If you've been here for a while you've been seeing my kids grow up before your eyes. Goodness it happens fast. Lupine was a baby when I started writing here. A baby!
I notice the fine details of how they are growing most of all is when I look at the photos we take each year. The "jacket pictures" as we call them.
Each year in the fall I take their photographs with the same prop: an adult-sized old leather jacket. (Sage wears Pete's vintage coat, Lupine wears one that belonged to my Grandma.)
We might not have school pictures, but these have more spunk and spirit anyway!
We started the jacket picture tradition when Sage turned one on the suggestion of a friend. (If you are inspired but have an older child you could start now and still have an amazing collection before they are grown.)
For me it's a double treat to take photos of the kids together.
Here are some favorites from this year's photos. The barn really makes it all come together. (Eeek! The barn!)
(The gnome hat idea was all Lupine. She brought a second hat outside for Sage - which he politely declined.)
And for comparison, a few annual photos from years past...
2011
2010
2009
Before 2009 I was shooting film. If you'd like to see the whole series I'd be happy to scan them after the move is done and I find my scanner. And my albums. (Ahem.)
To me, it's nothing short of fascinating looking back throught the years through these images. I remember so much from these times past. I recall where we lived, how we spent our days. I remember what made these kids tick. I recall our struggles and blessings from that flicker of time.
These pictures are so very important to me.
As for posing, I mostly just let them do their thing. Aside from making sure we've washed their hair in the past few days I don't do much fussing. Because really, these are their pictures. They pick their clothes, they brush their hair, and we and jump right in.
I do, however, bribe them with ice cream each year.
Yes. Really.
It began when Sage was 6 and decided that maybe the photos weren't fun anymore. I didn't want to force him so I threw down the offer that when we were done we were going out for ice cream! (It was innocent. I swear!)
Now he finds the photos fun again, but we still do ice cream. Because why not? It's ice cream.
(I swear. This is my one bribe per year. Honest.)How does your family mark time? I'd love to hear about your favorite traditions.
Love,
Rachel
