I am not very good at remembering to take pictures of my kids in their day-to-day events.  I show up and support them, but ALWAYS leave the camera at home.  I don't think to take pictures of them as they do funny or silly things around the house.  It isn't that I don't think it's important to take the pictures; I just get too involved in the moment to pull myself away and take the pictures.

For this reason, I have always bought the girls' school pictures each year.  I figured that at the least, I'd have an annual picture of the changes that the girls have made.  I also want to be able to have a picture to send to Grandmas and Grandpas. 

This year, the picture forms came home.  I was AMAZED at how expensive the school pictures have become.  Just to get the basics to send 1 picture to Marty's parents, 1 to my parents, 1 for the office, and 1 for home was going to be nearly $60.  YIKES!

I still wanted to have the pictures, but that just didn't fit into the budget.  I asked the girls if we could start a new tradition.  Instead of posed, expensive school pictures, what if we went on a photo shoot.  One girl at a time, in a location of their choice, and they could even do a change of clothes if they wanted.  The girls thought this sounded like a fun activity.  So, over a two week period we headed out to the "great wall of Centerton" and took some fun pictures.  (Jessica chose this spot first and the other two loved the location so much they too wanted to go there.)  We took over 150 pictures and had a ton of fun along the way.  I promised the girls I wouldn't publish the "fun" pictures.  We did get some beautiful pictures though. 

I have had them at my desk now for nearly a week.  Several people have literally stopped in their tracks to look at them.  They are growing up so much.  It's kind of scary!

I like these pictures so much more than the posed school pictures.  I'm glad that I stopped one tradition and started another.


RYLEE ANNE