Family Pictures 2014

For several years now, I have asked for one gift each birthday: family pictures.  Now I'm not talking about JC Penney Portrait studio pictures.  There is nothing inherently wrong with studio pictures (we still do them most years for Christmas) but I want "real life" pictures not posed in front of a fake fireplace.  Also, I don't want to wait in a long line with 4 boys and I'm pretty sure no one else in that line wants us to wait in the line either--we are after all FOUR boys.  Besides, I'm looking for something different than studio pictures.  I want to see us.

I want pictures where we run around.

I want snapshots of what this stage of life is really like for our family.  I want the messy because oh my goodness is this stage messy!!!

I want to remember the sweetness of these young boys who are quick to give affection.

I want to remember the missing teeth.

I want to remember the dimples in the sunlight.

I want to remember climbing trees.

I want to remember the three weeks where I didn't have my wedding band, just my engagement ring, because a certain 3 year old hid it in the crevices of our couch.

I want to remember the hugs

that quickly turn into wrestling.

I want to remember the hand-holding.

I want to remember the embraces.

I want to remember the toddler on my hip.

I want to remember the laughter.

I want to remember the bittersweet emotions of sending this handsome one to Kindergarten.

I want to remember the seriousness of a second-grader who no longer needs my help when reading but is still willing to snuggle up and let me read to him.

I want to remember the climbing fences (well the boys climbing fences, not me).

I want to remember the love.

Because it was here.  Sometimes it was hidden in between fights or tantrums or tears, but it was always here.  After a season full of work (so much work!) & stress that moving across town involves, we needed an afternoon of play.  An afternoon of picking wildflowers and wrestling.

An afternoon of running down hills and being caught by daddy.

An afternoon of sitting in the grass and telling each other why we are still here and what makes each other a good parent.  An afternoon of singing the Veggie Tales theme song but replacing words to make it "Caleb Tales" and the smile it elicited. 

Sometimes it is easy for me to get bogged down by the daily failures and struggles that life provides and forget the adventure that I am on.  Then I take an afternoon "off" from it all to take family pictures.  I get the family pictures, but I ended up with something more.

I am reminded of all the good again and I see it easily when I focus on the right things.  The wild love.  The loudness. The sweetness.  The growing.  The messiness.  The adventure.  The grace.  I am reminded of the blessing to live this life with this crew of 5 men.  The blessing to share a story with this man.  I am grateful.

Thanks to Sarah Carter Studio for capturing our spirited family in these photos that I will treasure for years to come.