Wheat

Today I was determined to make an attempt...

A seemingly futile attempt to take photos of the boys in the wheat.

Last year the blonde and I ventured out to take photos of our kids and she caught some amazing pics of the kids (and she knows how uncooperative they can be at times.)
 
There is something beautiful about wheat right before it is harvested.  The golden color...the texture of the fields in the breeze... I never really notice the wheat fields until it magically turns from green to gold. 

The boys and I had a jam packed day planned (just like any other summer day) including kindergarten in the morning, plans for these photos in the wheat field, swimming, piano, a birthday supper, and hopefully an early bedtime to prepare for the next day.

So, this is how the photo opportunity went...

It started out with sheer boredom...

"Smile Noah," I attempted.

"I am smiling," he replied.

Then the horsing around began...

And continued on and on...

Until 2.2 minutes after we arrived they were begging to leave... and then little brother decided that he was leaving (with or without us.)  He said he was walking home.  And he was serious!

Until I begged, pleaded and bribed them to stay for a couple more shots...and they would but only if they could take the photos.  And, so they did.

Please smile and pretend you are having fun Abram!

Time to give mom back her camera, Mr. Abram.

 Needless to say, we will not be hanging any photos of the boys in the wheat above our couch this year.  Oh, well.  Maybe next year!

Do or Die

A couple of weeks ago, there were several days that were very cold, very windy, and very rainy.  Well, to any mom that has children, these days are do or die.  You either are constantly doing activities and reading and painting and what every else you can pull out of thin air, or your home is a sinking ship.  And you, as a mom, may be the first one to drown.

So, what does a mom do when her crew cries mutany?  What does she do when her authority is being questioned and her ship is being taken over by a four year old and an eight year old?  What does she do when she is doing the back float and sinking fast?

Well, this mom was gasping for air and as a last resort decided to turn her camera over to her children (hopefully they would break it and we could buy a nicer one- wishful thinking...)  And this is what her children (or Abram) came up with:



Abram loves taking pics of himself and then looking at them.



He took many pics like this.  And, unfortunately, my camera is still intact and in working order.  It gave the boys something fun (and grown up) to do for long enough for me to mend our ship and get us back on track.

"It's not only children who grow.  Parents do too.  As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours.  I can't tell my children to reach for the sun.  All I can do is reach for it, myself."  ~Joyce Maynard