Snapshot Saturday
While on a mini-vacation to Montana (where my parents live) last week, I snapped a few photos of my kids. Here’s some minor observations on my part:
a) Baby sister ain’t looking so happy. Her dour expression pretty much sums up her reaction to all pictures taken that evening (including a desperate attempt at a new family pic…major fail). The minute pictures were over, we couldn’t get her to stop smiling, little turkey.
b) My youngest boy (second from the left), love his cute little soul, looks like a 43-year old engineer trapped in a 3-year old’s body. Can I get an amen? The combination of glasses, slicked back hair, plaid shirt tucked into belted jeans – adorable and slightly nerdy and completely, 100% my responsibility since the dude obviously didn’t slick back his own hair or pick out his clothes for this picture. No offense to all the plaid-wearing, belted-jeans engineers out there, nerdy or not (ahem, Dad and Pops).
c) Paracord bracelets (you can see them on several of the boys’ wrists) were the hit after Grandpa showed the boys how to make them. I am currently wearing a purple and pink one around my ankle – the boys and I pinky swore we would each wear ours until we are reunited in a week (they are staying at Grandma and Grandpa’s while we get things situated for our upcoming move) since we knew it would be hard to be apart.
d) I learned by taking pictures of my kids that while I can take a pretty decent photo of chocolate chip cookies, photographing actual human beings is not my forte. My respect goes out to each of you who actually do take pictures of real, live people. I don’t know how you manage to keep a smile on your face and peace in your hearts. The picture you see above was one of at least 150 taken of this same pose. In the end, I still had to Photoshop at least two heads to make sure everyone was smiling, looking at the camera and/or not attempting to elbow his/her brother in the groin. Oy. Back to shooting cookies. Much, much easier (and yummier, too).
Happy weekend, everyone! If family pictures are in your future, may the blessings and trial of all of my failed picture attempts be with you.
If you’d like to check out past Snapshot Saturdays, click HERE.
This picture reminded me how quickly time flies. My husband and I have 8 kids, and we were in a small 3 bedroom house for most of those years. Our kids are almost all grown now, and they are each other’s best friends. Enjoy!
As I sit here exhausted with 1…almost 3 year old…boy, I cannot CANNOT imagine how exhausting 5 must be!
You have a beautiful family!! Your boys are adorable and your daughter is lucky girl to have 4 big brothers that will certainly protect her.
Heartbreakers! Everyone of them, I so enjoy your Saturday Snapshots. Been off line for a while, too much to do and not enough time to do it, but trying to visit my favorites often until I am up to date on my “home work” and back to the blog.
Where in MT? I’m from MT! Love all your recipes!
What beautiful kids! You are amazing, Mel! I don’t know how you do it all. Good luck with the move…I can’t imagine! Sending good thoughts your way!
Beautiful family! That little princess is going to have a hard time dating with all those big, protective brothers around. Your engineer comment cracked me up. You’re not alone- I turn into satan during family pics and I’m not even the photographer. My kid are never as naughty as they are getting their picture taken, especially my 15 year old son!
You have an adorable family! Good luck on the big move…I hope it goes smoothly and you are all able to adjust to all new things!
They are so sweet and happy. Good for you. And they look so much alike – same coloring. The little queen is just getting ready to rule the roost.
BTW: Thanks for all the recipes.
OMG they are SOOOO cute! I just want to hug them all!
Yes, there are cute! Where in Montana? I grew up in Bozeman. I love your site.
New to your website and just love your tried and true recipes! And coincidentally have 4 boys and then a girl, who’s now 2. Love reading your similar experience! It’s a new world filled with the need for detangling spray by the gallon for bedhead to the glued together hair after almost every meal :).
Your comments about your youngest made me LOL! My husband, the scientist-engineer, gets quite grumpy if anyone refers to him as a nerd. When we were newly married, he noticed that a window in the house had a small crack in it. He told me (in quite serious fashion) that one of the windows had a microcrack that had propagated! I told him he was the only one I knew that talked that way. Some day I’ll have to tell you about the “zero ohms” story. 🙂
Your kiddos are utterly adorable!
Your family is so beautiful, Mel! Your baby girl looks looks just like you, and smile or no smile she is adorable! Good luck with your move. I know how hard it is, and I’m sure it is especially hard to be separated from your little ones.
