Family Pictures 2013

This year I had to take our family pictures. Yep-you heard right. I had to be on BOTH sides of the camera, and it was RIDICULOUSLY hard, but we just can't afford anything else at the moment so.....I set up the camera with different shutter speeds, etc. posed the family, shoved the camera at my mom and told her to NOT MOVE from said spot or lighting would be completely off, run & put myself in the shot, have mom snap a few, leave everyone there and run to the camera to check all of the above-including kids faces, hands, etc. Then tried it again if necessary. EVERY. SINGLE. POSE. at EVERY. DIFFERENT. LOCATION. Gah! Thank goodness my mom was ok with me bossing my leadership qualities ;) that evening! We were losing light, as the sun was going down (it is best to shoot at dusk on the beach because the sand is too reflective during the day, etc.), the kids weren't in the mood because they just wanted to PLAY on their beloved beach....Blah, blah, blah. But we did it-I'm good with how they turned out & best of all-they were FREE!!!!

Introducing Dadda to LEGOLAND!

I actually don't really care for Legoland. It is a "want to be" Disneyland but can't even come CLOSE to measuring up. However, we got in for next to free since my childhood friend split the cost of tickets with us, 3 of the 4 being free to begin with! :) As I suspected, Mike agreed with the kids & I....the waterpark is the BEST part! Sadly, I think this was our last year due to the kids outgrowing much of that park too. :( Oh well. We made memories & the kids CLOSED THE PLACE DOWN! We literally had to pick them up and remove them from the pool to go home :)