Nana

My mom came to visit, and after almost 3 years, it didn't take much time for the kids to warm up to her at all.  Thank goodness for Skype which has allows a grandma/grandkid relationship to be nourished despite long distances that separate us.

 and in my pregnancy/postpartum induced haze, I didn't seem to do a good job at all, in capturing any memories of this visit.  Thankful for my sister who stole my camera one day and got this picture of my mom, me and our 4 littles on the day we brought Hartley home (6/1/14).

 Despite my lacking ability to pick up the camera and capture memories, I did do a good job getting this one.  This picture, it really makes me smile.  Nana and Ryk's relationship is so sweet.  He chose her to read his chapter books to in the evening, which if you know my Ryker, that is such a sacred one-on-one time.  They read through a Captain Underpants book together.

 Nana and her granddaughters

I foolishly waited till the last day…scratch that, the last moment before loading up the kids to take her to the airport, to get a picture of her with her 4 grandkids.

Insert photo of adorable moment of bliss, where 4 kids cooperate and smile perfectly, are all snuggled next to their nana, have their hair done cute, are in matching picture perfect clothes, the couch is more put together, and the lighting is just perfect.

Yeah, didn't happen.  Not even close.

Instead I've got this one…and soon my mom will to :)

And this photo is real, honest, memories of a mama who was almost 3 week postpartum, who wanted that ideal picture, but instead got the reality of life, at that moment…a 7 year old who is in the "I hate having my picture taken phase," a newborn without pants and missing a sock, Kip off in his own little world but with his cute smirk, and Jovie's sad face because she is realizing that Nana is leaving.

Truth, I like the reality of life at that moment more.  Though since I don't have that picture perfect shot, I don't have a fair comparison.  And then there are the outtakes…which make me giggle.

and after realizing on the way to the airport that I didn't get a single picture of me and my mom together during her 3 weeks here, it made me so very sad.

So this is the best I got.  Just three seconds from goodbye, my mom has little eyes from "allergies" or crying, or maybe a bit of both.  I look like a mama of 4 who has limited sleep, and is sad to be saying goodbye to her mama.