I’m a spring and summer girl, but each fall I begin to think I like the fall. Well, I do actually like the fall – at least when the low is above 60. I like how cute my boys look in jeans and clothes…as opposed to going shirtless in swimtrunks all summer long. They look cute dressed. But the pile of laundry from all those fall clothes is not so cute.
We ventured over to grandpa’s ‘farm’….
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Biggest Brother protected me from the goats with Grandma’s stick.
If it had been summer I would have let him strip down to his undies and fully enjoy all that great mud. Another downfall of cold weather – can’t hose them off.
Always climbing on something.
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The real reason we were tromping around was to find the baby goats. If this ‘smile and say cheese’ picture was the only one I had of Big Brother with the goats I would have missed pretty much the whole story of his time there.
I would have missed his tender, tender heart towards this baby goat.
I would have missed the joy of when Grandpa placed the goat in his arms and the contentment he had just cuddling it.
I didn’t know baby goats were so cute.
I also would have missed the way his little heart broke when that baby goat was crying “MAAAA, MAAAA” for its mommy.
(Yes, I am making that goat noise aloud as I type
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And I would have missed him singing, “It’s okay baby goat, I have you. It’s okay.” And the goat calming down in the arms of my son, The Goat Whisperer.
He cried the first time I told him he couldn’t bring the baby goat home. I asked him where it would sleep. He said, “In my bed cuddled with me.” The other times he has gone to visit the babies they have been asleep in the hay. He climbs up and lays down with them…and would stay there for hours if I let him. I asked him if the baby goat was cuter than his baby sister. He said “Yes, the baby goat is cuter because it is smaller.” Gonna have to work on that.
Photo Tip: Don’t get so caught up in trying to get your kids to look and smile at the camera….you might just miss the best pictures.
Post update:
For some great DIY projects visit the link below…I added my felt flower headband there today.
by AshleyAnn
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Dacia - Ok, I had to tell you how I cried when reading this!!! Obviously, I am reading through some of your favorite posts, because I’ve read all the recent ones. I absolutely love your stories- my other favorite so far is about how firecracker got her nickname.
julie - Whatevs. Didn’t really plan on crying today.
His heart! Melt.
Love the tip. So very, very true. I am trying to take this to heart. My oldest just isn’t comfortable looking at the camera. Ever. When she does it is weird and forced and so not her. Now I let her just be. The pictures of her looking down or looking to the side are so much more real. So much more beautiful because they are who she is right now. Sweet, gentle, shy. I am embracing it.
kylesmom - So sweet! Corbett was just telling me yesterday that his grandpa has goats. Corbett is such a good story teller, I love him!
pamela - seriously making me want a little boy, or two or three : )! those pictures are priceless. i love littlest brothers face in the background!
andy - my father in law has goats and i have some pics of my son with them too. he’s not as taken as yours and doesn’t hold them like he did but they are cute pics. i need to get the posted on my blog. your’s are great
AshleyAnn - Trinity…I ran a texture over the top of it in Photoshop.
Jasie - i totally cried while reading that. sweetest thing EVER!
griswold fun - Those pictures are absolutely adorable!
Holly - That is the cutest thing I have ever seen!
Liz - Those are precious!!! I think little brother needs a goat!:)
Georgia Davis - I agree, summer laundry is much better than fall and winter. Oh, how I miss those summer days of no socks and onsies.
Shannon Phillips - Oh man! Your boys are just so stinkin CUTE!!! I really needed some cheering up today. Thanks for making me smile!
Rebekah Jean - That is so sweet…and you are so right! There is so much more meaning behind photos when you go past the ‘say cheese’ part. What a great post this is! It should go in the best Ashley Ann posts hall of fame.
Meagan - Thanks for the link to that craft blog, BTW! Love it!
Meagan - Oh, so precious!!!
Jill J - Boy, isn’t your last statement the truth! Every time we go somewhere with my mom, she is always stopping the fun to have us turn around and smile… so contrived!
On a lighter note,
the baby goat photos were so precious! And I actually said “MAAA MAAA” out loud too. No, not really, but I could see myself doing it if I were writing it. He he!
meg duerksen - annie’s preschool usually has someone bring in a baby goat every year and it kills me not to bring home with me. i have this crazy urge to go buy a goat afterwards. they really are adorable. i think it’s the little wobbly legs.
Sophie - Oh my goodness. Your son and that goat are the best thing since Batman and Robin.
So adorable!
(Batman and Robin weren’t adorable but you catch my drift…)
the inadvertent farmer - Absolutely priceless…brought tears to my eyes. Then again I’m a sucker for kids with animals! Thanks for sharing, Kim
rachel denbow - Such a precious set of images and I’m sure even better memories for your son! Does everyone want a baby goat now? I’m thinking I do.
Trinity - Ashley, in the first picture, what did you do post-processing to get that effect? Just curious. Great pictures. You have a lot of patience to wait for the right moment to click. Your a great teacher….I love the tips!
lesley - Love the photos! Looks like you guys had a good time and looks like Hud needs a goat. Goat whisperer, love it.
bopha - how sweet, i think he needs a goat at home.
christina larsen - Who knew that baby goats were so stinkin’ cute. Absolutely precious.
Jeannette Swan - Ok. Everyone knows I’m not an animal fan, but HELLO – how sweet is that!?!
amanda torres - That is the sweetest thing EVER!