San Diego Family Photographer- Katrinaelizabeth Photography

I know for many parents out there, the end of summer and the beginning of the school year is a time of great JOY!  There is something about the Fall, the way the air starts to cool, and the leaves (on some of the trees here in So. Cal) turn beautiful shades of red, yellow and orange.  But for me the beginning of the school year does not mean a break from my kids and more time for myself.  It means that I don’t “get to” see my kids.  It means back to the grind!  It means that someone else will be spending more time, in a given day, with my kids than I will!  When I start to see people posting count downs to the first day of school, I get sad ;o( Not to mention, it hasn’t really felt very much like summer at all around here.  The weather has been unusually cool over the past several months.  Of course, now that we’re fixin’ to go back to school, the weather has decided to feel like summer!

Admittedly, I have been putting off some things, kinda like I’m in denial that I will be forced out of my home full time in a matter of days now.  I haven’t been pushing the bottle on little Griffyn because, well, come on now, who “wants” to pump and bottle feed your infant when you can just breast feed him with so much less effort.

I also have been putting off buying back to school clothes and shoes for the kids as well as some paperwork that I need to have done and submitted to start the year.  I feel like school won’t actually be starting, as long as I’m in denial about it!  But the other day, I could put things off no more. We bought school uniforms, and finally filled out all of those silly redundant forms.

I took Wesley back to school shopping last week.  It was so fun… picture me, at Ross, with all 4 kids.  Now don’t get me wrong, I love to cruz the isles of a well stocked discount store like Ross or Marshalls, just NOT WITH 4 KIDS!  Griffyn was the best one, as usual. Wesley is getting pretty self sufficient, and the girls… well they were maniacs.  I gave Wes his budget and he set out to find clothes that he liked, which consisted of some surf brand t-shirts, several pairs of skinny jeans, an adorable hat, socks, shoes, a sweatshirt and flannel.  All and all, I think he did really great for the money.

Now I just need to get some clothes that actually fit my fat- post pardem @#$!!

This picture was taken a few weeks ago, and I just love how little Griffy is looking right at the camera.  I have a zillion pictures of him on my phone, and even several lengthy videos… so that I can feel like I am with him- when I’m not.  I expect that I will be looking at those images quite a lot over the next days, weeks and months.  I sure hope I can do this!  Leaving a 3 month old in daycare feels like it’s going to KILL me.

Please forgive that this photo is not so sharp.  I did all of the set up, but my hubby actually pushed the shutter release.  The focal point seems to be set on my face and not the little man in the center ;o)  It’s still a cute pic!

The V boys were watching TV  the other day and I just had a flash!  Forward about 10 years… when Griffyn is Wesley’s age, and the two guys are watching a movie, or playing a video game together!  Oh my, I’m sure that some day I’ll think back on these very images and remember how little they once were.  That to me, is the magic of pictures.  This moment, and so many other precious fleeting sparks, captured… CLICK! Even with all of the pictures that I take, and I do take a ton, there are a few that just speak to me.  This one is all guy, the way that Griffy is all propped up, and Wes with the Wii remote in his hand ;o) Lovin’ my little V boyz!

(focal point set on his wittle feet)