the photo shoot

I was packing up the last few things when I decided to throw in white T's, you know, just in case they volunteered to pose for me some time while we were gone. Ha! Ha!

I did the same thing when we went to Florida this spring. (Come to think of it, I might do it every time I pack suitcases for any length of time.) But they didn't get used then. That makes it far more urgent this time right?

I tried to break it to the hubs gently and make it as painless as possible. I'm not sure if my attempts were successful or not.

I have this picture from our trip to Florida in 2010 enlarged and framed in my living room. I love it but I thought maybe it was time for an update. Perhaps one that includes ALL of my offspring.

I was afraid we'd run out of sunlight before we collected enough of cooperation but I  wish we had waited another 20 minutes and avoided all the shadow-y-ness. About the time we gave up and the camera batteries were on there last leg the lighting was so much better. Oh well.

We had some of this....

The real bunch. Unedited!

 And this....

We decided maybe individual shots was a better idea....

 

Somebody had the grand idea to pose with Mommy....everyone else needed a turn too...

For the record, I am still taller!

I was pleased to get one good shot of the two of us. My junior photographers are not usually patient enough to mess with luxuries like focusing and such.

 

  We eventually got one or two (kind of) workable shots.

But the truth is, they're an awful lot easier to capture from the back...

(Something about that rings a bell from our last crazy attempt.)

But aren't they sweet?

F.i.n.a.l.l.y. Mom set us free and we can run....

References to 'Sweet Frog' [our latest treat of choice. a dozen plus flavors of frozen yogurt. 357 give or take a few, toppings. Yummy!] may or may not have been made frequently during the photography portion of the evening to encourage good behavior and cooperation.

But for real, everybody knows that if Mom is hungry for Sweet Frog on vacation....

family vacation

We took a few days off to relax with the family last week. I think this might have been our first solo trip, just us and our not so little family. We've gone on plenty of excursions but they usually involve friends and/or family. This one probably would have been the same if we had planned ahead far enough to find someone that it suited to join us. But we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves the way it turned out.

We spent most of our time soaking up the sun and digging in the sand, with an occasional game of "chicken" with the waves rolling in. We dug holes, big holes, refilled buckets with water, washed off sandy hands, distributed snacks, washed off sandy hands, rescued washed up jelly fish, slathered lotion, collected treasures, washed off sandy hands.....

Kite Flying Fun

  There was no agenda, no schedule, and it was grand! I tried to plan simple meals that we could throw on the grill so that it was a vacation for me too. It often seems like vacation is when Mom works twice as hard so everyone else can have fun but I really tried to avoid that this time.  I think it worked at least some of the time. We're getting to a stage where everyone can help too, that sure makes a difference.
The last time our family was at the beach at least one or two of the people had to be carried as well as all the gear. Daddy ended up making two trips back and forth to the van to get everything unloaded and reloaded. This year, we arrived at the beach and divvied out the gear. Even the little girl could help carry sand toys. As we headed toward the boardwalk the first day Garry looked at me and said, "is this all that's left for me to carry?" I've noticed it over and over this summer, we are suddenly in a different stage then we had been for the past 12 years. It's bittersweet this "everybody's independent" stuff but for the purposes of relaxing vacation it leans more heavily to the sweet side.

These two thought they were way cool to be taking off around the neighborhood on bikes. For those of us with issues keeping 2 wheeled objects balanced there was plenty of puzzles, books, coloring, games etc. to fill our "had enough sun" hours. It's funny how simple things, like coloring, are just so much more exciting when Mom and Dad join in. We taught the kids how to play Dutch Blitz (youth group flashback alert!) and Scrabble. One boy even said, "I don't know if I wanna have a movie night if we can play games instead." Music to my Mama ears! Another sign that times are changing, we're moving on from games of chance and color to games that the adults actually enjoy (rather than endure.) There is NO bitter in that, it's all SWEET!

It was a lovely few days of just being with my sun kissed babies! (Shh! don't tell them I called 'em that.) Of course our family vacations are never complete without a photo shoot attempt, but this post is long enough and has taken me way to long already so we'll save that for next time...

summer-y things

first month of summer vacation is almost gone. already! that was quick.

a couple of weeks ago the big boy and his dad took a weekend mission trip to do storm cleanup in New York City. kinda (just a mite bit) proud of the boy for workin' so hard to help out strangers. but I have made an executive decision. next time he asks to help clean up a natural disaster, I'm sending the boy to his ROOM.

3+ hours and a 50 gallon trash can full later...it's lookin' pretty good in there. thanks Mom! {I was a little worried that he'd be upset when he discovered how much stuff I got rid of but those were his exact words...thanks Mom, you're the best! I'll take it!!}

my feeble but generally successful attempt at making life fun while Daddy and big bro were gone. sleepover in the living room.

a couple of fun days makin' a splash in the pool.

 goggles are a must. for fashion purposes of course, even if one has NO intentions of putting their head under water.

 

somebody was way too brave about this water stuff. really girly, lets pretend you're still my baby for a couple more weeks years.

we even got to take Daddy along for one afternoon. everything is more fun when Daddy comes too!

grill season is in full swing and I am loving it. a little fresh basil from the  back yard doesn't hurt either.

and just to remind me that simpler really is better. and in keeping with our super cool sandwich theme, it's make your own peanut butter sandwich day. more exciting than you know folks!

gettin' our [little bit o] patriotic on. fireworks. sparklers. friends. glow sticks.

good times!

happy 4th to you and yours!

we'll be spending ours at home as a fam. a little relaxin'. a little grillin'. 

a lot of good memories!

You?