Christmas Pictures

It begins in November, the gentle anxious feeling that takes up residence in the depths of my psyche.  That gentle anxious feeling whispers "time to start thinking about the picture for your Christmas cards."  In November, I carelessly brush the idea aside and soldier on through Thanksgiving with the thoughts of all of the pictures I've snapped of the children all year long.  My logic says that surely there exists among the hundreds and hundreds of pictures, at least one picture of the children together smiling happily in the same location at the same time.  Therefore, even if I'm unsuccessful in my plans to dress the kids attractively in red and green and maybe a bit of sparkle, position them to highlight each of their most winsome attributes, provide ideal lighting, and convince them to smile at me naturally thirty or forty times, I should still possess a "back up picture" from a cherished family event that will more than sufficiently represent our gang to friends and family all over the country on our Christmas card.

Last year, I avoided the photo session altogether out of respect for the episode from the year before where chaos reigned supreme and included a screaming three month old, adorable red velvet dresses with Santa fluff, a bloody nose, and I think I recall a teetering Christmas tree as well.

This year, Christmas outfits have been waiting in the wings for weeks, and I had grand plans.  However, Megan was out of town last week and Molly is currently snowed in at my Mom & Dad's under about 16 inches of snow, so no photo shoot this year either.  Honestly, I am a bit relieved because there is no way that any picture I could take would live up to the expectations I have created in my mind.

Enter "the backup picture" plucked with a grin from this year's vast and varied adventures.  Except...I discovered a small glich in my logic...

Easter.

"Hey Molly, look at Mommy....pleaaassseeee...hurry, we're late for Sunday School...again."

Mother's Day.

"Molly, less...less gums?"

Vacation.

"Molly, are you hurt? Secret baby hog calling contest? Fire?"

Family wedding rehearsal dinner in one of the most beautiful settings in our state.

"Molly, how do you really feel about having your picture taken?"

After a daring rescue from a church nursery...

"Aww c'mon Molly, I didn't mean to leave you stranded in that nursery, sit up and smile at Mommy."

"Molly...Mollyyyyyyy...Oh, never mind!"

Field trip to a WWII aircraft carrier.

"Molly.  It wasn't that funny."

The day before Election Day.

"Molly, turn the flag so we can see your face. Molly, we want more than the bow in this shot. Molly! This is to honor your country, shape up young lady!"

One would think that any woman crazed enough to take pictures to commemorate Election Eve, would have in her "war chest" an acceptable picture. Unfortunately it turns out that Molly takes great exception to sharing the frame with her siblings. I've got dozens of super pictures of her solo, but very few of her cooperating with the group photo efforts this year.  As a result, I wonder...how many people will notice if I use a picture from last year when Molly was still young enough to be "contained"?

Here's to living in the past!

Splash!

Swimming, swimming

in the swimming pool.

When days are hot,

When days are cold,

In the swimming pool.

Breast stroke,

Side stroke,

Fancy diving too...

Oh wouldn't it be nice if

there was nothin' else to do!

(dedicated to Aunt Becky)

Last Day of School

Ahhhhh......another year of school, formal school that is, is complete. I promised the children that when we finished studying World War 1 that we would be finished for the year and today the Armistice was signed! Following a happy, carefree afternoon of non-schooling, we celebrated by taking in a movie.
Up! was great fun. We had forgotten that it was a 3-D movie and the cool glasses added to our enjoyment. Darrin even got to join us. My favorite part of the movie was when the main character realized that to have worthwhile memories one didn't need to have lived a spectacular life, one needed only to have lived. He discovered that there was true adventure in the "everydayness" of life, a lesson that his late wife had learned ahead of him. I appreciated the message of the movie especially at the threshold of this summer: Appreciate everything, not just the grand and the planned, but the trivial and the normal, the hot-dogs for supper nights and the steak on the grill nights as well for in between all of the little moments and the bigger ones, life is happening whether I'm paying attention or not!

Game Ball

Baseball night once again. Tonight's game followed a big day on the road for me and the fabulous 4! We began the day running errands which included the convenience store (we had to get our beverages to sustain us), the bank, the photo shop, and the library where, thank goodness I owed no fines! After round one, we headed home for a quick lunch during which, Cole reminded me that his uniform was still very dirty from last game and needed cleaned. Yikes. It was 2 and we had a graduation party to attend at 4 if we were to get Cole to warm-up at 5:20. I put the load of game clothes to wash, and a pair of capris for me to wear into the washer and ushered the Fab 4 into the van for "Errands: the Sequel". Up to Target we ran to pick up a prescription on which believe it or not, we had to wait 30 minutes! Talk about "hurry up and wait"! Back at home, Cole put the load into the dryer and joined the girls to ride scooters until his clothes were dry. I learned today that baseball uniforms will dry in a dryer set on nuclear in less than 30 minutes, capri pants will not. Capri pants will dry in less than 30 minutes when placed in a nuclear dryer for 25 minutes and then placed under an iron wielded by a praying woman for 5 minutes!

On our way out the door, a few minutes late, we grabbed directions to the ball park and to the graduation party, grabbed Darrin from work, and hit the road--again! Molly finally had more than 10 minutes to sleep on the way to the party and remained asleep until we left for the ball game, which was super for the big people, but unfortunate for the baby, because she didn't get fed. I didn't remember that she hadn't been fed until strolling past the concession stand at the game. Molly, as a result enjoyed her very first hot dog while watching her brother play Little League. There goes my Mother of the Year nomination again this year!! She did seem to love it and ate 3/4 of it with the bun! We may well pay the price for this trick tomorrow.

The ball park for the game was very nice. A cool playground made for happy sisters, and bleachers with a good view of both field and playground made for happy parents. As Cole ran into the outfield, Darrin asked him (he played right in front of our seats) what glove he was wearing because we didn't recognize it as his. Cole had to borrow the glove from the boy playing catcher because he had forgotten his. Our boy played a really wonderful game. He stood bravely at bat as a very skilled pitcher fired away, and stopped two ground balls to cut each runner off at second base. Toward the end of the game Cole made an awesome catch! The ball flew toward the land between the infield and the outfield and Cole made a running catch and snagged it for the third out! I was so proud to watch his teammates clap him on the back as they headed toward the dug out. The boys lost the game, but the night was forever embedded in our minds as Coach Joe placed the game ball in Cole's hand and congratulated him on his big catch.

I was certain tonight would be a challenge after the crazy day. Minivan marathon, unlaundered uniform, over-booked, tardy for warm-up, premature hot dog, weary spectators, skilled opponents, borrowed glove.....GAME BALL!