Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day, Dad.

I was reminded yet again today what you had to go through while we were growing up and just what you did to keep the peace, and more probably, survive with two teenage girls and a wife doing battle in the house.

And I was reminded today because while doing laundry, I went to move the clothes from the washer to the dryer and I opened up the dryer to a full load of dried items.

Oops. I forgot to fold the towels.

And then I was reminded how mean mom was and made us do our laundry. And, being the selfish kids that we were, we absolutely hated to do it. So, we'd humor her and throw them in the washer.

At then we'd leave them in the washer until they were moldy and had to be washed again. But instead of yelling at us, or probably more accuratedly not wanting to listen to mom yell at us, you'd sigh heavily (I'm sure) and then move to the dryer and then would fold them and put them in our rooms.

Just to keep the peace.

So, thanks dad. I hope you have a great Father's Day! You deserve it because without you, let's face it, mom probably would have killed us.

But...there is sweet justice for you because now I am the only girl in a house of boys. And you know exactly what that means! :)

Love Those Goofy Faces!

I love taking pictures of kids.

Mostly I love taking the unposed pictures where they have no idea that you're taking them. Or they don't care.

The posed pictures are absolutely the hardest to take. So, I usually ask them to do a goofy faced shot. It looses them up when they start to whine about getting their pictures made.

Shane and Owen have gotten quite good at them. Sheldon is learning. Mary Mayken is, well, Mary Mayken.



And, I've started doing this with grown ups too. They give even better faces that the kids.



Here's a few others from the same photo shoot.



Such angels. Looks can be deceiving, don't you know?




I didn't order up a goofy face. Owen just can't help himself. It's his current smile. :)



Here are Sheldon and Mary Mayken with both of their grandfathers. Even though the men aren't looking at the camera, I love this picture because the grandfathers are both looking at the girls - right where their focus should be.



So next time you're taking pictures, ask your subject to give you a goofy face. You may be pleasantly surprised at what you get.

Here's The Secret

Mary Mayken really doesn't like men.

It took her about a year and a half to allow Ken the honor of hugging her.

But, there is a secret to getting Mary Mayken to acknowledge you.

It's called bribery.

It worked for Ken.

First, he offered her the Lays potato chips he was eating.

She started warming up to him.

Then, he offered her the cookies he was eating.

Then she was his Best. Friend. Forevar. BFFs.

Sometimes she even prefers him now. (He can stop with the bribery now. It's worked.)

So, Susan and I and the kids (all of us!) went to my parents this summer and Mary Mayken is deftly afraid of my dad.

I told him the secret.

Shane backed me up.

He balked at first. Said he wasn't going to resort to bribery.

And then gave in. Probably because he got tired of her screeching and running whenever he came within 10 feet of her.

First he offered her some cookies.

Then some ice cream. (Okay, he didn't want to part with that but she wouldn't leave him alone!)

Then it was his drink.



Now, they are BFF too.




I guess he didn't think about the fact that by offering her the tea, he has now sucked her into an Eckhardt family tradition.

Just grab the first unmanned drink that you get to.

It's yours if it's unguarded. :)