I just spent the last couple of hours culling my photos. Culling, how photographers say they went back and deleted all the ones they didn’t like. It’s fascinating to go back and relive some of our days.

I first decided to (seriously) take up photography almost a year and a half ago to do a better job of documenting my kids’ childhood. I love to write, but there are many things that words can’t express. Many memories that translate better to a photo.

There’s this side effect, rarely mentioned, but when you flip back in photographs, remember the highlights, you realize how rich your life is.

Not just the big, beautiful moments,

But the beauty…

And the hilarity…

Of the every day.

There are things you might not remember.

Like how your 7 year old wore a t-shirt when it was barely 50 degrees out. Likely because he wanted to show off his new Lego Star Wars shirt.

And how she dressed like it was Valentine’s Day. A cowgirl Valentine’s Day.

That’s really why I love it.

If you have been praying for my friend’s daughter, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor last week. She had surgery today, and this is the update that my friend shared tonight: “99% removed. Slow-growing. Initial basic pathology tells us it’s a benign tumor. She’s back in her room & we’re just waiting for her be ready enough for us to see her. Woop! Woop!”

Thank you for praying for her.

Reed got some delayed birthday excitement today.

My dad likes to tease and prank us. He’s also a bit of a health nut and always trying new foods and asking everyone around him if they’d like to try it. When we were there over the summer, Reed tried coconut manna and instantly gagged into the trash can. So, for Reed’s birthday, my dad took an empty coconut manna jar and stuffed it full of Clif Bars, something that Reed actually likes.

In true cousin sweetness, my niece insisted that Lena would really like this Strawberry Shortcake DVD that she found at a thrift store and made my mom buy it and send it to her.

And his other delayed birthday excitement, our babysitter sent him a birthday card with an Amazon gift card inside. He was so excited to pick something out. And it arrived today!

And, the littlest man. He got a postcard from my mom with a doggie on it, but was really just happy to eat a Clif Bar and get back to sitting in the toy shopping cart.

I have decided to start calling him Gusto, because that’s how he approaches life.

And lastly, a video of Gusto. Just try not to smile when you watch it.