From Everyday Moments to the Page: Our Family’s Story

A Mom’s Moment to Shine: Let Me Brag a Little

There are few moments in life when you’re asked to pause and truly reflect on who you are as a family.

The morning of my character sketching meeting, Matt kept asking, “Are you excited?” I scoffed, brushing it off, “I’m just telling her we look like our photos.”

But once we began, it became so much more than that.

It was a moment to really celebrate, not just what we look like, but who we were at our core.

It felt like a proud mom’s love letter, an introduction to our family, our values, and the beautiful, messy, meaningful life we’ve built together.

Juliana began with classic portrait questions: appearance, notable features, favorite items, and signature poses.

She then explored deeper topics, asking about our joys, fears, and core values that shape who we are.

The experience felt meaningful, allowing me the chance to express how we live, love, and show up authentically in the world.

Max may have blonde mohawk hair, but it’s his unique character that truly stands out.

Alma’s curls are striking, yet it’s her spirited personality that defines her essence.

These are the people and the purpose behind Cloudy Day Chronicles.

If you’re here for stories about family life, authenticity, love, and resilience—you’re in the right place.

Max is fearless.

Always climbing, exploring, and covered in marks from his many adventures. While he may not be as verbal as Alma yet, his expressive face clearly shows his strong, independence shining through.

He loves cheese, bananas, dancing, and having his nails painted. Alma says the color green.

His biggest fear is not being included. He thrives on saying “hi” to strangers and always tries to keep up with everyone around him. He’s brave that way.

Noteable Aspects: His mowhawk, he doesn’t sit still, and he always finds food.

He’s wonderfully uncoordinated, but that never slows him down, falling just makes him giggle and get right back up again. He loves mimicking people, running around hands flapping.

Alma is. . .well Alma. There really isn’t a word for her.

She’s not your typical 4-year-old—spend just five minutes talking to her, and it’s clear she’s truly something special. And I don’t say that as a “good job, Mom, I did it”. Her intelligence, creativity, and beautifully unique quirks are beyond anything I could have ever imagined, a remarkable gift I feel incredibly lucky to have been given.

She loves horses, ants, worms, Princesses, & books.

Her biggest fear is currently bugs that fly. And a sadness that birds eat worms so they may start disappearing.

Noteable Aspects: Her dimples (nobody else in the family has). She wants LONG hair and has the sassiest hands on hip pose.

She is wonderfully empathetic. She is a cheerleader for her friends and family, with a tendency to invite everyone to join in (or come over our house).

Matt is the water parent.

patient, understanding, & quiet, but always ready to say “yes, let’s do it!”

He loves his family.

Noteable Aspects: Big ears

He is wonderfully a safe space. His love shows up in quiet, grounding ways, through hugs, gentle touches, and soft reminders that everything will be okay. He reflects a deep, intuitive understanding of what others need, often without saying a word. You see it in where he stands in the story, how he responds to Mom, and the steady, positive energy he brings to every moment.

Me.

I chose this photo for myself because I want to believe I’m also wild, strange, understanding, but uniquely fearless.

The three words I actually gave were talkative, extroverted, and honest.

(Usually, I just say “42”—if they can’t explain the the meaning of life better than that, how am I supposed to explain the meaning of myself? It’s my job interview trick, and honestly, I’ve been hired every time.)

But now, reflecting on it more deeply, I realize I don’t want to list my attributes, likes, or fears. That’s what this blog is for, and those things will be woven into every word I write here.

What I do want to say is this: I thought about those three words, and if I really had to describe myself in just one, it would be “trying.”