January notes:
Love this fence. Have taken photos of OTHER people in front of this fence. When we were here playing golf for Anna’s birthday I asked Shane to snap a couple of us in the same spot.
I am not wearing glasses because I was wearing my prescription sunglasses, and I didn’t want yet another shot of me with sunglasses on. (My glasses were in the car – not enough time before dark to grab them.) It feels weird, my glasses-less face, but it is actually growing on me. Are contacts on my horizon?
Drew is obsessed with that grey sweatshirt and wears it every single day. He likes that the sleeves are too long and that they bunch up in his hands. It drives me bonkers having to look at him in it every single day, and although sometimes I gently recommend that he switch it up, I know that this is his way of expressing himself through his clothes. So deeper down, I love it. I can’t wait to watch him through all of the stages of discovery and becoming.
Uniqua is clipped securely to Mckenna’s belt loop. She comes with us everywhere we go. This is the second Uniqua replacement. Mckenna likes to find her shadow in the light and project it into walls.
I am so glad I went with that color when choosing a jacket. I almost went with olive green, but this gold color is so 70’s fantastic.
Right now the kids spend a lot of time playing wii. Nathan is a pure professional when it comes to boxing, bowling, and tennis. All of the kids complain about sore arm muscles after the weekend is over!
Favorite dinner of January was: Beef Biscuits. (I should edit and say my favorite dinner of January. The kids hated them.)
We are all loving the rain and cooler weather. None of us likes being hot. We are complainers in the heat. We all enjoy snuggling into sweatshirts and cardigans and soft fuzzy blankets.
Looking forward to the premiere of Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Lightning Thief in theaters. I have started the first book of the series so that I can have something to talk about with Drew. (That was Jeff’s brilliant idea for me.)
Anna has recently gotten into Polly Pockets and HORSES!, but only plays with her toys when she has a friend over. She loves to make a bath or swimming pool for them in the bathroom sink. She also loves dressing and doing the hair of her American Doll.
Jeff downloaded the latest Offspring album, and although it isn’t always my cup of tea, it is definitely on major rotation and getting lots of requests from the kids. (Half-Truism and Kristy, Are You Doin’ Okay? are favorites.)
Jeff and I are struggling through the aftermath of Mckenna’s surgery. She is almost completely healed, but twice a week occupational therapy appointments along with weekly burn clinic appointments take up a lot of precious energy.
The house is a bit of a mess. A lot of my organizational projects are half-done or not even started. I want to get organized and re-arrange/re-decorate pronto!
*
Okay so here’s the deal. I love seeing photos of all six of us together, but for obvious reasons that rarely happens.
Was talking to a friend about this problem, and I thought of a great idea. IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF.
Once a month, I am going to organize a family self portrait. Hand held, self timer, or grab someone else to take it.
Whatever. JUST DO IT. Just to have it.
Because I can, and I should!
I don’t think once a month is too overwhelming. Not even for this procrastinator. I am pretty sure I can do this. I am going to let the kids get in on it too, and maybe have them plan a shot or two if they want.
When I share the photo(s) of the month, I am also going to jot down some things that are going on with our family at that time. And then at the end of the year, put it together in a book.
I would love for you to join me.
xo
Tara
Love this idea! our kids are scattered – one back at home after graduating college and the other still away at school – but family portrait whenever we’re all together – the times are precious, still. i’m doing something similar – a little ten on Tuesday that i post and then put into digital scrapbook pages so I’ll a nice little book – all about our lives- at the end of the year too. Get your friend Cathy to work up a little template for you –
Fun family photos! And I LOVE the idea of letting the kids help on the monthly photo! Why didn’t I think of that??? My kids hate when I get out the camera, unless they get to be totally goofy! Thanks for the idea!
Tara you look Gorgeous ! This jacket is really cool. Did you lose weigh ? You look thinner ! I love the idea of the monthly self portrait ! You sure will treasure them at the end of the year. You family rock ! You all look so coo !
Tara, you look AMAZING! seriously.
Love this idea!!
GREAT idea! I am going to add one family shot a month into my 365 photos!
great idea. totally gonna try for that.
love this idea! It was my husbands goal to get me in more pictures with my kiddos this year. Isn’t that sweet! I think this will be a great way to get it done at least once a month. Thanks for sharing. Love your family portrait – what a fun memory from a fun birthday. Don’t you just love birthdays.
What a great idea – I’m going to try and do it with our family too!
great idea! Oh, and I love the without glasses look.
YES!!! I am going to do this too! What a wonderful idea. I have been wanting to get a family portrait since early last fall. Has yet to happen….. but you have inspired me (yet again) and I will definitely join you!!
Tara- you are looking like such a hot mama! love the longer hair. You look very happy. I love this idea. I’m going to do it too! Thanks for sharing!
What an amazing idea… thanks for sharing! I love hearing about your family. So beautiful!
That sounds like such a fun year long project!
I am reading Percy Jackson too…it’s sooo good? Have you ever done audio books in the car with your kids- I bet this one would be good for the whole family. We are doing The 39 Clues series on audio and our family loves it!
Love this idea!! You are so stinkin’ smart miss tara whitney!
Tara, you’re gorgeous – with or without your glasses. Blessings to you and your family. xxx
i’m in….. though I will double up for Feb…. cause its feb1 and I just jumped in…. so here goes…. me, my j and our 4 lovely beings…. who are at this moment having a dance party upstairs instead of quietly waiting for stories in their beds……
thanks for the great inspiration!!!