Precious! And they look so happy (besides little sis of course). I just love your site ! 🙂
Children are such a blessing. Yours are adorable! Moving can be stressful, so rest when you get the chance. Good luck!
this has to be about the cutest thing ever.
Aw this is adorable. You have beautiful children? Where abouts in MT? We live just outside of Missoula!
That is a cute picture…you came to MT? That is where I live!
ahhhhhh….your kids are adorable!!!!
LOL! They are so cute. I am the same way with photography–food is easy but I’m lousy with people and landscapes, basically anything NOT food. But I know people who have the opposite problem so I guess it’s lucky for us that we can take decent food pics, what with all the food blogging. lol
LOVE the picture, LOVE the commentary, and LOVE those kids!!! Miss you all and so happy to see how big they are getting! Hang in there through the chaos.
I laughed so hard at your comment about the engineer only because I have a 43-year-old brother who is an engineer, along with another brother and my dad…so I have a soft spot in my heart for nerdy-looking engineer types! I think your boys are adorable!
I’ll give you an amen. The only difference is the engineer would have a bit less hair, I think. And maybe his chubby cheeks wouldn’t be so adorable. 🙂 But your kids are SO DANG CUTE! Really, I love that picture.
too cute and being the mom photographer is like everything else in life–they are always ready to impress any other photographer. Sort of like the child that chatters all day and when you are leaving a new situation and ask them to say good-bye. not happening until you are well out of earshot and they say it over and over for the entire drive home. It is the law !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 hahahahaha
Very, very cute! I love the nerdy looks!
Your boys are adorable! Being the mother of four boys also, with one on the way, I understand the complexity of taking pictures. There’s just something about a camera that brings the silliness out in all of them! So cute!
Tee Hee…..Yup….totally know what that was like for you. I have to take about 600 photos at Christmas of TWO kids to get ONE of both of them smiling at the same time! Your kids are adorable. Good luck with the packing!
I can’t believe that’s your three year old! Love the picture of your kids, Mel! I bet you are missing them so much! Good luck with your move!
Darling picture, darling boys and sweet little girl, I know they keep you busy and laughing!
My husband is an engineer. I know the look well. ;o) I’ve never seen anyone carry it off as well as your guy!! He rocks it!!
All of your people-blessings are crazy cute!!!
Ahh, mel, your kids are adorable!! I’m so grateful for you that your rents will watch those cuties while you up & move! I hope everything goes nice & smooth!
What a darling picture! I bet they are so much fun!
So adorable!! Good luck with the moving chaos. At least your parents can help you out. That is awesome!
Great picture, Mel! Reminds me of years ago when I had 4 girls. But . . . I gave up on ever having a boy and quit after 4. Glad to see you hung in there! LOL!
So adorable! I was crackin up at your comments. We need a fall family photo of our family 5, 3 & 1yo and I’m already getting hives just thinking about it…..lol!
Precious! I love seeing photos of your little brood! They’re all so cute!
You have a beautiful family!
So so cute! I don’t like taking pics either, we have decided to always leave that to the professionals at my house, since when I intentionally bring a camera, I manage always to forget to take pictures. Great looking kids!
So, so cute!!
They are too cute! I also had 4 boys then a girl (then another boy!) and I wouldnt have it any other way! They are too much fun!
I think they are sooooo cute and love those hair cuts and nicely dressed. PRECIOUS!!!
Lovely photo. The two boys with glasses look so much alike (maybe because of the glasses).
Love your comments, you make me smile, not to mention your kids!
Beautiful picture, photshopped or not, smiles or no smiles! I remember how difficult it was trying to get just three kids to smile for a family photo, I can’t imagine 5…and I didn’t have an editing program. Yes, cookies are MUCH easier!
BIG hugs while you are away from your youngin’s, Mel and sending prayers for a safe, uneventful move with a smooth transition for all of you!
They are SO CUTE! I hope you’re able to get a lot done while they’re living it up with the grandparents!
I think they are darling! And don’t worry about your little engineer, when we had our BIG family picture taken at our family reunion this summer, my brother observed that my youngest (who up until that point, I was thinking looked very adorable in his olive green and teal plaid shirt and khaki shorts), looked like the Crocodile Hunter. Unfortunately, I had to agree! Now I’m always going to think that when I look at the photo!