Photo Friday 2012 ~ 8 ~

This week's theme was 'cabin fever'.  I have to say that I haven't experienced it this year to the same degree that I normally do.  The mild winter weather has definitely helped.  The kids have even been able to ride their bikes and run around with the neighborhood kids about once a week.  That has done wonders for their moods, and in turn, for mine.  Still, I long for those beautiful spring days where I can soak up some sunshine and sit on the deck and read a book while the kids play in the backyard.  It is still grey and the sunsets come way too early.  I'm hopeful that spring will be here before I know it.  Yesterday afternoon my boy and were just hanging out and he is often bored and restless in the afternoons before his sister gets home so I told him yes when he asked for the last lollipop from his Valentine's party.  He was being silly and I snapped a few pictures while he was in a good mood.  Here's what I got...

I couldn't pick just one so I decided to make a little collage.  He is all about the silliness lately.  I guess it's a five year old boy thing.

Just looking at his California shirt is making me have cabin fever.  We went about this time of year 2 years ago and haven't been back yet.  I would love to go back soon.  And can you believe that when he was little I used to think he might be tongue tied?  Now he can almost touch his nose with his tongue!

Have a great weekend!

From the Archives

I can't even believe I am going to say this, but I kinda miss the snow this year.  Can you believe I said that?!?  I  am going crazy or something.  I mean, I normally hate winter.  I really do.  The thing is, it's been such a mild winter (not complaining about that!) and that has been so nice, but I really think I would like to have one big snow.  So that the kids get a day off school and we can go sledding and build a snowman.  Then it can all melt and be warm again.  : )  The thing is...it could totally still happen.  Ohio weather is ridiculously weird.  It can be 50 degrees one day and snow 6 inches the next.  I actually have photos from 2008 to prove it.

March 2, 2008.  She got a new bike.  Notice my husband wearing short sleeves!  And for the record, that is the only time she has ever had bangs and as soon as I cut them I didn't like her with them and we immediately started growing them out.  I only have a handful of photos of her with bangs since I started pulling them back with barrettes within about 2 weeks time.  Look how little she looks here!  She's already outgrown that bike and got a new bigger one for Christmas.

Taken March 8, 2008.  Yep, from short sleeves to snow in less than a week.

She used that bank of show as a slide.  We haven't had snow that deep in a long time.

Maybe the kids and I will do a little snow ritual this week.  Have you guys heard that you're supposed to put on your pajamas backwards (or inside out - the kids can't agree which one it is, so we have one kid doing each) jump three times (or turn around, I can't remember) and flush the toilet?  Sometimes they flush an ice cube down the toilet too.  I don't remember doing this as a kid at all, but they think it's fun!  I'm probably going to eat my words as soon as it snows.  Oh well...the kids will be happy!

Photo Friday 2012 ~ 7 ~

This week's theme was 'true love'.  And since I truly love my kiddos, I'm just going to share a couple of photos I took of them this morning.  It is a surprisingly beautiful February day around here!  And they are off school!  It's so nice to spend some time with the two of them.  It really makes me long for summer days.

Pretty in pink. 

I love her outfit and her little pose.  And I didn't even realize when I made her stand there that there was a line of trees behind her.  And that's in our side yard...I guess I will have to make better use of that tree in the future.  Also, I took these at almost noon which wasn't really the best time for lighting.  I'll have to try again in the evening one day.

He truly loves his sister still and it is so cute.  If you ask him who he's going to marry when he grows up, he'll tell you he's going to marry her.  She keeps telling him that you aren't allowed to marry your sister, but he says he doesn't care.  I love that she's the only girl he loves.  And I love that she acts like she doesn't adore him, but she still wants to have a sleepover with him in the playroom on the weekends.  I hope they stay friends like this forever!

Have a great weekend!

4 People 12 Times

Remember way back when I announced I was gonna do this project?  Yeah, I didn't do quite so well at it.  I have done so well with my weekly project (3 years running!) that I really thought that this once a month thing would be a breeze.  So, as I sat down this morning to write I started wondering if I ever finished up the year and realized that I didn't.  The whole idea around the project was to do a family photo once per month, nothing fancy, just a snapshot, and then summarize the month in a post.  I really am glad I did it, even though I failed miserably because if I hadn't I might not even have one photo of the 4 of us together for the entire year!  How sad would that be?  I'm not going to officially be doing it again this year but it has helped me to be more aware of handing someone else the camera occasionally and getting my whole family in a photo even if it isn't the greatest most flattering photo and I most likely would never in a million years hang it on my wall.  Probably in about 20 years I will love these...I know I will.  I'll look back fondly at how young we all were instead of being self critical like I am now.  If you want to view these in order, click here, scroll down and read the bottom post first and work your way up and then come back and read the rest of this post.

Here we are in October 2011.

This was taken on our weekend trip to the Smokies by some random couple who I handed my camera to in hopes that they wouldn't hop in their car and drive off with it (they didn't).  I took their photo in return.  I should remember to set my camera to 'auto' when I hand it to someone else next time.  Oh well, it's still us.  And since we go here every year I need to remember to try to get a photo each time so that we can compare them through the years.  This is the first time we've gotten a photo of all 4 of us...I usually just snap the kids.  I kinda like it.  And I have some really fond memories of these little weekend getaways.  The drive is so beautiful and it's the perfect way to enjoy the fall colors and the crisp air and just take some time to enjoy it instead of the business of school and work and my photography (fall is my busiest time of year) making it go by in a blink.  We went hiking (the kids hated it), we had a campfire and roasted marshmallows, we explored a bamboo forest we didn't even know was there, we went shopping, we had pizza, we sat and admired the beauty of nature and we were refreshed.

On Thanksgiving Day, 2011.

Thanksgiving came before we knew it.  My mom hosted it at her house for the first time.  We all crammed into her dining room and were all together.  It was her birthday too which was fun.  I have a whole series of her and her twin making the same exact faces while blowing out their candles.  Twins are creepy sometimes. : )  The kids settled into their school routines during November and photography started winding down a bit for the season.  We painted our garage doors and house trim.  My husband had a birthday.  I guess November was just a blur since I can't really remember much else.

Christmas Eve, 2011.

How is it that in December, when we are at so many family gatherings, that's the month that I don't have a photo of the 4 of us?  This is the best I could do.  These were at least taken the same day.  December is so fun with my kids.  We did a lot of celebrating and just enjoying each other.  Lots of fires in the fireplace and movie nights watching the Christmas specials.  We did all the typical activities we do around Christmas and I have fond memories of all of it.  I love the holidays.  I'd say overall we had a pretty great year.

I really am glad I did this project.  I have a feeling I will scroll through this series and read it in the coming years and be grateful that I did it.  I hope it inspires you to take more photos of your family as a whole and to jot down some memories too.