We’ve had a ridiculously awesome year.
It’s certainly easy to see things that way when I look back on it now. 2012 in pictures just screams amazing…
Filled with fun, and adventure, and joy.
Since, no one takes photos of the unhappy moments. Those you don’t need photos to recall, because they’re the ones that are burned into your brain. The ones that, no matter how much you would love your suddenly-elephant-esque mind to let loose, they just won’t go.
Unfair.
It’s the beauty that fades. The first steps, the first words, the first dances and first kisses. Those are the ones you can’t quite seem to bring back all the way when you want to.
You can’t recall the colors or the sounds or the smells in the room on your wedding day. You can remember that he was late, and that it rained, and that you may have barfed a little while you stood at the doors waiting for your cue to enter. You remember the wine you dribbled on your dress, and the way your brother-in-law stepped on your toe, and that cougar cousin that always winds up drunk and crying at these things because she hit on someone’s husband.
And, sure you can remember that you were happy. So friggin happpy. It’s just the details of those happy moments that tend to get fuzzy around the edges; leaving you with bits and pieces and just enough tidbits to know it was awesome.
But, the photos, we get to keep the photos.
Here are some of my favorite blog photos from 2012…
It wasn’t taken in 2012, clearly, because that is me and my mama, but it was discovered in 2012 when I lost my grandmother and we went through her old photos.
This is the lemonade stand that set it off for #3. He finished out the summer $50 richer and, come spring will be the fine owner of one brand new baby tree for our yard.
Shortly following the creation of his lemonade stand, he took it on the road to Brooklyn to visit our friends, Little Duck Organics. The city is forever changed courtesy of my little business man.
This remains the one and only craft project that I have done in life and been proud of. The Lego table I created continues to entertain my children, save my feet from wayward Legos, wow my friends, and bring traffic to my blog on a daily basis. I am forever grateful that I didn’t screw it up. Added bonus: I did the bench cushion with my own hands too!
#3 celebrated his 4th birthday with a traditional photo-shoot like every other year. Difference is, this year it wound him up on Buzzfeed as one of the coolest kids on the planet. Or something.
We visited the city of Pittsburgh for the first time ever. The Dudes had fun when we weren’t at the hospital getting gremlins flushed from #2’s eyes after he opened them underwater in the hotel hot tub. Gag bacteria.
I donned a wetsuit and went swimming with dolphins for the first (and likely last) time in my life. It was the least sexy moment of my existence despite the fact that this dolphin seriously wanted to make out with me. In exchange for fish of course.
I became a football mom. It’s not more awesome than being a soccer mom, a basketball mom, or a swim mom, it’s just way more time consuming. WAY.
I learned that race car drivers are hotness everything you need to know about NASCAR and became a life long fan. Seriously, I even watched it at home. On my own TV. With my curtains pulled of course. My neighbors can’t know. Would knock my street cred down to zero.
We finally got a for real family photo taken. The only person missing is Dumb Dog and, since she’s not a person no matter how much she’d like to think she is, I’m actually okay with her absence. I let her smell our butts when we go home so it’s like she was there.
Yeah, 2012 was an awesome year; I have photographic evidence!
*Today’s post was brought to you by surviving the apocalypse, 2013, and Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop.
Just found you through MamaKat. Love your writing, your photography, your adorable boys. May have a girl crush on you now too. :) Thanks for sharing those photos, but how were you able to choose just a few? So hard to narrow it all down, I imagine, when you have models like those dudes. Here’s to another great year of captured moments in 2013!
Girl crushes are my favorite thing! Seriously. And, so excited you found me. So I can go find you!
So true and well-said about remembering the parts that made you crazy, but getting hazy on the parts that made you smile. Pictures are great for reminding us, and yours are awesome (as always). :)
Thanks! I’ve started taking pictures of The Dudes when they are being naughty, especially if they are acting insane. I think it’s interesting to show them what we see later. Not that it makes them behave differently in the future, but I still get a good laugh.
Your pics are awesome!
Thanks! It’s so hard to narrow it down to a few favorites!
I love old photos, so sweet. And I like the idea of a photo shoot for each birthday. It would be more fun than blinding my son with the flash while he’s trying to eat cake or open presents. Nice pics!
Thanks, Kristen. I started doing it a few years ago when #3 was born. I wish I’d have thought of it 11 years ago when #1 came along but I wasn’t quite so clever then!
What an incredible year you’ve had. But I LOVE the one of you and your mama. Reminds of how long these images are going to be treasured. :)
Me too. I’d never seen that photo before and I am so happy that I stumbled across it. She looks so happy in it!
These are some great shots!! The lemonade stand is awesome. Quite impressive. I did a lemonade stand when I was little kid and it definitely wasn’t nearly as cool. Haha. I’m also glad that you found some photos of you & your mom. That’s definitely special and precious.
I love the photo of my mom and me. And, #3 is sort of an entrepreneurial boss. I need to hire that kid one day.
I completely subscribe to the belief that a picture can tell a thousand words. Loved the photographic recap of the year. Here’s to hoping that 2013 is just as amazing (if not more!)
Thanks, Marta. I could stand some additional awesome in 2013. I mean, can’t we all?!
This post has to be one of the most amazing things of 2012.
All the life, the moment, the realness of what we have here… in photographic evidence.
Evidence that we, each of us, is so freakin’ lucky.
love to you and your amazing boys.
You boys are just so cute! I am sure you guys had a wonderful year!
Thanks! They have some seriously less cute moments under their belts, but that’s probably a week out of school for holiday break talking right now:).
I’m planning to do a 2012 recap in photos too and so love yours! The sausage suit made me giggle. Girl, you know I felt your pain in California. I’ll never wear a wetsuit again! lol These are such great pics. I especially love the family photo and the one of our group at NASCAR. :)
I need to be sure to check it out; I always love your photos, you know that. Wet suits are from hell. I’m certain.
Wetsuits were made by the devil.
Oh wow! Those are awesome photos!
Found you on Mama Kat’s prompt and look forward to connect :)
Thanks for stopping by, Rina!
Great photos. I love the lemonade stand long shot. (found you on Mama Kat’s)
He was at a photo shoot in Brooklyn for a company. He did great even though it was probably the longest day of my life. And his too I’m guessing.
These pictures are fantastic! You look like a wonderful family. I came here from Mama Kat’s link-up, but I hope I’ll have time to come back soon! That is one ROCKIN’ lemonade stand.
Thanks for popping over, Kallay. We are occasionally wonderful, the rest of the time we’re just awesome. Kidding! :)
We really don’t take pictures of the bad memories do we? Sometimes I wish I did so that I could remember exactly why I complained about my oldest so much when she was a baby. Was she really that bad? A photo refresher might be nice. ;) Love your photos as always!
Love this post! And seriously, I need to get on that Lego table because my girls got a bunch for Christmas and those things need to be contained (preferably prettily!).
You know I love your photos. They are always SO full of life!! And that photo of you and your Mom is so priceless. Here’s to another great year in pictures, my friend!