Ahhh, finally the weather we'd been waiting for.
The past week found us swinging, playing in the sand and slathering sunscreen from head to toe (times four). We enjoyed dad's softball game on Wednesday and didn't miss playing outside one glorious day.
So much fun, so little time.
What do you get someone who has this? There's nothing you can wrap up and slap a bow on that wouldn't pale in comparison to being surrounded by life's most wondrous of miracles who each love you more than the last.
We said "Happy Birthday, Butterbean," with a book and a plant for her yard, but she would have walked away from her party with far more affection for the smiles and kisses she received than a library filled with books and an entire greenhouse.
Story sharing, pushes on swings and a few "Grandma"s trump anything purchased and can come every day of the year, not just one. That's the beauty of it all.
Before you start asking for autographs, remember only one of them can print her name.
Last week our foursome were the side-show in a commercial advertisement for Tracy's Appliances. We can't tout agents or contracts, just the fact that we know the store's owners. This definitely helped in getting the work.
Nonetheless, the kids had fun, we've got great footage to reappear two decades from now and I have something to watch every time I need a chuckle (it's as though they keep coming ... even I began to wonder how many of them there were).
The spots started airing Monday, so it's too early to gauge their effect. But, should customers start busting down the doors at Tracy's we might have to renegotiate our contract!
It's taken 14 months, but I've learned to have our photos taken in smaller groups. The clothes, patience (little people), snacks and patience (big people) needed for everyone to get their photos shot in one visit is too much for us.
Now, two visits and we're talking. Less wait time, fewer little people to keep clean and happy and less stress for mom and dad.
So, a double visit to our Babies 'R Us store today and we've got the results below to show for our $3.59 per gallon gasoline (and yes, we drive one of those gas-guzzling SUVs and yes, we did our fair share of polluting on Earth Day of all days).
Supermodel at three
Alena has come full-circle with the picture taking thing. This is the child that required two trips to the studio to have her photo taken once just a few short months ago. Today her near-fit was due to the fact that she wanted her picture taken "more." Go figure.
Easy does it
Alivia has to be a photographer's dream come true. She listens, she cooperates, she smiles. It takes just minutes to get a few poses shot. I'm struck at how grown up she seems to be getting. While she still asks to be held and confuses her right shoe for her left and vice versa, she's getting so big.
R.O.T.T.E.N.
Can't you just see it written all over his face? Enough said.
Not quite a smile
While she's not wearing the priceless smile that's hers and only hers, this is the best professionally taken photo we have of Alysse to date (minus those from the very newborn stage). So incredibly cute, this little sweetie just doesn't photograph well. I believe it's all the "stuff" around her in a studio. Lights, camera, strangers. She immediately tenses and is leery. As soon as she's removed from the area, she returns to her normal self. A photo doesn't due her beautiful little face justice.
Surprise, surprise
Apparently it can be done: Trace and Alysse in a photo together sans tears. A sharp contrast to the infamous Christmas card photo, huh?
Move over old lawn guy, I've got a new lawn boy now. No, he doesn't fertilize the yard, trim with the weed whacker or sweep the sidewalks when he's done, but he's oh so irresistible.
