Photo Books & Memories

I'm an avid picture taker, which means we have thousands upon thousands of digital pictures.  I struggle to keep up with the editing and storing of all our digital pictures, let alone make photo books from them. However, I have taken the time to make a few photo books from some of our family vacations over the years. The rest are in the design stage (in my mind) and on my never ending to-do list.

I also made baby photo books for each of the boys (Caleb's is still in the design phase) in lieu of the traditional "baby book."  I did this because it was easier, faster and customizable.  I was able to write the story of how we learned we were pregnant and include pictures of them growing inside my tummy.  I also included the story of their names--why we chose it and what it means.  I also included whatever milestones I wanted since it wasn't a fill in the blank format.  Some of the "milestones" are unconventional like how many diapers we went through the first two weeks that the twins were born (427!!) and when their first plane flight occurred.

The boys LOVE to look through these books, but I keep them stored out of sight in our entertainment cabinet because I don't want them to get ruined, but I also like the boys having access to them.  We also keep our regular photo albums in the same spot.  Periodically, they'll ask to look through the books with me.

This morning when I headed upstairs to take a shower, the three big boys were playing a wild game in our playroom that I figured would soon end badly (ie..at least one person crying).  When I got done showering and getting dressed for the day, I was surprised to find them all standing side-by-side with photo books open on the couch.  Their backs were to me, so they didn't know I was there.  Like any good parent, I eavesdropped on their conversation.

I heard Aaron ask "Who is that?" pointing to a baby.

James' response was "You know that has to be you because you have a completely different look than Andrew and me." (So says the identical twin).

A few seconds later, I heard Andrew exclaim "Look at this one, its just Adorable!!!"

There were many more cute comments but I didn't write them down and twelve hours later, they've left my mind.  Each boy was squealing in delight as he discovered the blanket he still loves and sleeps with was in pictures with him when he was a baby.  They were sharing details with each other that I've told them over and over as we've flipped through those books and discussed the pictures.  They would get excited when they found pictures of special places we've visited on vacations or playdates.

This scene filled my heart today.  They're retelling the stories Jon & I have told them.  They're reminiscing.  They're SHARING.  In a home full of superheros battling bad guys, wrestling, light saber duels and countless other testosterone-driven activities, I'm thankful when I see these moments of cherishing pictures and the stories that go along with them.

The calm but excited reminiscing did not last long (they are 4 and 6 year old boys after all).  It was maybe just twenty or thirty minutes.  However, before they went back to using the hotwheels tracks as weapons and tying superheroes to the helium-filled balloons we bought them for Valentine's Day, they pulled out their signature books from our trip to Disney a year and a half ago. 

These signature books were the books we hauled around us during our week at Disney and pulled out each time we saw a character.  The boys have over 40 signatures in those books and pictures with all the characters.  They were flipping through the books trying to read all the signatures and glancing at the pictures.  It was all happy memories and excitement for the boys, but for me, I remembered some of the grueling lines waiting for Woody & Jessie from Toy Story.  I remembered the attempts to keep three preschool-age boys from touching it other while they waited in line to hug a character and get a signature.  I remember their tears when Aladdin and Jasmine had a schedule change and we were informed that they had to "rush back to Agrabah" and wouldn't there to say hi.  I remember Jon and I biting our tongues when they asked to get in line for yet ANOTHER character greeting. 

When the boys look at those books, they think of the excitement and fun it was to meet all those characters.  I look at those 47 signatures and think, we waited in 47 lines with 4 small children?  What were we smoking?!?  Then I remember the twinkle in their eyes and the smiles that reached to their ears when they met the character that are captures in the pictures.  I remember James (dressed as Peter Pan) getting to "fight" the real Captain Hook with his dagger.  I remember Aaron gasping when he saw Pinocchio and was able to give him a big hug on our last day.  I remember Andrew being able to tell Chip and Dale apart everytime without hesitation and the fact that I still don't know who is who (you'd think a mom of twins would be able to figure it out).  And I look at their faces right now and see that same joy there.  They are reliving it.  Isn't that what family vacations and pictures are for?  Its not only the experience in the moment, but the reliving it, the memory of it.