Monthly Family Photo: April 2011

It's been a few months since I posted a monthly family photo. I don't really have a good excuse for missing some months. Except that BSD is in/out, in/out. And my whole family now runs whenever I pull out the camera.

I managed to corner them all. Literally. For a brief moment over Spring Break. We were on a picnic in the state park. Camped out at the end of a small bridge to nowhere. They had no choice but to cooperate. Well...to sit still at least.

Of course my favorite photos of this picnic are sans moi. Oh well, hopefully, when I'm gone they'll look back on all of these pictures. Turn to each other and say, "Oh yeah...Mom was there. She must have been. Someone had to have taken these pictures?"

It's December 2nd. Have You Done Your Christmas Cards Yet?

Yes, I'm one of those people who sends a photo Christmas card. I love them! Love getting them and displaying them.

I'm not one of those people who sends out a double-sided, single space, 8 font "family newsletter" though. I've got this blog. If you want to know what we're up to, follow me. Simple. I do like getting a family newsletter, though. Just don't tell me every last thing, every single person in your extended family, including your pet ferret, did every single day in 2010.

I'm also one of those people who LOVES a bargain. I will spend hours trying to find the best deal. I never hit, "Submit Order" until I've checked retailmenot.com first for a code. I will leave my purchase at the register if I've forgotten my coupon, and go back home to get it. Drives BSD nuts. But there's such a thrill when you score a bargain. It gives me the same burst of energy as my Diet Coke.

So, of course, I was all over the current blog offer from Shutterfly. In case you haven't heard, Shutterfly is offering bloggers 50 free holiday cards. Whoohooo! Photo Christmas cards AND a mega coupon code. Sign me up!

Now comes the problem. I take all of these photos, but I haven't taken one for my Christmas card yet. I have this fabulous idea in my head of how I want it to look, but it involves my whole family. And BSD is not going to be available until the 14th to do this.

In any event, I was browsing the Shutterfly site, and I am so excited about all of the new designs they have available. I'm going to assume that I am going to use only one photo on my card. I've narrowed it down to these three choices...

Choice #1: I like the design on this one. I also like that it has more space dedicated to the photo than to the design.

Partridge in a Pear Tree Card

Here's choice #2. I like this one because it really allows for a large picture. I don't really care for ones that print designs ON TOP of the photo, but I think this one is subtle enough not to overpower the picture, yet it makes a nice impact. Especially on a B&W photo.

Gift Tag Card 

Choice #3. I think this one is just sweet. It's a 5x5 square so that alone makes an impact. I also like the colors and that the year is printed on the front like that.

Merry Blossoms Card

OK...help a sister out. Which one do you like best? 

Do you send out photo cards? What about family letters? Bet you're afraid to answer that last question now, huh?

November Family Photo: Thankful

 There is nothing I am more thankful for than moments like this.

 Snuggled deep under the covers with my peeps. Cozy and warm.

Breathing in the love.

 

That's where I want to be. 

November started off wonderfully. With plenty of family time. And moments like these.

And then my world turned upside down.

My mom was admitted to the hospital on Thursday. After just having gallstones removed a few days prior, it was discovered that the real problem causing her excruciating pain is a tumor blocking her intestines. The cancer she's been fighting for years has now created a major problem. And the doctors cannot remove it. There are no definite answers. There is no prescribed course of action. It is a day by day waiting game. 

Fortunately, each day has brought a tiny glimmer of hope. Today the fight was back in her voice. She quizzed me to make sure I knew how to make our special family stuffing recipe. And we laughed.

So, on this Thanksgiving eve, while I am thankful that I will share a moment like this tomorrow morning...

 I am most thankful for the laughter that I shared with my mom today.

September Family Photo: The Dunes

It's the last day of September. That means it's time for our Monthly Family Photo. This one was actually taken IN September. And not on the last day either. That's progress, baby.

You can't tell from the picture, but we're behind our house on the sand dunes. The same dunes where the ballerinas went sledding during that big winter storm back in January.

September flew by! Once school started we hit the ground running and haven't stopped. Overall, September was a good month.

LB earned a sticker for good behavior every day this month. Except today. September 30th. The last day of the month. Come on, girl! Really? You couldn't hold it together just ONE more day? You couldn't go ONE month without screwing up? There may be many more noon nips in my future if this keeps up.

I started exercising again this month. A friend asked me all last year to try out her gym. With LB only in school until 11:10am last year, I could never make it work. I finally tried it this month. It's hard core. I'm still alive though. I officially joined today. I'll share more about that later.

And finally, after 10 years, I now have more than three hours of "time-off" from the ballerinas during the days. TEN YEARS!

