My future photographer...

...took this picture.

How to take a really great picture of your children. Or not.

How to take a great picture of your children on a 185 degree day:

Find an amazing backdrop at the Milwaukee Zoo.

Ask them to say "Fuzzy Pickle!" because you're guaranteed to make them laugh as they say it. 

If you ask them to say this too often and they don't smile, well, at least you can practice your lip reading skills via photos.

Goofy faces? Fear not. Just keep snapping away.

You're bound to get at least one good picture of the kids, right?

When one child gets annoyed and proclaims "I'm outta here, this is bowwwrrring", don't fret. 

You still have one child sitting - so keep snapping away!

Maybe the younger child who often says "But I'M listening, mommy" will actually DO that and smile for you like you asked.

Or not.

And even if monkey see monkey do kicks in and the second child starts to leave too,

keep snapping! The battle isn't over yet! 

You still have a chance to get a great shot!

Maybe!

Or not.

There is always next time.

American Graffiti

While Mark and I love to see our children express their creativity through art, we most certainly do not condone using our actual home as a blank canvas. That being said, when I find this kind of graffiti on my office door I can't help but smile:

and I am not sure it will be coming off the door any time soon. ♥

Summer Days

People keep talking about summer coming to a close.  

That's so depressing!

So we are soaking up every last ray of sun. 

Eating lots of grapes. 

Swimming. 

Hanging out with neighbors. 

And hanging onto our lazy summer days for as long as we can. 

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