My youngest is turning SEVEN in a couple of weeks, and it worked out for us to have his birthday party early this year. I was brave and decided to host it in our backyard. It did get a little crazy with eight boys (and four girls), but the gigantic smile that was plastered on his face the entire time made it worth the effort!
This month’s family photo was taken at a magical place. Dave and I are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary this week, and we took the kids to Disney World to celebrate. On our first day at the Magic Kingdom, we had early morning reservations at the Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique, and the guards at the gate let us in before the park officially opened so we wouldn’t be late for our appointment at the castle. It was a slightly eerie feeling to be the only family walking down the middle of Main Street, and I had to laugh when I stepped into the ladies’ restroom and had every single stall to myself. (If I hadn’t left my camera outside with my husband, I totally would’ve taken a picture of the empty bathroom.) By the time we got to the castle, there were a few other families walking around, but we still felt like celebrities who had snuck in before everyone else! It was a great start to the week, and it only got better after that.
In case you’re wondering, I did take my big 5D Mark II with me on the trip, but I attached my lightweight 50mm f/1.4 and left it on the whole time. The L-series lenses and the bulky external flash got left at home.
I really wanted a picture of all four of us watching the Royal Wedding for April, but it turns out that the boys in my house didn’t give a flip about seeing a real Prince and Princess smooch on a balcony. So we settled for a picture of all of us in the grass (the boys were more than willing to cooperate for that one). I hope everyone is having a fabulous spring!
March… the month of wind and taxes.
Taking these monthly pictures is making me realize just how fast the year is flying by. The kids love our teeny tiny heads and our giant tall legs in the shadow, while I love that I can see Torin’s braid on the right side of her neck. She lets me put two French braids in her hair every morning before school, but I have to work fast. She allows me 50 seconds for each side, and she counts out loud while I’m braiding. Sometimes the pressure gets to me and the braid turns out more crooked than Lombard Street. I’m thankful that she shows some leniency if she sees that I’m not going to make it. She’ll slow down and drag it out (forty-eight… forty-nine… forty-nine and a quarter… forty-nine and a half…).
I’m so glad that April is almost here. Bring on the baseball.
Well, just in the nick of time… our February picture! It almost didn’t happen, but I knew I couldn’t give this project up after just one month! February almost got away from me. The month can be summed up in two words: Snow & Sickness. I am absolutely ready for March!
This is my family. I love seeing pictures of all four of us together, but for obvious reasons, that rarely happens. One of my favorite photographers is Tara Whitney, and Tara came up with a fabulous idea that she did with her family last year. My New Year’s resolution this year is to follow her lead! She took a family self portrait every month by either setting the self-timer, holding the camera herself, or grabbing someone else to take the shot. No frills. Plain clothes. Little fuss. Just do it. Just to have it. At the end of the year, she took the twelve pictures of her family and created a book. I’m not sure I’ll go that far, but at least I’ll have the pictures.
There is never a perfect time to take a family picture. I think as women, it’s easy to say – I’m too heavy… I’m too busy… my gray roots are showing… maybe later… but twenty years from now, your children aren’t going to care. They will love having photos of their family, regardless of whether your hair has been freshly highlighted (and yes, I’m preaching to myself here). Sooo, having said that, I would love for you to consider joining me in this project! Just set the self-timer and run!
When I look at our January photo, I will remember three things: (1) Sixty degree days in January are such a gift. After all of the snow we’ve had recently, the sunshine on Saturday morning felt like the perfect therapy for my winter blahs. (2) I love the woods behind our house, which is where we took the picture. I love looking out my kitchen window and watching the seasons change right in my backyard. (3) I almost killed my husband when he walked out in that hat. Seriously. I almost didn’t let him in the picture. My St. Louis blood runs too deep. (He bought that hat and just wore it to spite me.) Thank goodness my son has better taste.
