Every year for the past 12 or 13 years my sister and I have gotten all of the grandkids together and had pictures taken for my mom for Mother’s Day.

Back in the day we used to go to Kiddie Kandids or Portrait Innovations and had the pictures done.  But for the last 7-8 years, I have done them.  It is always my favorite/least favorite sessions of the year.  I love having all of my kids and my niece and nephews in the pictures but usually it is one of the toughest sessions in that my kids don’t really want their picture taken (they are used to me being the #mamarazzi) so getting them to do what I want them to do in a short amount of time is difficult- they just want to play around.  Now that the kids are getting older is also tricky to get all of the kids together at the same time, especially in the spring as my nephews are in baseball and that takes up most nights and weekends.  Throw in shared custody and it is hard!

Let’s take a little trip down memory lane.

2012 is the earliest ones I have on my computer.

Look how little they were.  This is one of my all-time favorite pictures.

2013.  We had to do 2 different photo shoots.  We did the first one ON Mother’s Day and Makai was sick.  It didn’t go well.  So we redid them in the fall when we were up at the cabin.  This time Tanner had strep and it poured rain about 2 minutes after I snapped this photo.  See what I mean when I say these shoots are the hardest.

Just the Lord boys.

2014 began the shared custody with my niece and nephews so it was harder to find time to do our session.  We left Easter dinner (without my mom knowing and because we were already together so it made it easy) and did photos.  At the time, 4 out of the 5 boys were in baseball so it was fun to have these baseball shirts.

In 2015 we were really on top of it and we got coordinating outfits for when we were in Anna Maria Island for spring break.  It was perfect…..except Adah got stung by a jellyfish about 5 minutes after we started.  So this was just about the only picture I got of all 6 kids together.  And Jameson was sick.  Of course.  It wouldn’t be photos without one of the Lord kids being sick.

2016 was so busy that we met Noah at the baseball field and did these pictures after his practice and on the way to have Mother’s Day dinner with my mom.  Nothing like the last minute.  Good thing there was this stream/ditch by the field.  They actually turned out pretty good for a 5 minute photo shoot!

2017 was another quick one.  It was a Sunday evening and the sun was about to set but we made it work and we recreated this shot.  The original was done at Portrait Innovations when Jameson was one (so 8 years previous- sorry I don’t have the original to show you).  But I love the way this one turned out!

2018.  This year was special.  My sister got remarried in August of 2017 so I gained a niece and nephew and my mom got two new grandkids!!!  So this year there were 8 kids to wrangle (and our new puppy)!  Thankfully all the adults were there to help with this chaos.  The kids all get along so well and it is fun to see them interact!!

So here you go Mom…..your 2018 Grandkid pictures.

Lords (everyone was healthy…..it was a holiday miracle).  And our new girl Roxie.

Luebckes.  The year of the braces.

The new additions.  The Scullions.

The Sculkeys.

The boys.  All silliness.

The girls: fierce.  Finally Adah has a partner in crime. Lyla didn’t get the memo that they were supposed to smile for the last one!

I know these aren’t the best “posed” photos but each of these pictures is a perfect representation of each kid!!  Noah: happy-go-lucky, Josiah: fun-loving, Makai: serious but silly, Tanner: suave, Adah: spunky, Lucas: smiley and sweet, Jameson: the zany heartbreaker, Lyla: shy and sweet with a little spicy mixed in!

I am so thankful for these kids and that I get to be their mom and Auntie!

Happy Mother’s Day mom!  We love you so much and we are so thankful for the wonderful motherly example you have been for Julie and I.  Also, the kids LOVE to spend time with their Nana (not just your snacks).  Their eyes light up when they see you coming to all of their events and they love to play games with you.  You always make sure to make their favorite meals and stock their favorite snacks and if they are sick and need a place to lay-low Nana’s house makes everything better.  We can’t wait to celebrate with you tomorrow!