Friday, March 13, 2009

Flashing back - 25 years ago!

Sometimes I get nostalgic and just sit around looking through old pictures. I am constantly amazed at how quickly time flies. I have really experienced "olden days." I thought I would actually participate in "Flashback Friday" with two of my favorite pictures. In August of 1984, we made our first family trip to Branson, MO. Some of you are aware that Greg and I have joined the "silver hairs" who visit there every year, but our first family trip was quite memorable. I decided to have the girls picture taken in one of those old fashioned shops, and it was quite a chore. The hardest part was not letting them smile. The young photographer was going for total authenticity - so no smile. It has been pointed out to me that the reason the faces are sober in old photos is that it took the flash sooo long to go off, it was easier just to sit solemnly. Perhaps that's right, makes sense to me, but I am rambling. After searching for perfect clothes, wrestling into them, finding the right pose, taking about 20 shots, we finally ended up with the photo below. And no, Mandy is holding an umbrella, not a gun, Annie does NOT look like a boy, Katie's smirk was just the beginning of a smile, and Sally just looks adorable! And the most unbelievable part was the photograper. He was a fantastic young man. After the whole ordeal was completed he proceeded to try to talk us into having another child! He claimed he had four big sisters and it was the greatest thing ever! After living through that moment with us, he thought we would be open to that suggestion?!!

I do love this picture, even though the girls think they look like pathetic hillbillies.

We again took a family trip to Branson on our 30 anniversary, August 2005. Of course, I thought the perfect souvenir would be to revisit the first experience. Things have changed in the "old" photo business. First, I guess you noticed the smiles. Yes, this photographer wasn't near as interested as being authentic as she was making the subject happy. And the selection of clothing was much more varied. The girls could have even been "saloon" girls if they so chose - (it's a good thing they didn't because I would have put the kibitz on that one). If I was going to have a before and after picture, I did not want it to appear as if my precious babies grew up to make their living on the "other side of the track." Obviously, the family's financial circumstances improved over the years and Katie looks ready for winter while the others are ready for a spring stroll :) Greg and I also had a picture taken. Maybe someday I will get up the nerve to post that one, but believe me, it is not pretty!

6 comments:

Annie said...

I got a good chuckle out of this post. I remember Unci telling me I looked like a boy and I hated that!! The newest pic brings back the fondest memories of Katie's "cool" hat and how we just laughed and laughed at that. You also forgot to mention that I am 8 months pregnant. You always need to mention things like that so there is an excuse I am looking so puffy!

Jillian said...

Love the photos! SDC is such a great place to go, we love it there! We just got our season passes and are really excited to take the boys there this spring! We're definitely going to get a tintype made with all of us in it. It's going to be so much fun...I can't wait!!

Hilary said...

Great post! I don't think I've ever seen that second pic. That was a great idea to take the same pic 25 years later.

Mandy said...

I forgot how we looked in that second pic not the best. I am probably also the only one who remembers how many pictures it took to get that first one accomplished! It seemed to last forever!

Leslie said...

Those photos are just too fun! We have one of those old photo places here, we've never visited, down on the board walk. It always looks like something fun to look back on.

Thanks for the good laugh. The girls were far too cute to be all in one family.

Anonymous said...

I remember that first picture...it was on the bookcases next to the fireplace. I always thought that was so funny!! And Annie, you don't look like a boy at all, well okay, maybe a little :) Maybe you should have worn your hair down that day!! I love it!!