Get in the Picture!

I read a blog a few months ago that challenged parents to get IN the pictures with their kids. I thought it was a great idea and I really don't think I have too many pictures with each of the girls. Obviously, it is less than motivating to take pictures of yourself when you're constantly changing in size and wearing the same maternity clothes you did 4 years ago. And then you have to actually remember to take the pictures and have cooperative participants. Challenging! But, tonight before the girls went to bed, I was like, 'what the heck. It has been a long day and I have on weird make-up and the girls are in the pj's and blah. blah. blah. but lets get some pics!' I'm happy we did it. We need to do it more.

Parents, are you getting IN the pics with your cute kids? Honestly, when we look through pictures with the girls, they are the most excited about the ones with Mommy and Daddy. I think they would rather see pics of me and Russ than themselves! So, I'm passing the challenge on. And just in case you feel like you have to get all done up before the pictures are taken, here's our results from tonight:

Mommy and Ya Baby. She was wild tonight!

My Noa girl. She was the most cooperative, so we have more shots with her than the other two wiggle-worms.

I'm so in love with this girl!

And my Ruthie Joy. Tough to get a picture of her without Hooie's tail being in her face, but mission accomplished!

What a blessing these girls are. Sorry, brother. No pics of the belly tonight. I know I need to just to keep record of it, but I'm so over it! Maybe tomorrow...

Lydia!

Now that I've given you two weeks to figure out who that picture looks like (unforeseen blogging break!), we think it looks like Lyd! Points to Irene for matching up Ruthie's Easter photo expression with the Olan Mills pic, but overall, we think this looks like Lydie. I couldn't really find a picture to illustrate that though, but trust me, this is Ya with darker hair! More posts to come. Just had to complete the circle on this one... finally... ;)

Olan Mills

Found this old picture of me and Chris today. Olan Mills really captured a happy moment for us, didn't they? I'm sure my mom was annoyed that I had to take my blankie (apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?) and that somehow Chris managed to get a nasty scab under his eye before these pictures too. Anyway, any thoughts on who we think Little Jackie looks like?

Noa's First Daddy Daughter Date

Someone texted Russ today and said they had 2 free tickets to see Kari Jobe tonight. I didn't feel like finding a sitter and was kind of tired, so after a few minutes of thinking about it, Russ wanted to take Noa! Perfect! This was her first daddy/daughter/date experience. It is not often that we get to spend alone time with our kids, so Russ was soooo excited to go.

Noa kept fidgeting with her dress before they left. She said she wanted 2 ponies and kept calling it her date hair. She kept saying she was going to "rock it out." :)

Just found out they were going to see Kari Jobe!

Grabbing a bite to eat before the show - chicken fingers.

According to Noa, this was the best part of the evening.

But her date wasn't so bad either...

Earplugs to protect the future worship leader's ears (tissue)

Met some friends... (Noa has never/will never meet a stranger)

They were on the first row but decided to move to the balcony because it was so loud and she ended up liking the balcony better. Evidently she was more mesmerized by her milkshake and all the people than she was by Kari Jobe. Typical 4 year old...

All the while I got to spend time with this cutie. This was her "I'm so happy I got chocolate milk at Jason's Deli" face.

And this cutie. This isn't a picture from our night together as it was getting difficult to corral both of them and take pics. Actually, the night started to go south (in Jason's Deli at least) as Ruthie wouldn't stop getting up from the table, Lydie wanted nothing to do with her meal, and I kept having to go to the bathroom. What a date! We decided to get out of there (after everyone was completely covered in the free ice cream) and go to Target to get popcorn and shop for an outfit for baby brudder. No popcorn! They were out! Cheetos to the rescue. Found a few little shirts and then it was definitely time to go home, get a bath and go to bed, all while Noa and Daddy partied the night away. Russ has M.A.N.Y dates to look forward too. At least he gets a break with this last little buddy. ;)