Outside the Box

Amaryllis had a great time this Christmas. She didn't actually unwrap a single thing, but she has had a blast playing with all the toys people gave her (and unwrapped for her since she wasn't interested). She got several babies that she loves...including a care bear "baby". (We've realized anything she can carry around and snuggle is a baby.) She also got a barn with animals...they are all dogs of course cuz that's the only animal she will say. We need to work on this obviously.



She had a great time playing with the boxes and wrapping paper people threw away as well. This one particular shoe box made for a great seat for watching siblings unwrap things. That is, until she fell out of it. Then it got real. We all experienced the Christmas cheer that is Amaryllis. She knows how to throw a fit...this one was especially festive.


She definitely adds spice to our lives. Next year I'll make sure to get a box with a seatbelt.

Keep This Moment

I'm not usually one for lots of sappy emotions. But there is a particular song l, called Wintersong, I like to listen to around Christmas (ok ok, I'm dating myself when I say it's by Sarah McLachlan) that gets me right in my (very resistant) feels. It goes something like this: "And this is how I see you, In the snow on Christmas morning, Love and happiness surround you, As you throw your arms up to the sky,
I keep this moment by and by." It always reminds me of how fast my babies are growing. And how soon it'll be when they have babies of their own and it's all different for them, but somehow still the same for me. (Meaning you really never stop seeing your babies as just that...your babies.) It reminds me to hold on, tightly but yet still loosely, to this sweet time with these precious souls.


I have taken pictures of them like this since there were only two of them. And the fact that they change, so much, from year to year just does this weird ripping your heart out but also making it explode with love thing. Parenthood...it does just that to a person. I'm grateful for so much about this season of Christmas, but one of the things I'm most grateful for is these four amazing people, how they make me feel so much more love than I ever thought possible, and how they love me back.



(So you can enjoy that same sappy emotion here is the comparison collage) Happy Holidays, everyone! Don't forget to keep these moments.

It's Been Too Long...

...since I managed to take pictures of all four of the kids. It always seems like Amaryllis was napping when I thought about it. Amaryllis napping is a good thing, so you don't want to stop it for sure.

The other day I finally decided I was going to postpone the nap so I could get a picture of all four of the kids. (I really think it has been months since I did this other than with an iPhone.) I managed to get a few good pictures before all you-know-what broke loose. My first mistake was putting a bow on Amaryllis's head. She hates those. She ripped it off several times before we even sat down. I am so glad that I'll have these pictures of the four of them when they are older...I can't get over how fast they have grown even over this last year.

After the first few shots (which thankfully I got a few good ones) Amaryllis was DONE.

You can see her cocking that elbow back...Fancy Pants has had enough of being restrained and is ready to be set free of the cage of photography and bows that she really doesn't want on her head to begin with. Her siblings (Jericho especially) know what's coming.

Merrick, always the kind and sweet big brother, is trying to talk her out of what he knows is coming. Tirzah is just holding on for dear life. Jericho is just making sure to maintain eye-contact with the camera. He knows he has one job and he's sticking to it.

Merrick, for all of his efforts, was the rewarded with one fancy backhand from the littlest sister. (She takes no prisoners.) Jericho, kinda losing the eye contact, but his eyebrow game is on point. This last shot is one of my favorite pictures of my kids...ever. It's not a picture perfect shot for sure, but it's just so typical of life with 4 hood rats. AND...it makes me laugh. So it wins.

I love these kiddos, and I love watching their personalities grow and fill up this house. There are some BIG personalities around here, and I'm grateful that I get to take a few moments now and then to capture them on camera. 

Interpretive Tantrums

Amaryllis is known to be fancy. She has been fancy ever since she was born, as you guys all know. She also likes to do things with flair. She puts all of her effort into whatever it is she's doing, and doesn't prefer to be ignored. All of these traits put together make her one heck of an expert at throwing a fit.

She doesn't just "throw" a fit. She plans out how she's going to make it happen. First, she will look around her for a good spot. She likes to make sure she isn't going to injure herself...an expert fit thrower doesn't just flop down anywhere. Then she commences screaming. (Y'all think I'm making this up. I only wish.) Next, she very carefully lays down/falls into the floor, being sure not to hit her head on the way down. Then she lays there and screams some more. Sometimes, if she's feeling extra angry, she will do this crazy yoga-looking move where she rolls over and into a plank (again, I wish I was kidding), and lifts one leg up in the air. (So she's holding a plank, balancing on her hands and one foot...she should consider starting her own circus act.)

