It happened. The yearly event where I forced my tribe to color coordinate and appear as though they love pictures for 30 minutes. One of those things actually came to fruition today. No matter how much bribing, you just cannot force a smile on everyone except yourself. Damn it. 9 year old boys are tough. Like super stingy in the smile department. No bribe could get him to budge. Turns out, after we got home, I realized he had a fever of 102…and suddenly I felt terrible for cursing in my head about his terrible mood, and wishing he'd pull himself together for 30 freaking minutes. Motherhood is so, SO humbling. Despite the grumbling of "are we done yet." or "I don't have anymore smiles left." Somehow, the photographer captured a few to treasure forever: no easy feat with these 6 faces.
These ones are especially my favorite. Cue the vanity now. But this guy and our 10 years of Loprinzi love, is something worthy of permanent photographic documentation. I try to be honest here, not to document a perfect life, but our perfectly, imperfect one. We struggled though this last year of finding our way and building a life in Mississippi together, and somehow we survived it. So much hardship, growth, change, struggle and we're pulling out a stronger, more awesome couple. The two of us, together. I dig that, and him too. Again, which is good. Because 6 months ago, that was a different story. Lesson learned: it is continually important to date your spouse, always, but especially during hard times. Bloom where you land, when it is hard and you don't want to.
Our Hartley Lane, 17 months old. A lady of few words: Mama, dada, bath, ball, eat, up, ouch, ear, wa-wa, dog. She's rowdy, and our run-around kid. Trying with all her might to not let her age and ability slow her down. She runs, jumps, climbs and terrifies us daily trying to keep up with her older siblings. She is a mama's girl. Loves her favorite blanket, dolls, and dogs. She is a lover, knows no personal space and constantly goes in for snuggles with anyone regardless if it is welcomed or not. She is the perfect baby sister, and final 4th to our crew, and we are all just so, SO blessed by her.
The forced "cheese" smile her big brother's taught her right before picture day. Perfect. So thankful we have the disappearing eye smile, and that grin. Girlfriend is adorable. Seriously.
Then our lovely, little Jovie Reese. Those almond eyes, dimpled smile, head tilt…just so her. Spunk, spark, fierce, and petite. Our girl. She's 4.5, and a lover. The perfect big/little sister, and kiddo #3. She is a nurturer, loves taking care of Hartley, and declares daily "Kiplin is my best friend forever." She loves to dance. She also is a singing queen and loves to drive her brothers batty singing all day long. She loves girly-girl stuff like dress up, makeup, nail polish and jewelry, but will do these things keeping up with whatever things her brothers do too (digging in the mud with her princess clothes on). She is smart…super smart. Loves to write, color, draw, paint...and create art all the time. She adores her mama, but loves her daddy to the moon.
This picture: makes me laugh. Such an animated little face.
Kiplin Miles was in a pleasant mood. Somehow all he pictures of him were "almost" it. None capture his personality, sparkle in his eye, and dimples exactly, but this one is pretty cute regardless. He's 6, in Kindergarten and totally flourishing. He is reading, coloring, painting, and writing (more clearly than his older brother). He's part silly, but more parts perfectionist. His type A personality pushes him to drive himself to tears over perfection in everything: homework, soccer, teeth brushing, etc. He only knows one speed: fast, and goes full force all day. He is my early rising kid - up by 6am, bed by 7pm, predictable clockwork. He plays well with each of his siblings, but will also go play independently by himself too. He is the best big/little brother ever, and an amazingly rad kiddo #2. He's my birth order twin, and will always have a special piece of my heart because us 2nd borns just get each other. Love this little mama's boy.
And this kid and his sweet smile :)
Ryker Paul is 9, strikingly handsome, and determined. He is the brains of 3rd grade. Brings home tests that say "you rock" written in by his teacher on a weekly basis. Spells 100% of his spelling words correctly every single week. Reads at a 5th grade + reading and comprehension level. He constantly leaves comments on his homework that embarrass me weekly - like "stupid" question, or "this question leaves me to ponder absolutely nothing" when asked to reply about what he thought of a question. He has mastered the times table, all except those 9's. They are tricky, but he'll get em' because he is determined. So determined in everything, even in not smiling for family pictures…but a stunner regardless. He's the best big brother ever, and our favorite firstborn. He's tenderhearted, and has the most amazing relationship with his baby sister ever. Watching him be a brother is such a job. He's hit the phase of boyhood where he doesn't like mama hugs or snuggles, but gets them anyway. Quality time is his love language: especially from 7-8pm when his younger siblings are in bed. He's been know to say "this is the best life" during the sacred mama-son, or daddy-son magical evening hours of one on one time. Love this boy to pieces, so thankful he is ours and helping us to learn to improve daily in our parenting.
And… an almost smile out of our favorite firstborn: magic. See: cutest 9 year old I ever!
These girls. How did we get so lucky?!
Attempted another spot for photos: 3/6 of us look picture ready...
Fantastic 4, tired of posed photos by this point, and we had just been going for about 15 minutes. Tough crowd.
So a monkeying around moment to improve attitudes. #1 clearly was super thrilled with this idea…Ha. Thanks dude.
One of my favorites. Non-posed, normalcy. Our life...
The end. For what it is worth, this last one I made a canvas to hang on our wall because I loved it so much, then Paul pointed out the pine cones…saying "it looks like I'm leaving a trail of poop behind me." Always classy.
One last one, because I also like this too: The 6 of us.
1 comment:
I love them all!! :)
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