Candid Camera

A few weeks ago I purchased a new camera.  A Nikon L120.  I love it.  It's simple for me to use, which is perfect for my skill level.  But even though it's simple, I'm still learning.

On Sunday before church, Lucy was wearing the cutest little Gap coat that I had purchased at a garage sale this Summer.  I wanted to get her picture standing next to the Christmas tree.

Turns out, that I had hit the video button on the camera without realizing it.

There's nothing quite like a video that you didn't know you were taking to make you realize how totally annoying you are, know what I mean?

It cracks me up. Literally.  So I, of course, must share with you (sideways because I can't rotate it.)

You are welcome.

After I realized what I was doing, I switched to photo mode and continued to try to get a picture...in the process of running away from me Lucy ran into the chair, which then allowed me to get the cutest Daddy & Lucy moment EVAH.

I think her pouty cry is trying to tell him to stop the crazy lady with the camera.

Just a guess.

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Nothing Like a New Baby...

Day 21, 22, 23 & 24 of 31 Days of Happy


New baby nephew/cousin = Happy!




The Boys and Lucy were pretty excited to meet their newest baby cousin, Logan.  Can you tell?  (Ben and I totally ditched them when we went to see him in the hospital, because we're nice like that)

Lucy likes to give baby Logan love smacks pats on the head.  She was quite annoyed that we wouldn't let her.  It seems all we do lately is ruin her fun. Don't worry Logan, it's a good thing you joined the world at a whopping 10 lbs, because you're already 1/2 her weight...

We love you bunches already, Logan.  It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming your big brother Jack to the family!

Happy Big Brotherhood Jack!  Speaking from experience, the oldest kids certainly have it the toughest.  *cough*

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Fresh Air

Day 14 of 31 Days of Happy

Fresh-Air Happy


The boys didn't have school today, so we made our annual trek through the outdoors.  It was a little chilly, the perfect kind of chilly.


Boys conquered trails...steep trails.  Us girls admired (and prayed for safety) from down below.  We played.  And soaked it all in...because the farmer's fields are quickly emptying of beans and corn...and every Iowan knows that empty fields mean:  Winter is coming.  *shudder*

Do you see the cloud shaped like a duck through the nasty dirty windshield?  That was our happy ending to the trip.

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Easter-ish

I'm late on the Easter post.  Turns out I wrote something pretty dang good back in 2008 so I'm just gonna go with that this year. ;)

On a completely opposite note, I like to get our family picture snapped at church on Easter Sunday.   It's fun...for me.

This year 2011

 Last Year 2010...majorly preggo with Lucy

Easter 2009:

Easter 2008:

Easter 2007

  

 Easter 2006 

T

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Behind the Pictures...

 We took a little day trip.  

Looks picture perfect, doesn't it?  I smiled as I uploaded these to facebook last night, and thought to myself, man I love pictures.  

They capture what I want them to capture.  The fun, the smiles, just the right lighting to flatter (because of course I deleted the others.)  What I'm left with is what I want to remember.  Because truthfully, there's parts I'd like to forget.  Like...

The huge ordeal it was just to get everyone going that morning.  The whining about where we were going, and what we were doing, and how long it would take to get there...and of course they're hungry, because they're always hungry.  The game, between brothers in the back seat of the van, called Don't Flinch.  It's all fun and games till one really doesn't flinch and technically wins, the lucky winner ends up with a fist in his eye because the other brother thought he'd flinch. Tears.  Spilled pop at the restaurant, crawling under the booth, numerous trips to the bathroom.  Oh yeah, I forgot batteries for the camera.  Big long *sighs* where Ben and I look at each other and smile (weakly) and try to encourage each other that yes, yes indeed this is family fun.  Because, really...at the time, there were lots of moments where it didn't feel like a whole lot of fun.

Did I mention how glad I am that pictures are silent?  Because I am.

And the time always comes, like last night...where I sit back, and look at the pictures and smile (an extra big smile when I get to delete the unflattering ones and pretend I never really look like that *cough*) Because all of the craziness really is part of the fun.  Not so much at the time, but later.  Looking back.  But in the moment, I forget that.  In the moment, I'm very annoyed that my kids can't get along, and need to be reminded 1,000 times to just STOP PESTERING EACH OTHER, and can't be more grateful for how wonderful their dad and I are for braving the outing in the first place.  Am I right?!?  Oh, I'm right alright.

Right and ridiculous.  

I'm not sure I'll ever get to the point where I enjoy the craziness in the moment.  Maybe I will.  But I know one thing, I always smile looking back on it.  

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Life is Good

Sometimes...our weekends are full of such great stuff that Mondays I sit here at the computer tongue tied.  Words sometimes aren't enough to capture it all.  


Friday night we headed out for a family date night...all six of us.  Our first choice of restaurant turned out to have too long of a wait.  When there's 6 of you, there's no more squeezing into a booth, or a table technically meant for 4.  Instead, you wait until two tables open up...or you go somewhere less popular.  


Bring on less popular.  


We ended up here.  And yes, we took home a whole peanut butter pie.  It's my new favorite restaurant, because really, I'm an old soul...I belong at Village Inn...with the old people.


Saturday I painted more doors.  Red.  Hello front door:

Saturday night the boys played flag football "under the lights" it's a big deal.  I'm the big-loser mom who forgot her camera.

Sunday we had a fall/birthday party at my husband's family's farm.  

Eli celebrated with three other cousins.  

And then Grandpa Dave took us on a hayride.

Lucy loved it.

And then fell asleep.

And then woke up to let the little puppy lick her toes.

And a get-together is never complete without a little football...

Life is good.

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