All In

3 Years, 21 Weeks.


We had our formal family photos taken this past weekend.  And although it may seem dull or even boring to some, most parents know that taking pictures with kids is never as easy as it looks.

They were taken by our friend and professional photographer Heather Rice, who was returning a favor to me for building her a lemonade stand for her photo shoots back in the spring.  Perfect form of reciprocation!

The kids were manageable, compliant for the most part, even agreeing to get in the water for some shots, dressy clothes and all.  Of course the promise of gifts in exchange for beautiful smiles didn't hurt either.

The lighting and venue was perfect at that time of the day.

And the results were breathtaking.

Here's a sneak peek:

Here was our week:

• Sabbath we went to church, early enough to go to early service and Sabbath school.  It's amazing how quickly you can get out of the house when the kids are bathed and their clothes ironed the night before!  Tangie hung out with the kids for the afternoon and evening as she had just come back from some training in Atlanta the Thursday and Friday previous.  I would join Duncan and Bruce for some male bonding time with some Indian and a movie.  

Braelyn draws our family with Jesus during church.

Kohlden doing some chalk drawing.

Excited about getting some balance bikes!

• Sunday morning came very early, as Tangie and I got to bed close to 1:30 after preparing food/supplies/clothes for our beach trip.  Our photo session was at 8 AM at Cocoa Beach, a good hour and a half from home, meaning we were out of the house by 6:30.  But even though we were all tired everyone was in good spirits, and had fun working the camera.  Afterwards we hit the beach and stayed there with the Bergherms, who also had their photo session right after us.  We left around 1 because Tangie had to get back home to pack up for her trip back to Atlanta that evening.  Lolo and Lala came up for the evening so that they could attend Grandparents' Day at Orlando Jr. Academy with Braelyn on Monday.

Happy to get their presents.  A job well done!  

Early morning meant having the beach to ourselves!

Settling in for some digging.

Loves to play in the sand!

Loves to play in the surf!

Fending off some seagulls in search of free food!

• Grandparents' Day:

Lolo greets Brae in class.

She was thrilled to have them there.

Grandparents on a tour of the school garden.

Inspecting the rice field.

Lolo observes Braelyn doing some art.

Sharing at lunchtime.

• Like I mentioned, Tangie had to be in Atlanta all week, so it's been an interesting week getting everyone up early to drive Braelyn to school and then again in the afternoon to pick her back up. We've kept busy working on home projects and cleaning up, even getting some decorations out to start the fall season.  Here is the rest of the week:

Starting to live on the edge.

Excited to help decorate!

Making our weekly return.

Scored this tall indoor tree from Costco for only $14!

Midweek treat to the pool,

Supper included!

Participating in "Walk Across America" for National Discover Your Optimal Health Day.

Sweaty and tired after walking 1.4 miles!

An evening visit to our park.

Braelyn practicing her cartwheels.

The twins screaming at each other.

Napping positions:

Monday.

Tuesday.

Wednesday.

Thursday.

Food:

Typical lunch.

Pizza Making 101.  Class is in session!

Randoms:

Boxes from some canvases I ordered.  I was identified by the label "cute kids".

C'mon Summer, seriously?

Taking Brae to school every morning was like driving into a fireball.

See what I mean?

 

Happy to finally see Adam become a dad.

Quotes:

• The twins were playing with some toy dinosaurs when Braelyn made an inquiry:

          Brae:  "Daddy, have you ever seen a real live dinosaur before?"

          Me:  "No, nobody living has ever seen a real live dinosaur."

          Brae:  "Why?"

          Me:  "Because dinosaurs died out a very long time ago."

          Brae:  [pause]  "Did Nana see any dinosaurs?"

          Sorry Nana!

• I was putting lotion on Kohlden after his bath:

          Me:  "Ok buddy, turn around."

          

          nothing.

          Me:  "Bubba, I need you to turn around."

          still no response.

          Me:  "Kohl!  Please turn around!"

          Kohl:  "You mean, about face?"

• We were running a bit late to school one morning so instead of going our regular route I went the opposite way in order to make a u-turn, which really didn't save us any time:

          Brae:  "Daddy, you need to be patient."

          Me:  [sigh] "I know."

          Brae:  "Yeah, sometimes I'm not patient."

          Me:  "You get that from me."

          Brae:  [pause]  "Daddy, you're being me today."

• We were listening to Kids Place Live on satellite radio on our way to school and this little girl was talking to the host about school and mentioned about going to PE that day:

          Brae:  "Hey, I think she goes to my school!"

          Me:  "Why do you think that?"

          Brae:  "Because she said she was going to PE!"

• Kohlden was having a temper tantrum because I had told him not to do something that he had wanted to do in the van on our way out, hitting his carseat in frustration:

          Me:  [firmly]  "No.  Sit down, you're in time out."

          Kohl:  [starting to cry]  

          Me:  [crawling in and sitting next to him]  "Kohlden, we don't hit our chair."

          Kohl:  "I need to say sorry to my chair!"

• On our way to get Braelyn, the twins in the back of the van munching on their peanut butter and chocolate graham cracker snacks:

          Maddy:  [shouts] "I love chocolate!"

          Me:  "Oh good!  I love you!"  [pause]  "Do you love Daddy?"

          Maddy:  [confused]  "But you're not food!"

• We had just picked up some dry cleaning, walking across the street in the parking lot, with Madelyn holding Braelyn's hand, slowing her up:

          Brae:  "Hurry up Madelyn!  Do you want to die with the cars?"

          Maddy:  "But I'm not dying!"

          Good to know!

          

          

Have a great weekend!