Since I’m usually behind the camera I don’t have many pictures of me with my children, so when my family asked me what I wanted for Mother’s Day I told them I just wanted to get some pictures with my kiddos. Although, we might need to redo them because my oldest needs a hair cut in a serious way. I wanted to take him to get it cut yesterday, but he was at a friend’s house all day for his friend’s birthday. Oh, and what’s funny is that yesterday when I ran into Old Navy to buy a baby shower gift I ended up finding myself a new dress and the three boys some new shirts (all at amazing prices, yay), and even though I wasn’t even thinking about pictures at the time, they all go together perfectly. Love it when that happens.

Justin was behind the camera tonight, but I realize that I need to teach him a little bit about photography. I set the exposure for him so basically all he had to do was focus and shoot. But some of my favorite shots had the focus on the grass behind us . . . ooops. But like I said, Tate needs a hair cut, so maybe we’ll try again next week, and maybe I’ll squeeze in a quick photography lesson for my husband, if he can fit me into his golfing/WORKING/parenting/sleeping/church-meetings-attending schedule.

Can I just say how painful it is to want to be in front of the camera and behind the camera at the same time. I need two of me for moments like this.

Even if my Justin didn’t know exactly how to handle my camera, I am just so happy that I have some pictures of me with my precious kiddos! Anyway, here’s one picture for now. I will add more over the next couple of days.

And a few more:

And a before and after, just for fun:

Every school day my three oldest head off to school and I get to hang with this little guy all day, just the two of us. He is such a sweet boy for me. In a few more years he will be gone to school as well. I have moments when I look forward to those days (thinking I’ll be able to keep my house cleaner then), but for the most part I really enjoy his company all day every day, especially when it’s just the two of us.

These were taken back in March when he and I went to our little lake down the road and enjoyed a short walk and watched the ducks and geese. It was still a little chilly, as you can tell from his little red nose. Now the trees have their leaves and I’m planning to go back to the lake this Sunday to take some pictures of my kids and hopefully get a few pictures of me with my kids for Mother’s Day, yay.

Nearly one day out of every week for over seven years my parents have been getting up at 3 AM to get themselves ready and drive two hours to give service in the Billings, Montana LDS Temple. Often times driving through rain storms, snow storms, and icy roads, and always paying for their own gas. Now that I’m living in Billings and driving the two hours to visit them in Cody from time to time I know just how much one round trip can cost in gas! Sometimes I pretty much think they’re crazy, that they’re still doing it after all these years, as I know it can take them a couple of days to feel completely rested again (I’m sure they have enjoyed many Sunday afternoon naps)! But, I know they love the time they spend serving in the temple and feel that the blessings they receive far outweigh the sacrifices they give. A few days ago they asked me stop by and take a few snaps of them to document this service they have been doing together. It was raining outside that day, but we managed to hide under the large overhang and get a few pictures anyway. Check out my parents, they are getting old, LOL! In fact, my mom turns the big 6-0 this year. Oooops, did I just say that.

My two oldest children have been bitten by the golf bug. Tate has loved golf for a while, but Morgan just found her swing and now she has been bitten as well. They love going to the driving range together and Morgan often accompanies Tate on nine holes, though she may skip a few holes along the way. I am glad they have something they can enjoy together. Last week the golf course was closed for a few days and on the way home from school they were both lamenting that they couldn’t play golf and wondered what they should do with themselves. One replied, “I guess we’ll just watch TV like we used to.” I don’t have any great pictures of Morgan yet, but here are a few of my Tate. He’s 11 years old and this morning I just signed him up for his first five golf tournaments this summer. Go Tate! Pictures of my Morgan will come shortly.

I don’t own a smart phone . . . yet. However, instagram inspired me to edit this silly picture a little different.

I have these four pictures printed BIG, hanging on the wall next to my kitchen table, and don’t think I will ever get sick of looking at them.

And just because I love this picture in color and especially when the picture is softened (Yes, I let him eat a green sucker right before pictures just because I knew I was planning to print them in black and white, but if you look closely you can see a little green under his mouth)

Here at my house we have been counting down the days until daylight savings.  Justin is excited to have more daylight to golf in the evenings and I am excited to have more daylight in the evenings for photography!  Today I was finally able to enjoy a nice warm day outside today with my two oldest.  I thought it’d be fund to compare their pictures from today to the very first pictures I took of them with my first DSLR camera, a Canon Rebel xti, back in 2007.  These pictures crack me up!  I took both of these pictures in my backyard in El Paso in front of a handy dandy black sheet.  But, once I learned a little bit about Photoshop, well I just plopped Tate’s head right into a picture taken of my in-law’s yard in Folsom, California.  I thought it made for a much prettier background.  I was pretty proud of myself, yes I was.  Doesn’t this picture rock, LOL!  I especially love the way the sprinkler is spraying right at his head.  Anyway, I had to beg Tate to come out with me today and in the end he admitted it was pretty darn fun.  Love these kiddos, they’re sure growing up.

We had a fun Saturday playing in the snow on a frozen lake . . . there were some cattails near by and of course my kids couldn’t resist them.   We haven’t seen a whole lot of snow since.   We’re still hoping for another good snow storm before spring.

Daddy’s helping hand trying to help with the cattail mess . . .

Love my little buddies . . .