Claire Bunn Photography Blog

Now that the days are a little longer and warmer, families can squeeze in more family fun time during the weekdays.  As a photographer, this means an opportunity for me to catch my husband and son during that magical time of day…sunset.

Just steps from the edge of my backyard is an amazing dog park…which is also a wonderful place for a toddler to roam safely.  It was one of those moments that made me so happy that I am a photo taking lunatic and brought my camera along on our evening stroll.   In fact, I would recommend this to anybody, no matter their skill level…esp if you are a parent…bring your camera with you whenever possible.  Please don’t wait for special occasions or for your children to be perfectly dressed in order to get that great shot.  Take your camera with you during seemingly mundane trips.  You never know what you are going to stumble upon or if your child will be in a particularly agreeable mood.  Plus, even a mundane trip can be filled with wonder and discovery for a little one.  Try to capture them in the moment…these are the things that you will miss when they are older.  Also, you never know when a moment will become a very special memory.

This trip to the dog park was our first as a family and it will always be a wonderful memory for me…if only I had one of my photographer friends with me so I could get in some of the shots.

Have a favorite place that your family likes to spend time together?  I’d love to photograph some of those special family memories.

Cheers!

Claire

 

 

Now that we are no longer urban dwellers, it is much easier to get to a wide variety of activities.  We are trying to explore so many new places with our son.  We had been to Ridley Creek State Park before but never been to the Colonial Plantation.  When we were researching where to take Gavin for an Easter Egg Hunt, the plantation came up as an option.  Some of the other options seemed a little too over the top and busy for our taste. The fact that this egg hunt would be set on 300 acres of land at a living historic museum with live animals and staff dressed in character seemed much more in line with the Easter spirit.

It was a beautiful day and there was a good turn out but not an overwhelming amount of people.  They divided the kids into age groups and gave them each their own area to hunt for eggs.  I thought this was a great idea because you wouldn’t have 8 year olds trampolining 4 years olds, etc.  Also, just in case a child did not get any eggs, they had a separate area reserved with more eggs in case of an emergency – another excellent idea!  Gavin was fortunate to get about 9 eggs, we had left some behind for the little girl behind us, or it would have been a bigger total.  Some eggs had a ticket for a free prize, like a stuffed animal or a calculator.  It was a great event that will probably become a family tradition.

The website for the Ridley Creek State Park – Colonial Plantation is: http://www.colonialplantation.org/

 

This house is historic and beautiful!

Animals living in harmony!

They were trying to socialize this bull so the kids were able to pet him.  Gavin was excited but a little leery – he still has one hand on his father as he gives the bull a pet.

You couldn’t ask for a more calming environment for an Easter Egg Hunt.

I spy with my little eye – 3 eggs. 

Finally – Mommy is in a shot too!  I set the camera up for my husband and he clicked away.  We got a few good ones as well.  Thanks babe!

How cute are these guys…all furry and little.  ;O)

A motley crew…

As a child, trips to Linvilla Orchards was a great Halloween treat.  We would pick out our own pumpkins, went on a hayride, and get a caramel covered apple from the market.  You can still do those same things at Linvilla Orchards plus they keep expanding so you can do so much more!  Linvilla Orchards is a great year round, go to place that every family should keep in mind.  There is a great wood playground area, a section where you can feed the animals, a wonderful store with food and gifts, plus acres of land where you can pick your own fruit, pumpkins, Christmas trees and so much more.

Their contact info is:

137 West Knowlton Road  Media, PA 19063

610 876-7116

http://www.linvilla.com/
My son and I last visited just before Easter as a play-date with my pregnant cousin, Alexis, and her son, Michael.  As soon as we arrive, my son shouts “PUMPKINS”…clearly remembering our visit at Halloween with his little friends.  The pumpkins have obviously been cleared in order to make way for everything Easter.  Here are some pics from our fun filled play-date.

Our first stop was for a hayride to meet the Easter Bunny.  You are driven through their expansive property and get to see all of the beautiful areas where you can pick your own…I never knew that peach trees where so beautiful.We sat at the front of the tractor and were the first to meet the big guy.  Michael was eager to give the Easter Bunny a high five, while Gavin was a little leery of this gigantic bunny.  (I was afraid of anyone in a costume as a child so he gets it honestly.)  He was excited to get the goodie bag from the Easter Bunny’s helpful, which had yummy candy.

After was a little snack and trip to see the animals.  There was a very nice family that was feeding this cow carrots and let us have a couple to feed her as well. Afterwards, little Michael had to take a nap so there was an adorable hug exchanged between the cousins and then Gavin was off to the play area.

Gavin loves the wood play area and darts from one area to another.  I can not post images of all of the equipment because I did not get a signed release form for all of the kids that would’ve been in the shots.  However, there are wooden airplanes, trains, tractors, ships…it goes on and on.  Your kids will love it.

After the playground, we stop by the farm market, which has so many great treats.  I picked up some fruits and vegetables for our house and had to keep myself from straying to some of the wonderful baked goods.  Gavin likes to entertain himself while I shop with some of the great Thomas the Train toys.

The other part of the store that Gavin loves is the the baby chicks.  Aren’t they cute? 

The day end with a visit to see these lambs.  The little sweater on the white lamb kills me.

There will be many more trips to Linvilla Orchards this year…esp since we moved so much closer.  Our next trip will be to pick our own Strawberries once they are in season!