All together now

For over a year there were moments that I tried to capture in case it was the last time we were all together for a while.  Knowing that the move was 'any time now'.  I was not excited to be moving away from my oldest children.  Children are supposed to leave the nest one at a time, coming home for a home cooked meal, advice and respite from the adult life they thought was going to be so much easier.  But instead the nest was packed up, sold and moved to a remote and frigid location.  Mama bird left as well.  Two were launched in unceremoniously strangely done circumstances.  

So began my let's take a group photo while we're all here mantra. 

I do come by it honestly.

Mum is still trying to grab group shots, whenever she can.

First and great chance was visitors!

Jill, Bailey and Sybil came.

So an evening of fun was planned.  Silly was definitely on the menu!

Patrick was already living in Wyoming so our trip to the Ranch for the eclipse was a fabulous opportunity for some photo taking.

Especially a rural setting photo to prep us for our new digs.

They've grown up way too fast!

It's so obvious that this princess is surrounded by protectors... and jesters!

We seem to have more success getting everyone to give a silly look than everyone smile at the same time.

All together again only a few months later for Whittaker's baptism.

Silly wins out the day again.

All together plus..

Surprise!  Grandma!

Christmas in Wyoming was another photo op.

Oops.. Caleb didn't come straight home from church.  He went to feed Elk with Sam.

Almost everyone.  We'll take what we can get.

Springtime in Utah.

The move is bound to be any day now.

Duncan was home for Spring break.

Better take photos.

Even better.

Take photos and include the Connolly three.

No Photo shoot is complete without all 9 kidlets!

Okay so Patrick was still in Wyoming, so it's a complete kiddo photo.

Any opportunity with most of us warrants a photo!

Off to get a free meal at Chick-fil-A on a HOT July day.

With our cow, sock puppets no less.

"Well this is really it.  The last shot of us all together.  We live in Wyoming now."

I was almost teary eyed.  

It could have been the early hour before Caleb and Sarah left for Utah.  

It could have been the exhaustion of days of packing and moving.  

Then Caleb said, "Yup... all together.  Too bad Miles isn't here. hmm"

Camera Shy

Where a few of us gather... albeit even for only a few hours.... Silliness ensues and often cameras emerge...

Jump for Joy

I'm blogging again....  but a little more randomly...

as in no rhyme or reason to the order in which I post.... I have 246 current drafts... I'm a starter... not a finisher...

Oh and thousands of photos...

Oh and each night, and each time I'm in the shower, or driving down the road, or essentially working on anything else... my mind is churning up drafts that aren't yet begun...

If I want to have any piece of mind (no more constant drafting emails haunting my brain) I'd better start blogging.

That's all.
Well until another one.
Soon
...........

Taking a stroll

In an effort to learn more about my camera and photography in general I require a few things.  

A camera.  

Time. 

A subject to photograph.  

I prefer to have people to practice taking photos of, since that's what I want as an end result.  I really don't need a close up of a lovely flower or mountain... beautiful as they are... I'm too practical and want people in my photographs!

I suggested to the kids that we take a stroll.  They were contentedly tossing a ball and blowing bubbles.

I pleaded a little bit.

I promised not to make it painful.  I just needed subjects...

I won!

A photo stroll....

There are just too many great spots to stop and snap photos when strolling on the ranch.  

The ditch

The old wagon -- recreating a scene

The old wagon -- just checking it out

(I have lots to learn... the sun was setting and there's a lot of light in some and not enough in others... I'm sure there is a way to work around that but for now I snap and learn.  I've learned so far that slight movements that I make with the camera to the left, right, up and down affect the light and shadows... just not sure before hand what affect it will have.  Better take another hundred or so photos to figure it out!)

The wagon wheels

I was losing my subjects... I knew where they headed so my two faithful subjects and I headed off to find them.  But I lagged a little.. they were too charming, and I had to snap a few more photos. 

My other subjects were headed back though when we caught up to them.  A little flattery and they turned around and went to see the horses!

Visiting with the horses

Even just walking on the road was a cool shot...

I did try to take some photos of inanimate subjects but I still prefer the ones with the people in them...

See I took some with people in them in the same locations...

By the tractors,

By the old blacksmith's shop, 

I also tried to take some photos of myself.  I often see photos people take of themselves by holding the camera at arms length and they aren't too bad. 

One, they have longer arms than I do. 
Two, they must like to capture photos of themselves,
Three, they must have a defined neck and chin...
what happened to mine... or am I delusional and it's always been like that!?  yikes! 
Four, I'm over it.  Won't need to capture a photo of myself for another year or more.

I really like the unexpected moments that I captured...

