At the Carousel

For the Matthews family Christmas, we like to do a two-day celebration. It has become a tradition that we always take the kids to the carousel, so this year, we kicked things off there. The kids love going, and it’s fun for us adults, too. It’s amazing how many times the Matthews boys end up running into old friends there. This year, it was the Heder family. The guys all had a good time catching up and introducing their children.

I always try to get pictures of the kids, but I have to say the photos turned out the best this year. (Not perfect, but better than any other time.) I’ll start with the cousins. One family didn’t make it [insert guilt trip], so we’re missing two of the grandkids in the pictures.

Carter

Adelynn

Isaac

Daniel

Caleb (As far as I can tell, that’s how he smiles.)

Gabriel

Then there’s Eleanor. She was having an off year as far as riding the horses. As soon as Grandma put her on a big horse, she changed her mind. I don’t think she was feeling too well because of late nights and her cold, but she seemed to enjoy herself. She was excited to ride again even if she just sat on the wagon each time.

Phaedra was a similar story. I took her the first time, and she made it through most of the ride before she started reaching for me. I took her off, and we finished the ride on the wagon with Eleanor. Then, Daddy took Phaedra for a ride, and this is what happened:

They started out together before the ride began. She seemed content enough.

Then, Daddy got scolded for trying to ride with two (Seriously? With such a little pipsqueak? The rules need to change!). Phaedra’s bottom lip started to quiver the second she couldn’t feel his legs behind her, and her eyes welled up with tears. Daddy managed to calm her down before she started wailing. See how forlorn she looks in the picture? The ride began.

It didn’t take long at all before she was reaching for Daddy. Daddy tried to hold out and tell her she was okay.

But that didn’t last.

And she went to sit by her sister. Look at that face! She almost looks ashamed of herself. (Oh, and sorry about the tail in your face, Daddy.)

Afterwards, we went outside to pose (in front of my new tripod!) for a family photo (minus one family [another guilt trip]).

See what I mean about Caleb’s smile? (snicker, snicker)

My new lens that is so great at capturing light captured a little too much light on this one, and I’m not so savvy as to know how I should have adjusted the aperture. Oh well, I’m a beginner. Besides, we had to rush to get what we could before we lost the kids’ attention span.

More to come!