Family Photos

They certainly don't take family photos like they did in the old days. You remember those old photos of everyone in the family being asked to look off to some distant point, while smiling brightly, and pretending that everyone wasn't just crying and pinching each other a second before the photo was taken.

A photo just like this.......

I really can't believe I'm sharing this on my blog but honestly I just can't keep from giggling when I look at this photo.  Such a cute little, innocent family.  So very many children.  All such cute little blondies.  What were my Mom and Dad thinking?  Eight children?  They deserve a medal and I love them for that.

So after having the viewing pleasure of the classic 70's family photo, here's another one for you.

This one seriously makes me laugh.  Look at our style of clothing.  Again, just makes me giggle.  I have very strong memories of thinking "let's just get this gosh darn thing over with".  Smiling big for the picture and then breathing a sigh of relief that yet another family picture was over with.

Makes me wonder why I put my kids through the same thing.  hmmmmm Maybe it's a rite of passage every child needs to suffer through?

Fresh Paint

After living in our lovely, little, cozy home for 13 years, we finally repainted all the walls; something I've wanted done since we moved in.  Well, I shouldn't say "we" painted the walls because it was all Todd.  Thanks to the amazing, hot husband, the walls are now painted.

The final walls to paint were our living room, the hallway, and kitchen ceiling.  We decided to extend the yellow painted in our kitchen down to one wall in our living room.  I really love how it's brightened up the room and makes for a nice accent.  We also purchased a lovely, new painting for the wall above the piano.

Take a look.... what do you think?

Nostalgia and New Beginnings

It's that time of year, time for the kids to head back to school, time for cooler weather, time to say good-bye to summer fun, and time for new beginnings.  Big sigh.

Every year as my children head back to school I can't help but feel a little nostalgic over the passing of yet another year.  My children are growing up so quickly.  As I see them prepare for the start of a new year, I can't help but think back to when they first started school, when they were so excited about being such a big kid and going to kindergarten.

Now that my oldest is 23 I'm definitely feeling the nostalgia... thinking of his first day of school... so I dug through the old photo album.  I went back to my first child and my first back-to-school picture.

Oh my goodness, such an adorable little picture and such an adorable little guy.  I remember like it was yesterday, his excitement at going to school, how proud he was of his backpack and baseball cap and new shoes.  (I also can't help but think how nice it is to have our current digital cameras and the ability to take better pictures.)

Flash forward to today.... Spencer graduated high school five years ago, Evan is starting 10th grade at the high school, and Tori is in 9th grade.

Evan who grows taller every time I turn around.  Evan who has developed into a confident, very smart, kind young man is now nearing the end of his years in public school with just three short years left in high school.  I'm not ready to let go.

Tori, now a gorgeous young woman, loves all things social at school.  She loves that she's the oldest in her school and looking forward to going to the high school next year.  This little girl of mine keeps me young and I love it!

Nostalgia and new beginnings, a feeling that I'm swimming in and hope to resurface before it starts all over again next year.