Traumatic Events

I hope that one day my children don't look back on the times that I tried to get a good family shot as a traumatic event. Yesterday Gunner got in uniform, dressed the kids and we headed to my mom's house. We then loaded up my mom and went towards the front of her retirement community, Sun City. We found a beautiful spot with water, rocks and trees. Enter from stage right three screeching children. They wanted to play in the water. They wanted to throw rocks in the water. There were rocks to hop on, hop across the water on. The sun was in their eyes. The rock was wet. They wanted to be in the shade. Eyes were squinted and threats were made. We gave up and left.

(Yes, everyone's eyes were closed in this shot)

We then headed to a park in the neighborhood thinking that it might easier (and with more shade) so we could get the perfect picture there. Junior didn't want his picture taken so Gunner held goldfish and would give him one to eat while I snapped away. I think in every picture there is a half eaten godfish making an appearance.

We decided to walk around the pond and down a trail a bit, which went through the golf course of senior citizens enjoying an afternoon round. That is until we found a tree to put the kids in. Gunner hoisted Em up and she got stuck and started screaming. We gave up that plan and kept walking.

A fallen log! We put the kids on the log and I started to snap away again. Junior didn't want to be on the log, he wanted goldfish. Em didn't wants Abs near her. I have pictures of them fighting on the log. What great memories!

(Em shoved Abs off the log at this point because they were touching)

We kept walking and found a log bench. Em wouldn't sit with Abs at all. Abs wanted to look for "fairy hats" and Junior was busy following Abs. I didn't want to be in the pictures, but it ended with my mom taking pictures of Gunner and I together.....and in almost every picture you can tell I am telling one of the kids to "Stop that!", "Quit Fighting", "Don't touch your sister!".

After that fiasco we headed over to the community center which has a pond with giant Koi. A couple had their granddaughter there feeding the fish and they had a dog. I wonder if they will remember in 30 years that the fish and the dog were more interesting than preserving memories!

Abs always squints and never wants to look at the camera. Junior likes to have his mouth open in every shot (probably waiting for food). Em just doesn't want to be near her sister.

Interesting family pictures are better memories anyway, right?