits that would otherwise just stay in a folder on my laptop, never to see the light of day.
APRIL
April felt both long and short. The unseasonable weather is confusing everyone, swinging from freezing cold and rainy to a mini-heatwave and back again in the space of just a few days means I’m back in jumpers and boots after a glorious few days of TShirts and shorts. We had a lovely week-long holiday in Cornwall and are now back in the throes of school and all it entails, already looking forward to the half term break at the end of next month.
We’ve had some lovely days out as well as some quiet days at home and when I reflect on everything that April was I think I can sum it up as having been a good month. Looking back through my photos as I put this post together never fails to make me smile. I love this project with it’s snapshots of our very ordinary lives: silly moments; sad moments, celebratory moments; quiet moments; crazy moments and all the other kinds of moments.
Whenever I come to put these posts together, some of the shots always surprise me – things I’d forgotten about, expressions I hadn’t realised I’d captured and tiny details that I hadn’t spotted first time round. It always results in a real variety of photos – all pieces of the puzzle that makes us who we are. Each and every one of them tells part of our story. And I love them all.
Every month I find I have new favourites and April is no exception.
This is us.
Jess Soothill
Gosh what lovely smiles and adventures in these photos — I must pick up my camera more! You’ve inspired me xx
Jess Soothill recently posted…Stylish women we love to follow {Chloé Loves To Shop}
Chloe Ridgway
Oh Jess thank you – that means an awful lot to me!
Kerri-Ann
I think it’s so important to keep recording these moments, its easy to leave the camera behind but I know I would be so sad at the end of the day if I hadn’t captured any of the fun even if just quiet moments at home
Kerri-Ann recently posted…A SHREKtastic cast – Regent Theatre {Review}
Chloe Ridgway
Absolutely. I keep my camera in close reach at all times at home and it goes everywhere with me when I’m out. It’s so hard to explain just how important capturing these ‘in between moments’ is to me – I just know I have to do it.
Jo - Not a Frumpy Mum
Gorgeous pictures, love all these moments caught off guard. The one of your girls watching tele laughing is beautiful.
Chloe Ridgway
Thanks so much Jo 🙂
Morgana
I love that your blog is like a photo diary for you and your family. It’s truly beautiful and something that will be treasured by all of you I’m sure xx
Chloe Ridgway
I really hope so. A photo-diary is exactly what it is! I’ve not heard it described like that before – I like it 🙂
Heledd - Running in Lavender
This is brilliant!! A real glimpse into your every day family life and what a happy life it is, so much joy and smiles. Your girls seem so close, I love it xx
Heledd – Running in Lavender recently posted…Top Tips for Going to Disney World with Kids
Chloe Ridgway
Thanks Heledd. I try and include shots that capture our real life (as opposed to ‘always happy social media life’) and that’s why I love putting these posts together so much. This is, quite simply, us.
Suzanne
Gosh you’ve captured some really stunning moments here full of emotion and personality – definitely ones to treasure! I particularly like the shots with water in, the reflections are beautiful. xx
Chloe Ridgway
Thanks so much Suzanne. I can’t even begin to describe how special these photographs and my ‘moments in between’ posts are to me. For other people to enjoy them too means a lot.