{Real} Family Pictures

I think the last time I took a "nice" picture of all my kids was when I had....two kids. 

Here was an attempt at only six of mine and, well, it's typical.

The Wedding

Linnea was a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding last month.

I brought my camera but only got some pictures after the ceremony.

It wasn't until I sat down in the pew that I actually took stock of my situation;

I brought seven children ages 9, 8, 6, 5, 3, 2, and 10 months to a wedding 

where there would be no other adult or teen who could help me.

I sort of broke out in a cold sweat,

then reminded myself that I had put on my big girl pants and that I could do this.

I had to.

*gulp*

This was taken as the newly married couple exited the church.

Elizabeth wanted to stand next to Linnea, of course.

For the next week and half, Elizabeth told anyone she could that Linnea got married.

It was her way of saying "Linnea was in a wedding" but

three year olds have a way of losing things in translation.

 Those lashes!!!

 The bubbles were a lot of fun for my crew!

 Abram, like a moth to flame, was drawn to the black dirt

next to the sidwalk.

In light khaki shorts.

Obviously.

 Christopher was an excellent helper to me.

 Elijah

 These lovely ladies...

Cece and Linnea

 Our dear friend Amy was also in the wedding.

I love how this picture turned out of both of them.

 Ivy and Ruby wanted to each take turns with 

Linnea's bouquet.

This boy, though.

Can you stand how cute he is?!?!

To Keep a Toddler Busy

It was warm one day

and this squirt bottle kept Abram veeeeerrrrry busy!

Makeup Artists

A nearly-empty eyeshadow compact is a treasure to

my three year old.

Add in a willing little brother

and life's golden.

Wordless Wednesday: Super Baby

Boredom Buster

These were taken in March,

the month in Minnesota where spring shows itself for a few days

then reverts to winter.

The day these were taken it was too cold to play outside

and the kids were, ahem, we'll call it...rowdy.

They were at the point of getting into everything,

fighting over anything, and not wanting to do what I was saying.

I knew I could 

a) keep yelling at them

b) let them drive me absolutely nuts

c) direct their rowdiness in a positive direction.

d) both b & c

D was the only possible option.

So I told them to clear the kitchen floor of toys and other stuff that didn't belong

and I rolled out some paper for each of them.

Sweeping was not accomplished prior to the laying down of paper.

  Yes, that is a permanent marker.

Yes, some got on the floor during this event.

It'll wear off eventually.

I typically avoid leaving scissors laying around on the floor.

Or at least photographing them.

But this was a special occasion.

 The drawing on of facial hair was also for this special occasion.

It started with Christopher wanting to match his guy.

And sort of went downhill from there...

 Ruby wanted to make sure she drew her Hello Kitty socks onto

the replication of herself.

 Ivy documented the day by pretending to take pictures on her fake phone.

These two are doing their cool face.

At least what they called it.

Easter 2015

To start this post, I mean, really, 

who could resist this face?!

This is how Abram "smiles" for pictures.

See?

 And I need to work on proper etiquette with Elizabeth while wearing a dress.

 We went to my mom & dad's for dinner Easter Sunday.

My mom has this cute little flower in her windowsill

and it moves back and forth via a small solar panel.

Abram was mesmerized!

 This little mister turns 2 at the end of this month.

He is growing up so much!

But I think sweater vests have a way of doing that to little misters...

We had been at my grandma's house the day before 

and Abram took a bad tumble on her pavement

earning him a owie lip

but it didn't slow him down for long.

 Miss 'Lizabeth was so excited to wear this "park-ly" dress

that is a hand-me-down from Ruby & Ivy.

 Ivy Joy

 Ruby Kathryn

Cece's first Easter :)

CecePie and Ruby

I didn't get any individual pictures of anyone older than 6

but we actually managed to get a group shot! 

 the back row is Andrew (12), Nathaniel (19), Linnea (14), Cece (6 mos) and Isaiah (17)

in front is Abram (almost 2), Ivy (5), Elizabeth (3), Elijah (8), Ruby (6), and Christopher (9).

*whoa--I had to stop and think on the ages there...they didn't stand in chronological order!*

I can't recall the last time I got a picture of my parents and the children.

I include this one because Abram is smiling so hard it makes me laugh!

And doesn't the back of Cece's head look great?!

Ooh, and look at Elijah's face....awesome.

This one is better...except Abram is chewing on a 

grape that we used as bait to get him to stay within the frame

so he looks like Joey Tribbiani.

"How you doin'?"

 And, because we hadn't all been dressed up and in one place since Cece's baptism,

a picture of all of us.

Again--the back of Cece's head looks great, along with my awkward stance 

to try to get her to look forward.

Also included for your viewing pleasure

is this one of Ivy's muscles and two of my teenagers blinking.

But look--Cece's face!

Mothering eleven children is no small feat, my friends.

Plenty of small feet, yes--

but the rest of this life = no small feat.