Weekend Outing

Chris and I often joke about how we like for all six of us to go out places because of the funny looks, comments, and questions. "Are all these yours?" "How old are they?" And when we tell them their response is "Wow, you are busy." It's just fun. We are blessed.
Well, this weekend we ventured out and did something that I love and at the same time STRESSES me out...pictures. I got a coupon in the mail for a great deal on some pictures so I made us an appointment. I decided everyone should wear white shirts...what was I thinking? Kids and white shirts. I caught myself barking orders at them as we are leaving the house. "Don't touch the doors", "don't lean against anything", "keep your hands off of everything." Obviously a different color could have been chosen..but they looked so cute. As we got to the mall we gave our usual speech..."stay with Mom and Dad", "Don't run", "OBEY", "OBEY", "OBEY", "If you do what the photographer says it will go by so much faster". Well, the kids listened. They did great. They did exactly what the photographer said to and even Kaityn Mae threw in a "cheese" every once and a while. They were rewarded with ice-cream afterward (or maybe that was a bribe) and Dad being the wisest one chose vanilla. While the kids were eating ice-cream I was looking around (I like to people watch) and some of the faces of people around us were so funny...like we were a circus act or something. I guess in today's world a family with 4 kids ages 6, 5, 3, and almost 1 is rare. This is our blessed life and we love it - the good, the bad, and some days chaotic.