a family session | the miles 2014

Meet Kristine Miles.  One of the first times I ever remember meeting Kristine was when she was pregnant with her youngest.  Radiant and carrying so beautifully, she was always smiling and made pregnancy seem effortless.  After a few more times of seeing her, I noticed how she made others around her walk a little taller.  She always had something encouraging to say.  She is genuine.  And kind.  And she surfs.  In crazy places around the globe.  Enjoy getting to know her.  I know I have.

Q.  List a few of your boys favorite things to do….

A.  My boys enjoy time with their friends, playing sports and participating in the fun activities on the Severn River. They also love hanging out at home relaxing and playing many different types of games. We come up with the funniest games and laugh a lot.

Q.  What is your most humbling moment as a mother…

A.  When my children were born.

Q.  Who influences you as a mother?

A.  My mother influences me. She was the most amazing mother and person I have ever met.  I can't even begin to put into words how beautiful she was in ever way.

Q.  If you had more time, you would...  

A.  Spend more time talking with my family.

Q.  Best advice you have been given as a mom...

A.  You gave me the best advice Lee.  You told me to take as many photos of my children as I can, especially of their hands and feet because they grow so quickly. I love that advice. 

Q.  How did you create balance between motherhood and career? 

A.  I try to go with the flow each day and not worry too much. No matter how organized I am something unexpected comes up each day that changes my best laid plan. 

Q.  What is your beauty routine…

A.  Rest, good food, exercise, Obagi.

Q.  What is your exercise routine…

A.  I love many different types of exercise and decide each day what I'm in the mood for, whether it's running, paddle boarding, hiking, or lifting weights, etc. I do not like regular exercise routines.  I like to change things up because I get bored easily. I like my mind to exercise just as much as my body.

Q.  Something you wish you could do better as a mom….

A.  Teach my children many languages and show them more of the world.

Q.  What is your proudest moment as a mom…

A.  My proudest moment was being on the set of Fox 45 Morning New and watching my sons do the weather forecast live with Jonathan Meyers.  It was so much fun and I will never forget it. I loved every minute of it.

Q.  What is your favorite part of the day…

A.  Early morning before the world around me wakes.

Q.  What do you like to do on date nights?

A.  Our very favorite thing to do is to hang out at our house after the kids go to bed. We also enjoy going to dinner or playing sports with each other and with friends.

Q.  Raising boys is....

A.  Fun. They continually make me laugh and they are so gentle and lovable.

Q.  Favorite designers, artists, etc….

A.  I do not lock myself into favorites. My tastes continually change.

Q.  Your style…

A.  I buy what I love. I don't stick with one design or fashion theme. 

Q.  One of the hardest parts of being a mom? 

A.  Knowing my kids will be leaving the nest in a blink of an eye.

Q.  List a few things that keep you sane….

A.  Exercise, healthy eating, and reflection keep me sane, and my husband too. Also, I make it a practice to not over-commit myself or my family with too many activities.

Q.  What do you hope your children will learn about life….

A.  LOVE

that mom [courtney park-jamborsky]

……………………………………….

"that mom" is a series of inspirational women who

share their thoughts on motherhood, style and grace.

by lee kriel

……………………………………….

About a year ago, I received an email from Courtney Park-Jamborsky, a woman I knew from my hometown.  We went to high school together.  And she wanted to set up a session with me.  I was a little surprised as I had no idea she even knew that I existed back in our high school days.  I was her brother's year and she was an upper class woman with amazing style who I always admired from afar.  And here she was, writing me, to photograph her family.  I was flattered.  And nervous.  But she made me feel at ease from the minute we started corresponding.  

Courtney is a Restonian, one of the original families from our hometown, Reston, a planned community in Northern Virginia.  Her local loyalty is impressive and she makes the ever growing community still feel like a close knit one.  I loved hearing her stories about some fond landmarks to include Lake Anne Shopping Center and how she remembered my mom.  My heartstrings ached as I miss so much about that place and the people that shaped me.

Along with her busy life as a mom, Courtney is the Director for the Reston Interfaith/Laurel Learning Center Child Development Center.  LLC is a division of a social service agency that provides high quality child care for low to moderate income families.  Her family has always been active in our community and I am sure she excels in her position.  