Apparently all that strolling made Duncan feel overly confident in the safety of the Ranch.  He knew that in the morning when he woke up he could go to Tina's house.  What he didn't know was that it wasn't morning when he woke up.  Sometime between midnight and when I woke at 2 am to feed Whittaker, Duncan woke and dressed and took a midnight stroll down to Tina's.  A little surprise for them to find on their couch when they finally woke in the morning.  His only worry he told us later, was that the skunk that we had seen the night before might think that he was trying to get him and spray him while he walked to Tina's.  He said he wished the dogs hadn't barked so much when he got there too.  Oh, and he thinks he should have worn a long sleeved shirt!

The photographic veterinarian

Sarah and I have very different subjects when it comes to photography.  While I enjoy people mostly, candid and posed, Sarah is content with still lifes and animals and then more animals!  We both are working on focus, and backgrounds and available light and learning more about actual photography but I don't think we'll be competing for the same shots!

My interest...

Her interests...

And then onto horses....

My shots...

Her shots...

Some random photos we took on the ranch...

Mine...
(I was a little trigger happy)

Hers...

Perhaps she'll open up a specialized animal photography studio some day!

It'll be quick! I promise!

I knew I needed a new photo for the blog.  I simply couldn't have the one at the top of my page any longer.  The one where not one person is truly pleased to be in the photo!  Besides it was outdated already.  That happens when there is an infant.  When everyone is older, a new photo once a year will suffice, but an infant changes so quickly.  So I picked a spot and on the way home from church I told everyone to leave their shirts on but they could wear jeans if they wanted and I would hurry... I promise it won't take very long... I just need one good photo for the blog.  Thanks!

I only took 177 photos!

Come on it could have been worse!

I needed to be sure I had a good one... nothing worse than snapping a few and hoping that one will work, only to discover that none will do the task...  like last time right!?  Two or three poses... 20 shots each...

 The kids favourites are the jumping ones!

and then Mackenzie was enlisted once again to take some whole family shots..... 

just not meant to be.

Just boys...

Just girls...

I took some individuals also...

Throughout the weekend as I snapped photos... some were deemed unuseable by the actions of one or two individuals in a photo.... unless I make a collage of funny photo moments.... 

But all in all ... I succeeded in capturing something that should work. Until I decide to try again.



The End

As time goes by...

Once upon a time, I was so glad I had a camera to capture a few moments....

When a picture said a thousand words...

Caleb 1995

Sarah 1999

And some instantly became my absolute favourites....

Miles Surgery, May 2001

Some evoke some deep emotions, gratitude and reminders of how blessed I have been...

Miles 2001

Some simply bring a smile to your face...

Duncan 2003

Some chronicle a time of life....

Whittaker 2009

Some prove that you've gone digital and there are no holds barred... it's ok to be snap happy....
(and one day you'll figure out how to explain the discrepancy to the older children about why there's 1 picture to his 25!!)

At some point between Miles and Duncan, I saw a lovely idea where a mother had taken a photo of her child on the same day each month for the child's first year. A see me grow collage. I liked the idea but wondered if I could do something for one child without having the opportunity to do it for the three previous children.?? I reasoned... They've each had different opportunities and I should simply do now what I know about and not be so concerned about the past. Caleb will have his road trip memories, Sarah will always have her own room, and Miles has his surgical claim to fame... so Duncan could have his year of photos collage.

So I proceeded to take a photo on the 26th of each month.... unless I forgot and then I'd take one on the 27th or 28th. My camera died when he was 5 months old. It had been a great camera but now I had to make a decision... Do I join the 21st century and get a digital camera? After much researching, I plunged into the digital world. I warmed up to the idea of taking multiple photos to ensure that I captured that one magic photo. I warmed up some more until I was soon finding myself to be unable to just snap one photo. ever. I suddenly had multiple photos of every event.

When Whittaker was born, I decided to again make a year of photos collage. Somewhere along the line however.... I got carried away... and I had assistance... and assistants who have also become snap happy....
And so I give you... September 12th,

October 12th,


November 12th,


December 12th,

January 12th,

And February 12th, He's officially 6 months old today. I have over 1,500 photos of just Whittaker on the computer already. Am I glad I've lots of photos of my children? Absolutely. Am I overwhelmed with the sheer volume of photos that I have of my children? Absolutely. Am I likely to take even more photos in the years to come? Absolutely. Especially since I've been mulling over a new idea I heard about a few months ago to take 12 photos of your family on the 12th of each month to chronicle the moments of day to day life. Just regular stuff, like reading a book or washing the car or taking a nap... whatever happens to fill the day. Cool idea eh?..... (might need another hard drive...)

My mother heard that a person only needs 7 photos for their life to be chronicled.... I like to be thorough!