The Elusive Family Photo

Those of you who have spent any amount of time reading my blog will obviously know...I love taking pictures...especially pictures of my kids. So, while we were all together at Fort Whyte for the Girlie's birthday, I wanted to take a picture of all the kids together. Maybe for Chirstmas cards...perhaps just for us...whatever. I would just like to get a nice pic of my pride and joy.


Humph...easier said than done. Here is all I got...


Hmmmm....the middle child is missing (refusing to get up on the rock because so and so blah blah blah....you know the drill )






Take Two: Where is the Little Man? Exit stage right...climbing a tree









All togther now but wait....don't they look thrilled to be there?!?








Yup, little man gone again.




SO frustrating!!


I think that I may have to perfect my Photoshopping skills (which at the moment are pretty minimal) in order to get a picture of all five of my kids sitting together, looking at the camera, and not scowling.

Until then...this does still give you all a window into my world.

Sunday Family Fun Day

A beautiful September Sunday! Who knows how many more days like these we will have left?

We decided to try to make the best of it!

Hanging around...

A stop at Starbucks for Strawerries and Cream

Walking the labyrinth

Father/Son chat

Climbing rocks

Climbing Trees

My favorite flowers

Hopefully next sunday will be just as nice!

Fifteen?!?

On May 17th, the teenager turned 15. Fifteen?!? How is that possible?




Each year we have brought him to the zoo on his birthday and taken his picture here.




Here's one with the siblings (except the little man...who was too busy running around like a crazy man)




This has always been a family event but...all good things must change with time. This year, he brought his girlfriend.

Aren't they cute?

After the zoo, we came back home and BBQ'd (at the birthday teen's request) and then had a backyard bonfire and roasted marshmallows.

The highlight of the day for this mother? Seeing him smile...a lot. Those smiles are few and far between now-a-days so that made the concession worth it. I am slowly learning to let go...and realizing that maybe someday, all of my children will be bringing new people to be a part of our family traditions...learning to embrace this and welcome them if they make my kids happy. That is, after all, what is all about, right?

February 10th

More rain, more ice, another day of school cancelled for the little ones. Sigh...


S has been battling "something" over the last few days and now that same "something" seems to have hit the little man. He was not feeling good at all today, with a fever that seemed to wax and wane all day but a nice warm bath always helps.





And now....an actual picture of the teenager!!





Yes, the lighting is crappy, I used a harsh flash and the angle is weird but, at this stage of life, a mother takes what she can get!