July 31

Chris and I are about to celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, and one of my favorite family traditions is re-visiting the park where we were married for family pictures. It's always hectic finding time to do it, though, so we decided that today before church was our best option. My friend Sara photographed us the last two years, but she wasn't able to join us today. Instead, I used my tripod and my iPhone as a remote for my shiny new camera. I'm still hoping maybe we'll find time to meet up with Sara this week to do some real pictures, but in case that doesn't happen, at least I have some.

But I'm not going to share them today.

Ha! Did you think I would?

I'm waiting until Tuesday to share the actual family photo, because my type-A brain likes to know that in future years I'll be able to find it easily in my blog archives that way. We had about 30 minutes at the park before church, so there was just a little bit of time for the kids to run and explore. I'll share those pictures today.

It's funny; most of the time, the kids are uncooperative about pictures. But today, they were totally into them. I think maybe it's because there were some new clothes involved? Or maybe because I have canvasses printed of each year's family photo made and hung around our house. They see the pictures every day, so maybe they understood that today was important? Whatever. They cooperated. Look at Daisy - she was all about the picture! (I think it's partially because she feels fabulous in her new dress.)

1. When we got married, this bridge wasn't here. 

2. I should have edited out that dentist's phone number.

3. I love pictures of the kids walking with Chris.

4. I love that Daisy is barefoot.

5. We have a picture from our wedding day of Chris holding my hand, escorting me across the rocks under this bridge.

6. Seriously, why didn't I remove that phone number?

I know. Cutest. Thing. Ever. 

Eli on his little tippy toes, peering into the pond? I love it.

Chris showed Eli the tree I had planted in honor of our 10th wedding anniversary. Maybe for our 20th or 25th, we'll donate a bench. Wouldn't that be fun?

Aren't these kids funny? I love that Daisy just wanted to hold Caleb's hand, and I think Lily looks adorable, even if she does slightly remind me of the creepy twin girls in the horror movie The Shining.

My boy. This picture is him, through and through.

Cheese!

(And apparently that's some sort of freckle/birth mark on his neck, not dirt. It must have just popped up this summer.)

Sweet Daisy.

She was really interested in the tall grasses.

Lily!

If you zoom in really closely on this picture, you can see my reflection in her eyes. It's hilarious.

Daisy in a tree.

These bushes were blooming when we were married, too. Only back then, there were white ones, too. Now there are only pink.

I love this picture of the kids running down the sidewalk that Chris and I walked down as husband and wife. I think it's pretty special, and I love that this park is a touchstone for our family as it has expanded, and now as those little expansions grow bigger and bigger. I hope our kiddos remember this tradition with as much fondness as I feel for it.

And then we went to church, and we were actually *almost* on time, which is a rarity for us. After church we made our weekly Costco visit, and I happened to snap this picture of the kids doing their favorite thing: watching a worker make pizza.

Don't you love it?