a portrait by mara

Mommy with Evie

Mara drew this picture from a memory of me during my pregnancy with Evelyn.  It is a sweet thing to be able to share the mysterious wonders of pregnancy with older daughters and sweeter still when you realize that all the disruption and change pregnancy and new babies bring has not blinded her eyes to the beauty of it all.

Having no drawing ability, I am amazed at the ability of artists, 

Mara included, to capture so much with so little.

That's MY girl!

I found this fabulous frame 50% off at Michael's and ordered a custom matte (the drawing is not a standard size).  The matte won't be ready for another couple of weeks but I couldn't wait that long to see it framed. Acid free photo corners will do the trick until I have the chance to pick up the matte, hinge tape and foam core backing. With this much talent in the family, I might to learn how to cut my own mattes!

a one minute photo shoot

Although the weather was cooperative, the children weren't especially interested in sitting still for photos. I snapped these off in just under a minute, without even checking the settings on my camera. Thankfully, there is an angel somewhere who has mercy on frazzled, sandy mothers who *just* want a photo of all their children together.

Mason, Madelyn, Gavin, Mara, Sirena, Sarah, Nolan

All smiles...because this is the last picture!

Mara photo

A rare photo of the elusive Mara.

Yes, her daddy has plenty of guns. Of course, any contributions to the Daughter Defense Fund would be greatly appreciated. After all, Mara is the eldest of 4 girls. Daddy's collection is going to get a good workout in the next few years.

I am hoping to catch the other kids on camera soon, too. Wish me luck.

Happy 14th Birthday to Mara!

Raising a teenager is certainly an education, but we love our girl dearly and are so proud of the woman she is becoming!

(When I get the chance to trap her for a picture, I'll post one here.
She is as camera shy as her mother!)

Beach Photos 2005

Bryan and I with Mason, our youngest, at the beach last August.

Not my best photo, but at least I am in this one! More often than not, I am the one taking pictures. A few photos of the kids from our trip to the coast this past summer. We spent part of the day at Battery Russell, Fort Stevens. August is just before the "fall birthday season" at our house, so the kids whose ages are listed as almost are now officially the ages listed. (This is very important to Gavin and Sarah, especially. Sirena isn't too excited about 8, but Gavin loves being 10, and Sadie tells anyone who will listen that she is two.)

Mara Anne, age 11 going on 25

Gavin, almost 10! (in this photo)

Sirena, almost 8 as of this pic

Madelyn, 6 1/2

Sadie Eleanor, almost 2 (in photo)

And finally, my favorite picture of the family from the weekend...