I love love love this idea!
I am a scrapbooker as well as a photographer so it is rare that I am ever in a photo…I love the idea of letting the kids plan a shot as well. So fab.
Now let’s see if THIS fellow procrastinator will follow thru for 12 WHOLE MONTHS??!!!??? :) I hope so…Crap…January is over… can I just take 2 in February? lol
Dana
great idea!!
I’m in! Fantastic idea, can’t wait to start.
Yes…I’m in!!! What a great idea!!!
Here’s to family portraits once a month for 2010!!!
LOVE IT!!!
Lovely idea! I’m in! I’m off to look to see if we took a family picture in January now! ;)
As your family’s photog, I think I could squeeze you in once per month for a nominal rate.
You are effen awesome! Thanks for this delightfully wonderful idea.
I LOVE this idea! And I’m going to take it and run… to my camera bag… and find my tripod in the mess of crap in the spare bedroom. I’m so inspired by this — thank you for sharing!
I hope you have Google Analytics for tracking blog hits. . . I just connected my blog and it makes my heart glow when people from far away places are reading and watching our family antics. I hope you see daily hits come from Kazakhstan – I love reading about your family life in addition to viewing your amazing photography! We also have a family of 6 – though one is now half-way around the world in university and another is about to leave the nest as well (sniff.). I have been doing a daily photo for more than 2 years now and I will take the challenge along with you for making a family photo once a month!! Look forward to seeing what you do!
I love it too! although I missed Jan. that’s okay.
i have already missed january. oh well. wonderful idea though! maybe i will get at least one this year!
This sounds like a brilliant idea. With six of us too, I hardly ever make it into photos (not that I like myself in photos, but sometimes it would be nice to look back and see how I looked). I like the idea of recording what everyones been up to for the month too. Looks like I’ve missed Jan, but I’m going to try to come in for Feb.
Great idea Tara! You can do it :o)
I love your pictures from today. I think you look beautiful.
Three of my children are grown and I adore every picture I have with them.
My parents died when I was 16. I do not have a picture of my mother and myself.
One picture with my dad. No whole family shots.
It’s a really important thing to do with your children.
I think it is a beautiful gift to them….and you :o)
YAY, my first comment…been lurking on this fab blog for waaaay too long! Tara, you’re a star! I’m loving the family photo idea, having six of us in our fam too means we rarely, if ever, get a photo of us all together – we are SO going to do this – thanks Tara…loving your jacket too!
Warm, healing hugs to McKenna
So many of us are in the same boat. I love this idea and I’m definitely going to give it my best shot. I have a handful of photos of us all together, very sad! I love this and I love your blog, just so so inspirational, thank you!
I’m so game for this!! And go me, I set up the camera on my tripod with my little remote and took a family shot of our family of 6 on Sunday. <3 I think I'll make a whole book of them at the end of the year. Thanks for the super inspiration, Tara! Your family looks so happy and fun in the shots. :D
awesome idea! i don’t even know when the last time we’ve taken a pic w/all of us. i may cheat and take one today and call it january’s pic. :) i love the idea of making a book at the end of the year.
what a great idea…take advantage of having them all there with you now….my oldest is off a college and I always feel bad when I have a picture of us here and she is missing from the photo…any ideas on how to handle that one….I actully got one on News years day of us all together starting off the year…
peace
Kim
Tara, you are such a good photographer and mom. This is an excellent idea. I like the idea of doing it monthly and documenting what you’ve been up to. It would be so cool to put your photo and your notes into a book as a Christmas gift at the end of the year to document your family!
awesome idea. I will join you….and the rest of your lot. Who are all fabulous.
love the 70’s gold jacket. ;)
Awesome idea! I use my timer or my remote to take family photos, but doing a project a few weeks ago I realize there aren’t many photos of me and DH together alone. So that will have to be on my to-do list, too. :)
This is a great idea! I might even be able to get my DH on-board since it’s only once a month :)
I love this idea. I MIGHT join you. ; )
Tara, you are so much fun! I LOVE this idea. Also, I TOTALLY get the “wears the same sweatshirt everyday” thing. My son wears his “texans” sweatshirt daily. I am sure his teacher thinks that is all he owns. :)
It’s a WONDERFUL idea :) I decided that on the 11th of every month we would take a photo together (just got married Oct 11 of last year). Our January photo has our dog in it, and I love it so much I think I’m going to make it a family photo.
Too many people never have pictures of themselves, it’s so sad!
Love this idea. McGarveys are IN!
what a great idea! i am soooo in.
oh i love this idea! the only time we ever have a group phot of of all seven of us is at christmas…and not even that this year! i bet i could do this….if i TRY!
Oh thank you thank you for inspiring me. I love the way it is organized. If I organize it and say I will do it, usually I can do it. This helps me to put a date on it rather than just say someday I can do this once a month. It sounds easy and really important. I want to do this. I am in. I will do it. You are awesome. Thanks a ton!
love this idea!!
question…what lenses do you favor when on vacation?
I’ve been trying to do a family photo project for years now. I always try to do one photo a week for a year, mostly snapshots or self timer. I do great for about a month or so and then give up! It’s too overwhelming to try and keep up with it and I always feel so guilty when I miss a week and think it’s pointless to try and catch up! Your idea is MUCH better. I love the stories about the month and then the book at the end! It’s perfect! You have inspired me to continue on in my family photo journey! ;) I just love your blog!!! :)