The Pictures on my Camera

So, maybe I didn't quite meet my "new post every week" goal. But really, it's an improvement. I only missed it by 2 days! (I have a special talent for justifying. It's kind of impressive, really). And in my defense, I've been really lazy... Huh, somehow that didn't sound like a very good defense. Seriously though, I really do have a reason that I'd like to throw out there as a good defense. You see, Brandon likes to play basketball. Church basketball. (Does anyone see where this is headed yet? You will...) A couple of weeks ago, he became a little... we'll use the word "aggressive" or maybe "competitive", and he managed to tear a few key ligaments in his thumb while trying to steal the ball. So last week he had to have surgery to reattach these ligaments. Men and their basketball. I'll never understand. So, there you have it. My world was turned upside-down by my husband's minor thumb surgery. I'm fragile.

What I'm really here to talk about is pictures. After letting pictures sit and sit and sit on my camera for 6 long months, I finally decided to take the time to download them onto my computer. I was sure I'd have tons that would give me at least a month's worth of post ideas. Until I finished and realized that I have a grand total of... 29 pictures. I'm so ashamed. How am I ever supposed to be taken seriously as a Utah Mom if I can't even take pictures frequently??

In any case, here's a few of my favorites...

First up, Christmas!!! (Unlike most people, I think posting about Christmas in July is ideal. I don't really have a reason why, but saying that makes me feel a little more confident.)

Christmas was a grand affair full of Christmas pajamas and a big tree...

Christmas stockings and sacks full of new clothes...

And cute toddlers in boxes

That's pretty much all I have to say about that. After all, Christmas was 6 months ago and my brain doesn't retain information well anymore.

Now, let's skip ahead 3 months and wish Mathew a Happy 8th Birthday!

He chose to have a super awesome Ninjago themed birthday party. I went all out and bought mini Ninjago lego sets, attached them to balloons, barbecued some hot dogs, baked some cupcakes, and hung out upstairs while Mathew and his buddies did whatever they wanted downstairs. It was a rockin' party... I think. Like I said, I stayed out of it as much as possible. How do people throw their kids amazing parties with themed games and crafts and fancy cakes? I practically needed to do my breathing through a paper sack with just having 6 extra kids all in my house at the same time!

Now with Mathew turning 8, he also had the opportunity to be baptized. I'm really heading downhill at this point, because I didn't even bring my camera. But I did manage to snap a picture on my phone...

Ta-da!! Mathew and Owen all decked out in their cute little suits. *sniff* Moving on...

After Mathew's baptism (the day after, to be exact) comes Easter.

I wonder sometimes if kids resent their parents for making them wait to dig into all their cool loot while we snap pictures. Maybe I'm giving my kids a healthier childhood by not being much of a picture taker. Right? Perhaps? Eh, it was worth a shot.

And last but not least... We have Gracee's birthday.

Again with the cupcakes. I tell ya folks, cupcakes or store bought cakes is as good as it gets around here. Pardon her sad expression. I don't think she was thrilled with us lighting her yummy treat on fire. But she cheered up once she actually got to eat it.

See?? My cupcakes may not be pretty to look at, but they are delicious! (Or as delicious as cupcakes made from a Betty Crocker mix can be, anyway)

And that's pretty much it! 6 months of memories all stuffed in a few choice pictures. I actually do have quite a few more pictures on my phone, but that requires downloading them and adding them and trying to think of something semi-interesting to say about them... Really, it's a lot of work. So I'll just leave you with one more, that I already downloaded onto facebook a few weeks ago, so it doesn't take too much effort.

One of the few fun things we've managed to do so far this summer (and by summer, I mean that we let the kids ditch school one day so we could have some fun) is taking a couple days to spend with my family in the mountains. We went to the zoo and ate at a small hamburger joint (small hamburger joints always have the best food) and roasted marshmellows and went hiking and got filthy and all kinds of mountainous fun!

Alright! That's all for now. My blogging duty has sufficiently been fulfilled! Until next week (or the next... or the next... I'm working on it.)