I while back I saw these stick-on moustaches in the store and just couldn’t resist getting them for a photo prop.
After they got bored of them on their lips, they became goatees.
And then eyebrows.
I’m thinking…
I’m thinking…
I’ve got it!!
One of my favorite picture-taking opportunities is of a baby on its first day of life on this earth;
on the first day they breathed their first breath.
They are so new and pure and clean (after a bath…haha).
Growing the baby, laboring the baby, delivering the baby…HARD.
Then comes post-delivery, recovery, and actually taking care of the baby, which is also HARD.
But. For a few minutes in between all the hard things there is felicity. There is awe. There is peace.
Those are the moments I love to catch and bottle up digitally, so we can remember them, in between all the hard things.
Welcome to life, Colten!
After two crazy fun days at the amusement parks, we were happy to have some low key beach days.
I LOVE Manhattan Beach. The whole town surrounding the area is perfection. Beautiful, quaint beachfront houses, boutiques, restaurants, clean streets and sand, and sun. What more could one ask for?
Okay, well it wasn’t very warm, but that didn’t deter us too much.
Here’s a video of Nate in the water. A little later on he fell in and was somewhat upset about the whole thing.
Rob and I had brought Nate here when he was only 6 months old and we knew we’d come back some day. Last time I ate an AMAZING chicken parm sub and I was determined to have another. Ohhhh, good!!
This is the first time at the ocean for the kids (besides baby Nate) and they really thought it was great. Just look at their faces!
My dad’s cousin lives 5 minutes from the beach and had graciously agreed to let us stay with him and his wife. My dad decided to take a mini vacation and fly in and stayed with Danny while we were there so it was one big house full of fun! The kids were a little nervous at first, staying with people they had never met, but once they saw my dad they felt much better. That night we ate dinner with my dad and the Kieffers and then relaxed and read before bed. What a nice day!
Rob here. It has been much too long since I’ve posted some of our around-the-house photos. These were taken on a lazy day in January (that’s right, January). Our kids are not always shiny and spiffy clean (I’m sure you really thought they were…). Sometimes they are a little less comely and are still wearing PJ’s at noon, especially at Cara’s age. It is important to get photos of them in their natural setting with random and goofy looks. I’d hate to forget all of the normal and less dressed up part of life.
Nice face Madi! I can hear her giggle in my mind just like when she finished this face.
Nate was doing some important screw tightening that day. On a side note some of our outlet covers were cracked as part of this routine and important work. Ha!
A suspicious look from Madeleine. I imagine I’ll be seeing more of these over the years.
Ah to dance. Mad’s favorite activity.
A classic, “help me” look from our youngest. I can also imagine her cry of alarm.
Here’s Eli. Sweet, sweet Eli.
Savannah is one of my favorite people on the planet.
After having three completely delightful daughters, Savannah and Dan brought Eli into the world.
I don’t think Dan could be more thrilled to finally have the son he always knew was waiting to come.
I love this family.
A couple of Sundays ago, on the spur of the moment, I wanted to take some pictures of my kids all dressed up before church began. We drove up the hill behind our chapel and sat them down with 10 minutes to get some shots before Sacrament Meeting began. It was too late in the morning for the sun to be in the optimal position for natural light portraiture and I knew this going up there, but I wanted to get some anyway. Just because.
Because of the light, the girls are all squinty. Nate, however, couldn’t stand the sun in his eyes and was physically unable to cooperate :)
Caroline wasn’t thrilled with the idea in general. Can you tell? That doesn’t make her any less cute, though!
Here, Madeleine is only pretending to be mad.
So, that was our super-speed, sunlit session! There are a couple other pictures here.