Just a Day: Out to Lunch

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This past week, I had very few sponsored posts to write, which gave me the rare opportunity to really focus on my organic content. Blogging is an amazing career path, but it makes me feel like I’m always focused on being productive. Even my organic posts should contain something pinnable, some sort of take away for my readers: a recipe, craft, DIY project. And while I love earning money while cooking and crafting with my family, I always feel like “game on.” I’m always thinking – What’s the best angle to capture this photo? What can I add to this recipe to make it bright and colorful? Will my readers enjoy this craft? It’s hard to live in the moment and just enjoy spending time with my family when I’m also working.

My sister moved into a new place last weekend. Yesterday she invited us and my parents over. We went out to lunch together. I happened to have my camera in my purse, so while we were sitting in a restaurant, I just started taking pictures. Since I take pictures to earn an income, I honestly rarely feel like taking pictures just for fun. But I looked around, and saw all the beauty that is my family. I saw laughing and crying, storytelling and kissing. This got me thinking about a new series for my blog: Just a Day. These will be true photo diary and storytelling posts. No featured products, no craft, no recipe, no DIY project. Just my life… because life is good, and I want to share with others who have an interest in reading these posts all that my family is about. Nothing is staged or forced. This is just who we are. I hope you enjoy!

My mom is a funny woman. My entire life, she’s avoided the camera. As far back as I remember, she’s said “Don’t take my picture!” for one reason or another. She doesn’t have on lipstick, she’s wearing her glasses, she hasn’t brushed her hair, etc. But then she’ll look at older pictures and go “I looked great here! Why didn’t I want my picture taken?” So she’ll probably hate this picture for some reason or another now, but maybe in 10 years she’ll love it.

Grandma and Lydia love to play together. Lydia is actually a lot like my mom: very sensitive, artistic, and creative. Lydia loves when Grandma gives her lipstick and sneaks her chocolate. I guess that’s what grandmas are supposed to do.

My dad is always trying to make my children laugh. He tells Lydia silly stories about goats that get her cracking up. And of course, her laugh makes him laugh, too. I think she’s laughing here because he told her that he ordered a goat burger for lunch (it was actually a lamb burger). The two of them are hilarious together!

This is my sister Jamie. She’s a nurse, and she is completing her graduate degree as a nurse practitioner. She loves my children endlessly, and although she and I argue… well, all the time, I know how much she loves me, too. I hope she knows how much I love her. People say we look like twins, but I don’t see it. What do you think?

If I haven’t expressed enough in my blog just how amazing my husband Richard is, then perhaps this is the time. My husband is absolutely incredible. He gives me all of the love, support, and companionship I could ever want from a partner. He’s so wonderful with the children, too. Like my dad, he’s always making them laugh. Richard was sitting far from me at lunch with a lot of light in the background, so unfortunately I didn’t get a really good photo of him, but I think these two show his goofy and serious side.

Next up is the smartest, most beautiful little 5-year old girl in the entire world, my daughter Lydia. She has pretty blue eyes and crazy curly blonde hair. She’s super-creative and loves her daddy so much. Her favorite thing now is going to school, and she does a great job while she’s there. She loves cuddles, princesses, playing dress-up, and reading books.

Then there’s the craziest, most rambunctious little boy ever, my 3-year old son Bryce. Bloggers often only show the good moments (that’s sorta our job), but here are some of the real moments. On rare occasions, there’s a calm Bryce.

Most of the time, there’s a wild, goofy Bryce, trying to find a way to get into trouble (like standing on chairs in restaurants and pulling all the leaves off the decorative plants behind our table).

And then there’s sad Bryce, probably because he was told he couldn’t run around the restaurant like a wild animal. Even though this face is very sad, you can see the beauty in his eyes. Just look at them. I’m not even sure what color they are, but they are beautiful.

Rarely do bloggers include photos of themselves because we’re always the one taking all the pictures. But here’s me with messy frizzy hair. I didn’t edit out my crow’s feet like I normally do. I left in everything that shows the real me, flaws and all. Notice that Bryce is in both these pictures? That’s because he sat on my lap most of the time in the restaurant. Most people would say I’m ‘spoiling’ him or not ‘disciplining’ him, but I think I’m being the mom he needs me to be.

Sometimes he attacks me with love. It’s quite sweet, and will definitely be missed when he’s too old to kiss on his mommy. So here’s a picture, to have it forever. To remind myself that sometimes, I remember to live in the moment by forgetting all the things on my To-Do List and just enjoying life.

And… ice cream. Because, well, who doesn’t love ice cream?