more pictures...

I will try to actually pick up the camera tomorrow and post some pictures.

I don't know what my problem with pictures has been lately.

I guess life has just gotten in the way...

Get out of the way, life!

I need to take more pictures!

Bad picture...why do you tease me?

I know...

The picture is awful.

This is one of the pics I keep finding on the computer...

You know the ones the kids take when mom and dad aren't around...

It got me to thinking that even when you think you are looking at a bad photo,

You are really looking at a moment in time.

Soon, it will be hard to remember how funny we all thought it was that Miranda loves taking pictures of herself.

Day to day life has a way of blurring out some of those moments...

Through the pictures, we will have evidence that these moments really did happen,

we were there,

and life is good.

Should I be afraid?...

I told you all once before that I find interesting pictures on the camera.

This was found this morning.

Hmmmm..................

Thinking....

thinking.....

still thinking.....

Yeah, I really don't know what to think about this.

Strange, comes to mind.

Too much time on her hands is the only excuse I can think of...

Teenager...

Explains it all!

Picture Day...

This is the reaction you get from 9 & 10 year olds when the camera comes out.

(Yeah... what's up with the hair Aubrey?)

This is what happens when the camera comes out around a 14 year old......so coy and mysterious...

photo effects...

Okay... so I am not sure I like the effects on this photo, but...

It was so much fun making it.

Now, I need to go get something else done today besides playing with pictures.

Will the real Cadi please stand up...

What a silly creature.

The more I tried to get her to give us some real poses...

The more i got stuff like this.

I guess in the end I will be so thankful to have pictures of her before she gets to serious.

She is such a silly girl when it comes to pictures.

At lease she had us laughing... for awhile.

..then I was ready to pack it all in and go home.

Taking pictures of this many people is exhausting.

Oh yeah...

And I forgot to bring any water bottles for the bunch...

so we were all wasting away...

and losing our minds!

Fun Photo Day...

My husband suggested that we go out and take some family photographs today.

We haven't taken any new ones in awhile.

I was not looking forward to it... it turned out to be a great time.

It is amazing how my children grow up so doggone fast!

I thought a photo of my sweethearts lined up

from oldest (not tallest) to youngest would be cute.

Miranda is actually the tallest,

if she was standing up straight...

Chey is next and then the oldest...Cadi.

This picture of my entire family warms my heart.

We only had to take about twenty of them to get it right.

That's fine with me...

It was worth it.

***Just wanted you to know that taking pictures today was a very stressful idea for me.

The last time we went out somewhere to do this, my two oldest children were in

a severe car crash that almost took their lives.

It was a big deal to go out and do this again.

We did it and survived. No accidents.

Thank you, God.

I know I sound crazy, but... well, yeah, I am probably just crazy.

The Perfect Combination...

I love pictures.

My husband loves experimenting with different photography techniques.

...add in one of the cutest kids in the world and you get...

The Perfect Combination.

So VERY Grateful...

Two years ago today, I learned how truly grateful I am for each and every one of my children. My two oldest (both girls) were in a horrible, life altering car accident. We had been out all day with all of the kids (two cars) taking pictures... having a really good time. My oldest daughter was sixteen and had been driving for almost a full year. We turned left, heading to our next photo op, when she made a new driver mistake and followed us blindly through the turn. When I reached the crushed car, my oldest had somehow managed to climb out of the car. We still don't know how she did that since even my husband couldn't move that door after the accident. I was running from our van to her car. I kept hearing someone screaming "NO, No , no ..." I realized it was me who was screaming. As I got closer to my daughter and the car I saw she was crying and she was saying, " She's not okay."

I jumped in the car to reach my other daughter. Someone had climbed in the back and I heard him telling his wife to tell the dispatch that he was an off duty police officer and to send rescue and someone with the jaws of life. Then I heard those words that still echo around in my head, "Tell Rescue that she isn't breathing and I can't get a pulse."
I felt like my world stopped in that moment. I started talking to her and telling her that mommy was there. Within seconds, that felt like eons, she took in a huge breath and started moaning.
To make a long story short, rescue came and cut her out of the car. She had broken her pelvis in a couple of places, broken a couple of toes, broken a bone in her face, teeth... cuts all over her arm, face, etc. She had been sitting cross legged in her seat and we were told later that this is what saved her legs. There was no floor board left and this would have cut off her legs.
She spent a good portion of her sophomore year in a wheelchair. She worked hard to heal. We all found out how important each and every member is in a family... even one as big as ours. We learned that love meant sacrifice. We missed sleep to take care of her. Everyone pitched in. Everyone felt how close we had come to an outcome that was inconceivable. It was months before we could talk about how close we had been to death.
Now? Well, she is seventeen and started a new job this week. She is a CNA. She is starting her senior year in highschool. I think, often, about how different the last two years would have been if she hadn't taken that huge breath. I think every single day about how very grateful I am that we still have her in our life. Anything else would be unthinkable. Thank you God.

Rodeo in the works...

While at the park yesterday, we saw so many cool things. Some of the horses from the rodeo that will be taking place this week were cooling off in the river. The kids were so in love.

Aubrey was enjoying the cool air coming off the river. Isn't that a pretty view?

As we walked down the path we came across an area set aside for local artist. Some of the art work was so beautiful.

Above: Daddy showing the little man how to skip rocks. (He really is good.)

Below: Mommy thinking she is going to show him up. (never gonna happen!)

The little man really posed himself. He posed and turned around and said, "Take my picture."What a ham!

projects, family and play...

I promised a picture of the finished skirt. Well, I love it. Aubrey loves it and

she is wearing it to church.Cadi came over after church and spent the day with us. I figured what better time to get a photo of all of the kids. Aren't they awesome?! When people see them, they are always amazed at how many of them there are, but it doesn't seem like that many to me. Well, most days at least.
"No pictures Mommy!"
Since we have a daughter who is in college, we truly understand how quickly they grow up. He is already getting so big. I love and cherish the time I have with this little boy so much.
These kids are so used to having their picture taken. If mom isn't pointing the camera, dad is.
We spent the day walking along the river. It was so amazingly beautiful. They are getting ready for the rodeo next week so there were horses and paintings and lots of sites to see. I will post again tomorrow to show you some of what we saw today. It was really hot. As we walked along the river we came to a slow running spot and we waded in. That water was freezing. Our feet turned red immediately. It was a blessed relief from the heat, though.

My dad called tonight. (I didn't know if he wanted his face on this site so you get his back.) What a pleasure it was to get to chat with him. I love to hear him ask about the kids. He seems so genuinely anxious to have us come out there. It makes me smile.

See ya tomorrow!!