Mary Hanson Photography-Blog

Category Archives: personal

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braces…

September 23, 2008 – 5:38 am

My daughter got braces on Thursday. She is only 8 years old, which is younger than usual for braces, so she didn’t have a lot of friends to compare experiences with, just older kids at school. I had expected it to go pretty well, with a few days of mild soreness like the orthodontist had warned me about. Not our experience.

A few short hours after getting them on, several of them had popped off, and we had to go back again, and pretty much start over. They think it was a bad batch of adhesive, but it was painful for her, and tough for me to watch her hurting. I have found as a parent, I would ten times over rather have pain for myself than for my kids, but of course, we don’t get that choice. My heart goes out to parents of kids who have really tough medical stuff-I don’t know how they do it. I was a wreck over braces.

She has had quite a bit of trouble eating, and is just now saying they don’t hurt all the time. She will have them for 1.5-2 years, then again a few years later- “two stage orthodontics” they call it. Anyway, being me, you know I have to share a couple photos. I think they make her look even older-not what she needed at all! She is growing up too fast as it is, in my opinion.

And of course, one of my three favorite kids in the world, all together.

By admin | Also posted in children, general info, parenting, schedule | Comments (1)

A brilliant group you should check out…

September 22, 2008 – 10:42 am

Just wanted to post quickly about Parents for Ethical Marketing (PEM-click here for link) for my blog readers who may have never heard of it. Here is a snip from their website to explain their focus much better than I could:

Why Parents for Ethical Marketing?

Consumer marketing is everywhere. On television. In magazines and newspapers. On the Internet and on school buses. On billboards and on bus shelters. On milk cartons and cereal boxes.

In our public schools.

And it’s almost impossible to buy anything for a child without a “brand identity.” Barbie, for example, can be found on everything from band-aids to board games to backpacks.

As parents, we know there’s a problem. We argue with our kids about what to buy, what to wear, what to watch and what to play. We know what is best for our kids, yet sometimes we give in when we know we shouldn’t.

Of course, parents are ultimately responsible for raising healthy children. But corporate marketers would have us believe that combating their damaging commercial messages is exclusively our problem

Parents for Ethical Marketing thinks it’s about time that corporations take some of the responsibility.

Through parental awareness, public pressure, and legislative initiatives, Parents for Ethical Marketing encourages corporations to adopt responsible marketing standards and practices that sustain the health of children and families.

If this is a topic that is interesting and important to you, as it is to me, you can join PEM’s mailing list for updates and action information. Thanks for reading!

Mary

By admin | Also posted in parenting | Comments (0)

Ovarian Cancer Walk–MOCA–and my Mom…

August 31, 2008 – 10:01 am

Most people who know me know at least a bit about my Mom, Mary Andrews. She was, and still is, my hero. She raised my brother and I by herself, without any help (financial or otherwise) from my father. She was one of my best friends in the whole world, and I talked to her daily, often multiple times. She loved to laugh, loved her family-especially her kids and grandkids, loved her job as bookkeeper at the Minnesota School of Business, loved an ice cold tall vodka tonic, loved traveling with her sister Anne, loved sitting in her garden and loved so much more. She died over four years ago from one of the nastiest cancers around: ovarian cancer. I still miss her. Every. Single. Day.

My family and I are participating in the MOCA-Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance 9th Annual Silent No More Walk/Run for Ovarian Cancer on Saturday September 13th. Ovarian cancer is one of the most deadly female cancers, hard to diagnose, hard to treat, and hard to live with. It is also underfunded for research into treatments, prevention and a someday cure. My mom survived breast cancer, and then she fought back ovarian cancer for about three years, but my family and I are walking in the hope that more money will help keep amazing women like my mom alive longer, and give them better choices to diagnose, treat and prevent this often silent killer. I’m asking anyone who is interested to donate, either directly to MOCA or by sponsoring us in the walk, by sending a check made out to MOCA to me. (Email me if you need my address) Thanks for your support, and if you still have your mom, tell her you love her today.

Mary

By admin | Also posted in family | Comments (0)

Sneak peek and update…

July 25, 2008 – 11:14 pm

I will be on vacation for the next two weeks, returning voice mail and emails after my return on August 10th. If you want to schedule a session, send me your requested dates and times and I will get back to you when I return. If you place an order while I am gone, I will email confirmation once I am back and then get your order to you approximately two weeks after that.

Its been a sad week for me, one of my oldest friends unexpectedly lost her Mom (who was way too young at only 61) on Monday morning. Its made me miss my Mom so much more again, and knowing how my friend Heather is feeling, the hugeness of the loss, has just made this such a sad week. The funeral was today and my eyes are still sore from crying. I’ll miss you Barb, you were an amazing lady and truly loved. If you still have your Mom, give her a call, or a hug, or a card, and remember to treasure every day, and don’t take a single one for granted. Life is Just. Too. Short.

