The Best of the Best--Beach Photos 2014

Brad's mom hired a professional photographer for one evening. The photos were okay, but the lighting in most of them has harsh bright spots and really dark shadows in others. Some of the photos have weird color balance, too. I'm not that great of a photo editor, and I couldn't get rid of them. At first I was really disappointed, but I've decided to adopt The Nester's philosophy--It Doesn't Have To Be Perfect To Be Beautiful.

I mean, look at Heidi's family.

That fat little Jonah's cheeks are just begging for a pinch!

I love this daddy and his boy picture.

This is what was going on behind camera--Uncle Tucker trying to make Nathan smile.

Speaking of Tucker, here he is with his beautiful wifey. 

And with both of his girls. Like I said yesterday, it was a hard evening for Annie, but we got a few good ones.

This may be my favorite moment the photographer captured. Brad's youngest brother and his family couldn't make the trip, but here are brother, brother, mom, and step-dad. Love the sunset in the back.

I took some formal shots of my kids to update the pictures that hang along my staircase. How long had it been since I replaced them? Here's a hint:

These pictures were still there--from Christmas 2010. Almost four years old. It was way past time to fix that.

As we were walking across the beach, Micah found this little spot in the rock and said, "Mom! Take my picture right here!" It was a perfect exposure. I didn't have much time to get him to relax into it, so this was the best I could get. No smile, very serious. Still studly.

Here's Evie. Something about those eyes of hers.

And Lily in that same spot. Isn't she growing up? 

Hyrum had run off down the beach with his cousins, and by the time I caught up with him, he was wet and sandy . . . and loving every second. I heard him call, "Mom! Take my picture right here like this!"
So I did.

I had a hard time getting a good shot of Ben, and I don't know why. I'm still trying to decide among these three images. Which is your favorite?

A

B

Or C?

Sam grabbed the camera and took two dozen of me and Brad in about a minute. We had the same problem as the professional--harsh lights and shadows. And wind that blew my hair everywhere and there was nothing to be done about it.

I love these next few photos. This one of all of my boys--I look at this and go from face to face and smile about something small I love about each one of them.

And me with my oldest boy

Here's all of the girls. People keep telling me and Lily how much we look alike, and I haven't really seen it until this picture. All of my dark-haired beauties--and Evie. Fun thing is, it looks like Annie is a blondie, too!

Here's the whole clan, minus Scott, his wife, and their toddler, and one cousin who is currently serving a mission in Madrid. The harsh lighting is really evident in this one, but I have to admit that it was a small miracle just getting all 35 of us to sit still and look in the same direction.

There was only one shot I really cared about that entire evening. I knew that this would be the last time my own growing family would all be together before Ben left, and I needed a picture of everyone.

I got it.

Like I said before, when the images came back, I was really disappointed with the lighting. I tried everything I could think of to minimize the bright spots on Eve and Karli and Ben and lighten one side of Sam's face, but I couldn't do it. I avoided the images for a long time after that, because every time I'd open them, I'd get so frustrated. I sent one image to Costco to be blown up, but the image wasn't even completely in focus, and Ben and Sam were fuzzy.

Finally, I just decided that The Nester is right, and I was stressing over it way too much. I changed the image to black and white, hoping that the lighting and focus issues would be minimized a little, and I sent it off to Costco without another worry.

I'm so happy I did. It's not perfect, but it's us. All of us. All of us together on the beach. All of us together on the beach and smiling and happy.

Every time Brad or I go into the family room, we stop to look at each of these people that we love, and it makes me happy.

The Nester was right. It Doesn't Have To Be Perfect To Make Me Really, Really Happy.