Boycotting the Portrait Studio

For various reasons, I haven't had the kids' portraits done since 2006. Me, who made a special point of keeping the portraits updated, and had a focal point in the living room with all of their current portraits.

First of all, the twins have brought most areas of my life to a grinding halt. Going anywhere with the twin tornadoes has a difficulty level that ranges from inconvenient to extremely challenging to impossible.

Secondly, "Portrait Day" always was majorly stressful. Getting them all dressed up and keeping them happy until their turn is a Herculean effort. The ones who go first are exhausted and starving by the end, and the ones who go last are completely mussed up by their turn, and Mom is ready to run screaming into the night.

Then there's the cost involved. Sure, portrait studios offer great deals sometimes, but there's always the fine print - "only one offer per family per visit." Sure, you get a 45-piece portrait package for $2.99, but that's only for the first kid, so then I have to add at least 40 bucks for each additional kid. An alternative is to enlist friends or grandparents to take multiple kids at a shot, or to visit more than one studio in a day, or go on subsequent days. That is if I want to take all the kids at once.

Another option is to take them in their birthday months, but with a family of eight, that means I have to be at the studio every three or four weeks from March until August, plus once in the dead of winter, and I can't guarantee that there will be a special package deal available when I go. Then factor in football or swimming practice, Daddy's bizarre work schedule, nap times, the cost of gas, homeschooling in general, etc. It's just not worth it.

I find all of the options to be a major pain in the neck. So I'm going to try it myself this year, while they still have beach tans. These were taken in full sun. They're nice pictures, but I wasn't happy with the shadows. I'm going to try again tomorrow.





These were taken while it was still bright but the sun had gone down below the treeline. I was much happier with the quality of light in these, but I should have taken them about 30 minutes earlier.

Sarah says I should use this one, because it shows her silliness...

This was taken the next day, when it was overcast but still bright

I"ll keep experimenting!

Hearth and Home

Tonight was a momentous occasion...Andy lit our first-ever fire in our first hearth. Never mind that it was still warm enough for me to be in a sleeveless shirt!!

Michele, Clare, Theresa, Brian with Noelle, Natalie, Conor & Andy

The twins, looking particularly identical

Sarah and the twins fell asleep on the floor in front of the fire!

Happy 5th Birthday Theresa!

Theresa recently celebrated her 5th birthday!



We welcome Uni to the family



Thus begins the babies' fascination with blowing out candles:

What Are The Odds?

Conor had his arm broken on the sidelines at football practice on Tuesday evening.

A Prayer for Today

A Prayer For Today

Teach me, my Lord, to be sweet and gentle in all the events of life
-in disappointments,
-in the thoughtlessness of others,
-in the insincerity of those I trusted,
-in the unfaithfulness of those on whom I relied.

Let me put myself aside
-to think of the happiness of others,
-to hide my little pains and heartaches, so that I may be the only one to suffer from them.

Teach me to profit by the suffering that comes across my path. Let me so use it
-that it may mellow me, not harden nor embitter me,
-that it may make me patient, not irritable,
-that it may make me broad in my forgiveness, not narrow, haughty and overbearing.

May no one be less good for having come within my influence. No one less pure, less true, less kind, less noble for having been a fellow traveler in our journey toward eternal life.

As I go my rounds from one distraction to another, let me whisper from time to time a word of love to Thee. May my life be lived in the super-natural, full of power for good, and strong in it purpose of sanctity.


A Thought For Today
This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is important because I’m exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, not loss; good, not evil; success, not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it.