Now that both ballerinas are in school full-time, I thought I'd be able to take some classes. Explore some new interests. Start figuring out what I'm going to be when I grow up. What have I discovered? The classes and things I want to do are all offered at night. When I can't go. All this waiting and anticipating and I'm coming up empty-handed. What a let down. 

What am I supposed to do now? Cook? Clean? I'm not really qualified to do those things. I'd need to take some classes. But I'm sure those classes are only offered at night too. When I can't go. What a relief let down.

August Family Photos: The Bike Trail

It's September already. That means I am was supposed to post my Monthly Family Portrait by now. And of course, I didn't get around to packing up the family and doing a fantastic photo shoot like I dream about each month. Things like pneumonia tuberculosis?, BSD returning to work, and oh yeah, laziness got in the way.

But I do have a family picture to share. And it was actually taken in August. Hard to believe, I know. I took it on one of our bike rides. We have an absolutely fantastic bike path right in our neighborhood. It's one of the reasons we bought our house. That and the fact that the beach is right across the street.

 

The ballerinas favorite part is to ride our bikes along the wooden bridge. Although I'm pretty sure there's a sign posted that the bridge is for foot traffic only. But I've never actually seen the sign. So we ride on it anyway.

We stopped for a rest. And a picture. I wasn't going to use this one because of BSD's unfortunate outfit. Not that we're all in our Sunday best. Not even close. But BSD was trying to work on a tan this summer so he bought himself some wifebeaters. Every time he wore one we gave him crap about it.

"Daddy! Why are you wearing your underwear?"

"BSD! PLEASE put on a real shirt. Unless you plan to start a new career as a NYC cabbie!" 

But he wore them anyway. And laughed at himself along with us. He's a good sport like that.

I think I'll photoshop a massive gold necklace in place of his maori for the picture I finally print out. And I'll send it to the casting director of The Jersey Shore. I'm sure they're looking for some new cast members for next season.

July Family Photos: Manteo

I did it! I took a family portrait in July. And as usual I waited until the very last minute. July 32nd to be exact.

On Sunday we hopped in the car and headed for the Outer Banks. We didn't have a plan. Just load up and drive. We ended up in Manteo. It's a sweet little waterfront town with loads of charm. Art galleries and home decor shops tucked here and there on cobblestone streets. Unfortunately, they were all closed. Since it was a Sunday. And we didn't figure out where the town center was until after 5pm. 

But we did manage to find an ice cream shop that was open.

See the pretty lighthouse.

Drink in the beauty of the ocean.

Do a little swinging.

And take our July family photos.

Hurray!

May Family Photos: Musical Chairs

I failed to get a family portrait in April. I was REALLY bummed to miss last month, but BSD was gone unexpectedly for the last few days of April when I planned to take the picture. 

Lesson to be learned? Take the picture EARLY in the month. 

Lesson I learned? Wait until the last minute.

 

Then force everyone to cooperate. 

Bribe them if you have to.

 During the last minutes of daylight.

On the last day that you'll all be together.

For the rest of the month. 

Then deal with the fact that you look like a behemoth in that shirt. 

That you thought looked cute. 

Until you sat down.

Slide Show Sunday

I haven't been very good about my Project 365 these past few weeks. I've been taking photos, but not as often as I'd hoped. I need to get back in the saddle with this project.

I recently discovered Tara Whitney's blog. If you don't know her work, you should check her out. She's a photographer who takes amazing real-life photos. There's nothing canned or posed. Her photos are relaxed and carefree. And her blog about her family is filled with love and insight. I always save her posts to read last because I look so forward to them.

Tara started a family project this year that she calls Six People, Twelve Times. Once a month she makes sure to take a picture of her whole family. HERSELF included. I immediately fell in love with this idea when she posted it. I swear out of the thousands of pictures in my photo library I'm in, maybe, 20. And those are mostly pictures of my nose hairs taken by the Little Ballerina when she gets a hold of my camera.

Since BSD travels so often, I need to be diligent about getting these portraits done however I can. (And there will be months that he won't be in the picture at all. Maybe I can use one of those cardboard cutouts like Ellen does during those times.)

This month was a prime example. I knew last Sunday that BSD would not be available for the rest of the month so, after the birthday party when we were all pooped, we piled onto the living room chair, set the self-timer and took some pictures.

Without looking in the mirror first.

Without combing our hair.

Without washing our faces or putting on makeup.

Simply and naturally.

Looking in any which direction.

Smiling and frowning.

Half in.

Half out.

Half on top of each other.

And I love these pictures all the more for it.

Because this is who we are. 

And this is where we should be.

Together.

Simply and Naturally.