And, last-but certainly not least, I have a sneak peek for you K! I apologize for not having your entire gallery ready, but its been a crazy week and I hope it will be worth the wait when I return from vacation. Here are a few of your wonderful kids, really enjoyed seeing them again! Thanks so much for your patience, and for all the other clients who are also waiting for galleries, as I emailed you or told you at your session, they will be up as soon as I get back.

best,

Mary

By admin | Also posted in children, family, general info, repeat clients, schedule | Comments (0)

Summer is finally here…

June 19, 2008 – 8:30 am

My kids and I spent the last two afternoons at Cascade Bay water-park in Eagan, thanks to an awesome season pass christmas gift from my brother Mark & my SIL Karla. Thanks guys! Some photos from my waterproof camera to show what fun we all had.

My dear daughter, above, showing off her famous ability to cross her eyes on command. I’m so proud.

And, because I get *so many* emails from around the globe after I post an underwater photo, below is a link to the very affordable and fun point and shoot olympus that I use underwater! No, I don’t have an underwater housing for any of my pro cameras, just this fun little olympus, waterproof to 33ft, and lots of fun for boating or swimming!

Happy Summer!!

~Mary

By admin | Also posted in children, outdoors, underwater | Comments (0)

Happy Father’s Day…

June 15, 2008 – 9:37 pm

Happy Father’s Day to all of the Dads out there, and most especially, to the wonderful father of my three children, my amazing husband Mark. For some reason today, I’m reminded most especially how incredibly fast time goes by. I was going through some very old files, and came across this shot of my youngest.

He was two at the time, (now almost six, which is mind boggling to me) and I can’t believe how fast the time went. This is one of my favorite photos of him, I tend to prefer more somber photos, especially for black and whites. Anyway, he was such a little baby then, just tiny, and now, almost six, so grown up, so funny, so much more…well…so much more *everything*.

I know a big part of who my children are is shaped by the Dad they have. My husband Mark is everything my Dad never was. Patient, kind, a hard worker, a loving husband, a dad who is always there with them, hands on, in a way that many kids, me included, could only dream of. My parents divorced when I was just a year old, and my father was absent completely. I am so grateful, and often a bit jealous, that my children will have this amazing foundation, a good Dad, to build their lives upon. Mark is a pretty private person, so I hope he won’t mind me sharing how amazing he is with my readers. Here are a couple photos (you know I have to have photos, right?? ) of the guy I’m lucky enough to be married to, doing the Dad thing he does so well. Thanks honey, I am so lucky.

love

By admin | Also posted in Dads, Uncategorized, family | Comments (0)

Advice from Real Simple…

April 19, 2008 – 10:07 pm

That I love—get professional photos taken of your child.
Check out this article on the Real Simple blog.
Good idea, no? I know just the person for you!

On another note, just launched another new website of mine not too long ago:
Twin Cities Headshots for models, actors, authors, politicos, comedians, you name it, anyone who needs a headshot. Still have a little work to be done on the site, but its mostly done. Pass the word around!
thanks
~M

By admin | Also posted in general info, modeling/headshots | Comments (1)

Al Franken rally at the Capitol today…

March 25, 2008 – 6:32 pm

I went to see one of my favorite people, Al Franken, speak at a rally today at the State Capitol. Al was announcing a whole slew of endorsements he received recently, and he gave a great speech as well. I am so excited to be a delegate to the state convention in June to help Al get the DFL endorsement. I firmly believe he is the best candidate to beat President Bush’s lapdog, Norm Coleman and that Al will do all he can to fight hard to help get our country back on the right path in so many areas. I’ve read pretty much every book he has ever written, and I am so impressed with his understanding of the myriad of issues that he will face in Washington. If you have not read his books, I highly recommend them. And if you are also a delegate to the state DFL convention, I really hope you will help me in securing the endorsement for Al Franken! Feel free to email me if you want to know more.

~Mary

By admin | Also posted in politics | Comments (0)

Five years ago today…

March 19, 2008 – 1:13 pm

The war in Iraq began five years ago today.
Half a decade.
One thousand eight hundred and 27 days.
Nearly 4000 US troop casualties, and as far as Iraqi deaths–estimates put the toll at between 100,000 and one million.
No matter your political leanings or beliefs, we can all come together and agree that this war has been a tragedy.
Please take a moment of silence today to pray for all the families affected.
I also want to thank the US soldiers who have served, and are serving, in a war that I fear has no end in sight.I hope our lawmakers in the US Capitol will keep us out of Iran, and bring home the troops in Iraq as soon as humanly possible.
Mary

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Finally! Some photos

March 16, 2008 – 5:17 pm

In random order, a bunch of photos that I’ve been saving up in my huge folder of “photos to be put on the blog”…yes, I’m a horrible procrastinator lately. My apologies… so, on to the photos: