Typically, I take a lot of pictures. (I know! Shocking!) Last Christmas, my Dad and brother gave me a new lens for my camera giving me an excuse to be really obnoxious during their visit. They couldn’t complain, could they? I mean…they got me the lens…I had to try it out! And I did. Every waking moment of every day they were here.
My Dad hates having his picture taken, and we know now that he was really sick over the holidays, but I have 14 billion pictures of him hanging out with the kids.
More than just posed pictures. Pictures of them playing together.
And maybe sometimes napping together…
But mostly playing.
My only regret is that – since last year was LilZ’s Christmas with his Dad – I don’t have as many pictures of him and my Dad together. And as you all know…he was gone three months later. While I look at these photos and can tell he was sick now, I didn’t think about it then. Other than getting up a little slower than usual, everything seemed fine. We had no idea that would be our last Christmas together. I didn’t know that the next time I’d see him he’d be in the hospital being diagnosed with cancer. I definitely didn’t know that a few weeks after that we’d be visiting him in hospice as he waited to die. All I knew was that he was there with me and my kids, and I was going to take as many pictures as I could with my new lens.
And while I know my youngest two kids probably won’t remember our last Christmas when they get older, they’ll have plenty of proof that it happened. And that they had a grandfather who loved to play with them and a mother who can be quite annoying with the camera.
I challenge you to do the same this holiday season. Do a few group posed shots, you’ll want those for frames and Christmas cards. But just take pictures. And keep every photo somewhere on your computer. You may go back through them later when you’re missing some of that family and find one that you forgot about. One that maybe was too dark, or too far away. And if you’re camera is decent and you have a knack for photo editing, you may be able to turn it into one worthy to frame. (Although you’ll definitely regret not wearing at least mascara when you went to Christmas dinner that year.)
Take as many pictures as you can. You just don’t know when they’ll be the last ones you have with those family members you only see on the holidays. Be obnoxious. Get all combinations of people and make sure you hand the camera to someone else periodically to get shots of yourself with your family. And if someone gripes about it? Blame me. Tell them some chick on the internet made you do it. Tell them I’m holding your puppy hostage and you only get him back if you show me 14 billion photos of your family over the holidays.
What a great post! I love taking pictures, but since my daughter was born I haven’t been so great about taking shots of the rest of us. We’ll be spending Christmas this year in Florida with my family, so it’s the perfect time for me to really fill up my giant memory card and take as many shots as I can of her (and us) with my family. Thanks for the challenge, I am SO taking you up on it.
Thanks for the reminder Ms Zoot I am taking your lesson to heart. Normally I am reticent about shoving a camera into peoples faces, but this xmas I am going to be a zealot. Time passes wayy to quickly. As I get older spending time with my family is becoming a priority. Sadly my Dad’s has been missing from our lives for eight years now. It still sucks at Xmas that he i’snt there any more. I am really glad you have so many photos of your Dad. Your post brought it home to me how sudden your Dad’s illness was. You must still be reeling. Thinking of you. x
These are great pictures! I agree with you about taking pictures. I don’t take nearly enough anymore. I’m going to do better from now on.
Aww, gosh, I’m getting a bit sentimental here. Those pictures are great! I’m so used to taking pictures of places I’ve been, but I’m going to start grabbing more of the people too. Thanks!
I love you for this. The other night–the Mr.’s and my anniversary–I wanted the three of us to take a picture using my remote shutter release. I was hoping for a frame-worthy shot, but Alex insisted on wearing his Texas Rangers t-shirt, and the Mr. wasn’t all that excited about it to begin with, so I said forget it. Now I feel ashamed for not pushing forward with my obnoxiousness.
Next time, you can bet that I will.
Great post – you’re quite right…both of my grandmothers are getting on in years and we need to be sure to get plenty of pictures when we see them at Christmas. Or Thanksgiving for that matter…
Beautiful pictures. I love the last one, where you caught the sock in motion!!
What great memories and a great challenge! Thanks for sharing all those special pics of the little ones and your dad.
These are lovely, anyone can tell what a great grandfather he was. Also, I hope it makes Lilz’s day to say that he looks like his grandpa.
i don’t do this near enough, but you’re right, and i will this year…. :’(
Seeing these photos makes my heart smile. I know exactly where you are coming from. Almost 3 years ago, I assembled my entire immediate family for a group photo (the first with everyone) and then the following June, we lost our father. I treasure that picture. It took quite a bit of editing to get it frame worthy, but it’s all I’ve got.
good advice, mama. I especially love the shots of him napping and the one where the baby’s sock is falling off. so perfect.
Thank you for posting that. I love taking pictures and I have a great camera, but during the holidays I get so caught up in everything that I end up forgetting about the camera. I’ll do better this year.
Aw I’m so glad for you that you took lots of pictures! I’ve been doing similarly with my grandparents, since we just don’t know…
You definitely got good ones! I love the one of your dad and Nikki at the cabin
Thanks for sharing those with us.
To me, LilZ looks so much like your dad.
Grandpas are the best. Even if your younger kids won’t necessarily remember that Christmas, the pictures will be so special to them.
Those are awesome pictures! You all are going to really treasure them!
It’s so nice you have so many photographic memories of that last Christmas. I take so many pictures of my kids I often forget the rest of us. I remember the last picture I took of my dad. I didn’t realize it at the time. He was feeding my baby niece a bottle. It is such a sweet picture. Thanks for the reminder.
The picture of your dad and AndyZ napping together is so sweet and lovely.
There is nothing in the world more precious than napping with a baby. Beautiful picture. Thank goodnes we have my brother who runs around taking a zillion pictures of ‘nothing’, I so appreciate looking at them later. And yes it seems annoying at the time but I am ever so grateful to him now.
Precious and practical advice. I love the pic with the sock falling off!
What an awesome dad. I will be all kinds of obnoxious and blame you.
Hi Zoot
I am so a picture person too. I recently lost my Mom to liver cancer and going back and looking at the tons of pics we took together or as a family, it just helps with the grieving process. A lot of people make fun of me for loving to take pics, but I dont care cause this is who I am.
Thank you. xoxo
Is that last one an action sock? – sorry action shot! hehe.
I love the sleeping one thats so sweet.
I am glad you brought this up, Zoot. My MIL was just diagnosed with Colon Cancer this week and while the prognosis hasn’t been presented to the family yet, it doesn’t look good. Unfortunately we don’t have many photos of her (she is the type to hide when the camera comes out) but I will cherish the ones we do have.
Thank you for this – I just can’t say how sorry I am that you know this from sad experience, but I thank you for saying it.
Can I just say that the pictures are lovely and that I think you are an awesome person?