Sometimes, as pictured, she may decide once she's done throwing the fit that we REALLY didn't quite get the point. So she will then go back for round two. (I'll spare you the rundown of that...it usually looks much like round one with the occasional variation like laying on her side and trying to grab anyone who goes too close, or laying spread eagle in the floor in silence for dramatic effect once she's tired of screaming. The silence would be my favorite variation.) She definitely knows how to get her point across, as even her tantrums are fancy. I feel like one day she may have a career in soap operas.

Cuzzies x 6.75

This past week my sister, the only one who lives out of town, was here visiting! She is mucho pregnant with her third baby girl...and due right after Christmas, so traveling will most likely be out of the question. So she was able to come early for a little time to visit since we won't get to over the holidays.

It was really great to see her and her two baby girls...it's been too long. I can't believe how fast they are growing up. And it's really so great to see all the kiddos getting to play together. Some of my best memories as a kid were playing with my cousins, (our kids call each other "the cuzzies") and I love seeing my kiddos get to make those memories too. I just wish we were closer together so that they could play more often. 10 hours is way too far away!

We really miss having this sister (and let's be real, her husband is a pretty cool dude so we miss him too) and these nieces nearby...but are so excited for the time we are able to spend together. I got a feeling we will be seeing each other in the very near future to visit the newest addition to this adorable group of "cuzzies".

Barking and Baby Jesus

Amaryllis has recently started saying more and more words. She actually said "Tirzah" the other day. (For someone who pretends to not be able to talk, in my opinion, they are faking if they can say a word like "Tirzah". Just saying.) One of her new favorite things to say is "woof woof". She thinks most all animals are dogs, and tries to speak their language.



Here we have a video of Amaryllis barking at the nativity scene. I'm thinking she assumed that the camels, sheep, cows, and a donkey are all actually dogs. She also obviously assumes that what's mine is hers, judging from that little angry face at the end of the video when I won't hand over the iPhone. ;)

The Christmas Sessions

It's that time of year where everyone is getting those Christmas cards ready. I have never been good about doing this. I think I sent out Christmas cards one year when I was in college...and that was the end of that. I love getting them, and we always put them on the fridge or hang them somewhere in the house during the season, but don't expect to get a Christmas card from the Barron family. Apologies.

Typically spring and the winter holidays are some of the busier times for my photography. I don't do nearly as much client work as I used to, simply because my life is insanely busy at the present time and it's not always practical to find someone to watch the kids while I work. I always hope to get back into it once the kids are a little bit older because its something I love. But I am incredibly grateful for those people who I regularly see several times a year who let me (and my sister Anna, as well for these sessions) document their families through the seasons.

These sessions were a lot of fun...so many kiddos with great grins, and their parents who I love to catch up with. I don't get to see some of these people except for during sessions, and it's always great to chat and catch up on their lives and see how the kids have grown like weeds. It's like a family reunion sometimes, which makes sessions even less like work and more like fun.

I am always grateful for the chance to spend time with these families, and that they make me a part of their holiday traditions. Looking good, guys! :) Thanks for letting me help capture these memories.

Crazy Runs in the Family

Typically on Thanksgivings in the past Billy and I have gone on long runs together. (Usually half marathon distance, sometimes 10K.) This past year, though, was a little different. I wasnt actually planning on running at all this year just because of how our day worked out, but ended up at the gym instead. (Yes, on Thanksgiving. And yes, it was crowded.) When I got home on a whim I mentioned taking the kids on a short run. They were SO excited, since they are always asking me if they can run with me.

I have run with them in the past, and it's always been kind of a nightmare. But it was always longer, more official, races that were a 5K distance that we ended up mostly walking. This time we just decided to run the route that we typically walk around the neighborhood since I knew at least, should they all decide to revolt, we could walk that far.

They ended up running the whole route...which is about a mile. I was really proud of them! Usually on walks Tirzah complains she has a cramp, or wants to get into the stroller, etc. She did so great, and didn't even ask to stop and walk the whole time. Jericho and Amaryllis were obviously in the stroller...but we did let Jericho out to run the second time we went a few days later. He did great about half the way, then fell into the ditch and scraped his knee and that was the end of that. ;) He howled the whole rest of the way home until we could get him cleaned up. And then he howled some more.

As you can see...they have a flair for the dramatic, and needed to take a nap on the sidewalk after we got back home. Jokes on the boys, though, since their sister looks fresh and ready to run some more. I really had a great time running with them. (I know people think that's crazy. It probably is.) I'm thinking there will be a lot more family "runs" in our future as opposed to just walks. Gotta pass on the crazy genes, right?