Courtney's personal style is classically unique.  She mentioned her inspiration is borrowed from some of her favorite designers, Charles and Ray Eames, Enzo Mari and Marimekko.  Artists include Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lictenstein, Claes Oldenburg, Alexander Calder and Lynn Whipple.  And a few of her favorite photographers are Annie Leibovitz, Bill Cunningham, Diane Arbus, Sally Mann, Dorothea Lange and Dyanna Delaney (her mom).  Note to self:  no pressure.

I knew I wanted to feature her in this series and thought you should get to know her too, along with her darling husband Danny, and her gorgeous daughters Ellie and Sailor.  Here are a few of her thoughts on being a mom.  

Thank you for your candidness Courtney.  xo

What is your beauty routine...

"Kiehls and Bobbie Brown, Trish McEvoy make up and newly discovered Baby Lips, the orange tube."

List a few of your favorite things to do with the girls....  

"My girls and I love to go to lunch and shopping.  I know it sounds shallow but we usually explore different places it is not just going to the mall.  My oldest daughter loves Georgetown and wishes we could go shopping in NYC every weekend.  That’s my girl.  We also love movie night at home."

List a few of the girls favorite things….

"Ellie is 12 and in 7th grade. She loves her iPhone and iPad.  She just got her iPhone this past Christmas.  We have a phone plan together.  In the first month Ellie had 1782 text messages I had 34.  Luckily the plan has unlimited texting. Sailor loves dolls.  She recently discovered a neighbor’s doll that looks like a real live infant.  It kind of creeps me out but Sailor loves it.  She is so maternal caring for the baby.  It is very sweet watching her interact with the baby doll.  She is so hoping for one for her birthday in February.  Sailor also has an electric Razor scooter that she rides to school.  She zips around with such ease and all the kids love running behind her up to the school."

What is your proudest moment as a mom...

"When Danny suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury in 2010 from a motorcycle it was terrifying.  The first 10 days with his grim prognosis was almost unbearable.  My scariest time was at night.  For my own comfort I had both my girls sleep with me.  Each night Ellie would take my hand and hold it as she drifted off to sleep.  At first I thought she was holding my hand for her own comfort then I realized she was offering comfort to me." 

Hardest part of being a mom?

"I never can stop worrying about my kids. "

Best advice you have been given as a mom...

"Make time for myself...without feeling guilty"

Share a favorite recipe...  

"Danny does most of the cooking in our family but I can make a yummy tomato sandwich.  Trader Joes, county white bread, tiny, tiny bit of mayonnaise and a slice of a good ripe tomato, dash of salt and pepper…delicious."

When it came to decorating their rooms...

"Ellie has recently redecorated her bedroom.  One wall has black and white wallpaper with different shaped frames.  She can color in the frames or place her own photos all over the wallpapered wall.  It looks very cool.  She also has hanging on her wall the white onesie and white little cap with a duck that she wore home from the hospital when she was born.  Sailor just got a new bed that is bright yellow.  She loves it with all her stuffed animals.  While I was pregnant with Sailor I wore a black long sleeved t shirt that had due in February written across the front.  The shirt hangs on her wall by a simple wooden hanger."

How do you create balance between motherhood and career?  

"Almost every day after my kids have gone to school and my husband, Danny has gone to work I love to be in my house for a ½ hour of solitude.  I love to look at magazines or even vacuum.  Just those few minutes alone reinvigorates me before I go to work."

A few things that keep you sane....

"Starbucks every morning. I alternate between a short, skim with whip mocha and a tall Awake tea.  I also love perusing European fashion and interior magazines."

Something you wish you could do better as a mom...  

"I always wish I was more crafty and had the patience to play board games with my kids."

 What is your exercise routine...

"Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I do my best to get to the YMCA for the 6:00am X training.  After the hour workout I feel on top of the world.  I try to remind myself of the after workout feeling when my alarms goes off at 5:15am."

What is your favorite part of the day...

"I love walking Sailor to school every morning.  I feel lucky to live in a community that allows us to walk to school.  Also,  after a busy day I love to come home to my family.  I love hearing about everyone’s day during dinner and I love peeking in on my girls after they have gone to sleep.  Their faces look just as they did when they were sleeping as babies."

Date night?  

"I love dining in DC with Danny.  Before his accident we use to climb Rag Mountain then run down the fire lane back to the car.  It was so much fun."

What is your most humbling moment as a mother.... 

"I always feel my kids are an extension of me, like an appendage.  I also realize as they have grown that they are also their own person and I wrestle with them growing up and not needing me as much."