It goes by so fast.
I know it's no news flash. And as a parent who's seen one graduate and marry within a matter of a couple of months and has another on deck to graduate again this year, I know this just like most of you.
You blink... and BAM... a decade or more zips on by.
I'm willing to bet you can put Doug and Trish Stadler in my camp of parents that agree with my assertion above. Just a decade ago their house was full of three crazy girls... running seemingly every night to some activity... practice, game, concert, parent teacher conference. On many nights or weekends it was probably a divide-and-conquer approach where one parent took one of the girls to this... while the other took another to that. And on some occasions (and I speak from the three kid family experience), someone ELSE had to take your third child to THEIR activity.
My Dad told me about the parenting game a long time ago that you weren't a "pro" until you had your second... and I found out from experience that you are expected to join the Hall of Fame of the National Parents League whether you're capable or not once you get out numbered and add the third child to the mix.
Team Stadler has had a busy last decade or so, raising three girls... and fortunately, I've been there to capture alot of it for them.
It began back in 2006 when I was asked to photograph the South Tama County high school prom for the first time. Even then as a seasoned photographer, I still had anxiousness and apprehension walking into a new endeavor in a new facility... but my God send that weekend?
None other than Doug and Trish's oldest, Jessica.
"Hi, I'm Jess! I'm the junior class president... let me know if you need any help."
And help she did. Jessica and I put our heads together that weekend and came up with a killer background for the prom and a friendship was born. A couple of months later, we photographed her senior images... and then followed up with sister Brittany's three years later. Just a year after that... all THREE of the Stadler ladies paid me a visit with the idea of surprising their folks with some pictures of their children for an anniversary gift and at that point, the youngest, Miss Natalie, was still just an awkward middle schooler.
Five years and about 10 inches of growth later, Nat is a powerful member of Coach Amy Dolash's Trojan volleyball squad, and as you can see from her images, there's absolutely nothing awkward about her.
So, Natalie and Team Stadler and I go way back. I've been fortunate enough to photograph Natalie a few times in the interim between anniversary present and senior session... mainly for her ventures into STC athletics... so we've stayed in touch and nearly every time I've bumped into Nat either for team pictures... or maybe even out at a South Tama game (or a North Iowa Cedar League West contest that her boyfriend's Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebels were part of) I could always guess it was Natalie greeting me from afar without even seeing her.
Why?
Somewhere along the line, and I'm not sure where, Natalie began to just call me "Stewart." Nothing necessarily wrong with that, I guess... it is my last name after all. Most people call me "Bryan" or "BStew." And for some reason, I think I'm in trouble or being summoned to do something when I hear "Hey, Stewart!" Perhaps it's because, by my recollection, the only other person that refers to me that way is my beloved wife. And it usually goes something like... "you got that garbage taken out yet, Stewart?" ... or "when are you going to mow the lawn, Stewart?" Clearly, Natalie's greeting isn't in the same type of context, but nevertheless... If I hear that salutation... I KNOW I'm gonna turn around and see that Natalie smile I've become so familiar with over the years.
I guess maybe I shoulda stopped calling her Nat... and just dropped "Stadler" on her? :)
Regardless, her session was a flashback for sure for me, as most that know the Stadlers know that their oldest and youngest daughters could pass for twins... so, even though it's been nearly a decade since I photographed Jess's senior images... I couldn't help but look through the lens a few times a couple weeks ago and see Jess all over again. Fortunately for me... Jess made a repeat appearance for her kid sister's session, and between Mama Trish, Jess and I... we had Natalie coached up to be an amazing model for the day.
It was a wonderful day, indeed, and while she's had an excruciating couple of weeks waiting while we struggled through the late summer surge of seniors trying to squeeze in before school starts next week, I think she'll find her images worth the wait. The good news for me is that I'm not done seeing Miss Natalie. Monday we'll do STC volleyball... and in a few weeks... Homecoming... tennis team pics will be followed closely by prom and graduation.
Plenty more opportunities for me to be called by my last name. :)
Thanks, Stadler.... err... Natalie.
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