Yesterday, I decided to get Brook and Blake’s picture taken.  This would forever document Brook turning 4 and Blake being 6 months old.  There wasn’t an appointment available till later in the afternoon, but I was hell bent on getting it done, so I made the reservation.

Brook 4 yrs and Blake 6 mos

Since I was going into the city, I decided to make a day out of it…This was a good/bad idea.  Note to self, do not wear your children out before getting pictures done and also do not schedule it around dinner time if you want them to be happy.

So, we started off the day by going to the Botanical Gardens called “The Domes“, because I love me some flowers and Brook has been showing an interest in gardening lately, so I thought she might dig it.  We actually had a fun time going through the man-made tropical rain forest and the sunflower exhibit…two different exhibits people…there are three domes, three exhibits…should have said that earlier.  The last dome was a desert dome which made me so desperately homesick.  It also made me chuckle, because I know that a lot of Milwaukee folk think the desert is unusual and unique and I just think of it as home.

There is a hallway that connects the Domes and we stopped in there so I could feed Blake.  Brook has been obsessed with High School Musical lately and she did a little show for all the “grandma” type ladies that were wandering around the exhibits too.  It was cute… so cute, that I feel like running out and buying a Flip Video Camcorder so I never miss those moments again.  I actually think I will soon, because I’ve been patiently waiting for one, thinking I can wait till my birthday, but in fact I feel like I’m missing out on “the moments” by waiting.

Side Note:  I think I am the last Mommy ever to realize how addicting High School Musical is for children…it’s like kid crack!

Brook's Picture

Back to the original story…

So after the Domes, we went to visit Shannon and Mom Fermanian.  Both are in town helping Nicki build a fence around her house.  It was nice catching up with my buddy and talking with “Mom”.    Blake did two new things while we were there…two new milestones.  He sat by himself unassisted for a decent amount of time…yeah Blake!  He also with assistance, practiced moving his feet and legs which almost looks like walking!  He is getting sooooooo big!  Yet another moment the Flip would have come in handy!

Blake at 6 Months

Then it was time for the pictures.  They were actually great during the process.  I had to buy Blake a new outfit, because he got so very dirty and full of cat hair at Nicki’s house.  It was fine though since we went to Kiddie Kandids and they are located in Babies R Us…convenient.

Okay, note to all you Mom’s who I know are smarter than this…Hell, I am smarter than this, but I really didn’t feel like driving 40 miles again to do this at a more child friendly time…DO NOT GET PICTURES TAKEN AT 5:30pm…Don’t do it…Don’t.  Brook was starving, Blake was in desperate need of a nap and the photography chick was about to lose her mind.

Another Side Note:  It is crazy hard to get two kids to look into a camera and smile at the same time…even with all the tricks…it’s almost impossible.

Brook's 4 Year Old Picture

But, nonetheless, we got some cute shots and now this moment is documented for them to see when they are older.  My goal is to have so many pictures of them, they will be forced to remember their childhood.  If not from memory, then from the pictures and stories we tell them.  I am doing this because so much of my childhood is lost in my brain somewhere and I can’t find it.  So, other people telling me stories about me is the only way I can “remember”.

And this is why I am obsessed with taking so many pictures of them and trying to write everything down…I don’t want to forget and I don’t want them to either.

Last Side Note:  So Kiddie Kandids does something with the CD they give you that makes the photos blurry unless you buy them!!!  So, I can’t post them, cuz they look like crap!!!  Also, they let you view them online, but a non-tech-savy person can’t get them over here…here is the link for any interested.

Last / Last Side Note: Okay, maybe it wasn’t Kiddie Kandids fault.  After being amazed that they found my blog and wrote to me…oh, and because Travis (the tech dude) is back home…I figured out what I did wrong.  Without realizing it I was trying to enlarge a smaller picture which was making the picture look blurry.  I was “over-pixeling” the pictures.  I have sinced mended the problem and posted the pics.  So Kiddie Kandids does give you a CD you can use…yeah for them!