Pictures of love

Here’s Grandma and Grandpa at the band Family night supporting their grandson.
I love this picture! I think the early evening light is great, it gives the picture a warm feeling. And it’s kind of like a where’s waldo picture, with all the different things going on.
–Can you find Paige’s yellow purse?
–Where’s the pink hat?
–Is that lady opening a yellow can of something? Squirt, maybe? And what’s her son saying that starts with a “CH”?
Being new to the marching band thing this year, I don’t know and recognize these people, but I can still find them interesting in a photo. And is that a tennis ball being thrown in the back there?

But most of all, I love that my parents are in the center of the picture. There’s my mom with her sandals and socks and her visor. There’s my dad in one of his many BYU hats. And they are prepared, as always, with their binoculars. (I wish we had a decent pair of binoculars. We are always going to things in the conference center or other very large venues when binoculars would come in handy. So, mom, if you are still reading this post after the sock and sandals comment, we could use some binoculars for Christmas sometime.) And there they are to support their kids and their grandkids in their activities. I hope when I’m a grandparent that I’m supportive like that.

Here’s the rest of the crew. My motley mix of mismatched girls and their dad. Megan’s wearing her cleats and shin guards, since she obviously just came from soccer. Ryan looks handsome with his “post travel” scruff and a show t-shirt. John is playing with something on the bleachers, as usual. But this is about how they look on any given day. I’m not in the picture, because I’m the one taking it, but maybe that’s why I like it. I can see my family as they are, and not be critical about how I look in the picture.

But where’s Cole? He’s not in the picture. That’s because he’s one of those ones in black out there marching on the field.

Can you spot him? He’s the only boy in the flute section, and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. On the one hand, he’s the only boy with a bunch of girls. But on the other hand, he’s the only boy with a bunch of girls. Maybe that’s all part of his plan.

He’s enjoyed his marching band experience this year, although it’s keeping him so very busy it’s hard for him to keep up with all his homework. He’s got two more months of this to get through, though, so he’d better not give up now. I think it’s been a very positive experience for him. It’s been difficult as a ninth grader to always know what’s going on and to feel a part of the group, but he’s got all those floutists to mother him around and take care of him, so I guess that’s a good thing. He’ll get to go to Disneyland with the band in November, and he’s looking forward to that.

Since we’re talking about family and “family pictures” I can’t leave out this little gem.

This is the set of puppets that John made at school. The teacher wrote everyone’s names on the back, and then John decorated all of us so that we look like…..well, us. I guess. He gave Dad a funny little clown mustache and gave me a “sad face” he said. I’m the one with the pink bow. Or maybe those are the wrinkles starting to form on my face that he’s drawn in there. It’s great to know how you really see us, kid. We love you, too.