Why I Blocked a Parking Place for Back To School Pictures
Sunday, August 19, 2012 at 7:00AM 
I'm enjoying the Not Back To School Blog Hop so much!
It's given me a chance to peek inside the minds and homes of other homeschoolers.
This week we get to share photos of our students.
This is our third year homeschooling. Anna remembers what school pictures were like (she went to public school until the middle of third grade) and Grant has not a clue what school pictures are all about.
One of the things my parents asked when I started to homeschool was, "We'll still get school pictures, right?" Old habits die hard.
Reason 1,247 why I like homeschool:
Not paying $30 (or more!) for a package of pictures I don't even like.
I need to give credit to Pinterest for this idea. I then traced it back to a Flickr Photo, to be exact.
Our first day of school had a big hiccup. My husband had noticed the night before that one of my van tires had a huge tear in it, so it was off to the tire store early on the first day of school. Thankfully, my dear father-in-law met us there and then took us out to eat breakfast; then he indulged me by driving around a little to find a large brick wall for the backdrop of these photos.
It turned out to be a very enjoyable morning, and my father-in-law and I chuckled as he blocked a parking space so no one would pull in and ruin my clear shot of the brick wall. He told me he was happy to "cart his favorite daughter-in-law around". {I'm his only daughter-in-law, too!}
I had simply seen the ripped tire as an incovenience and a less than ideal way to start the school year, when it was actually God's plan for a perfect first day of school.
I'm still learning the ins and out of photography (and I was so glad to hear there is going to be a photography session at the BEECH Retreat!), so here are my back to school photo projects, taken on my only camera, my iPhone:
I'm hoping to make this a back to school tradition - breakfast at iHop followed by photos in front of the same brick wall. Maybe my father-in-law will want to join us, too.
I can't wait to see everyone else's photos!
Reader Comments (17)
Ok...I might have to copy that idea. Love it! And what a great FIL you have :)
The photos are great! How nice to have such a good relationship with your father in law :)
Very cool Back-to-School pics!!!
Love it! I'm definitely looking forward to the photo information at BEECH Retreat. I'm hoping for a new camera before January!!
I love the pictures taken against the brick wall. And I think that is an excellent first day of school tradition!!!
What a great idea! The pictures look great!!!
Beautiful idea Mary! The added information about the children is such a time capsule.
I have a dear friend who also takes a snapshot of her students textbooks. She arranges them on the floor and takes the picture. She has done this since the early 90's. It's fun to look back and see the "old books". <wink> Try it! This photo would be a nice addition to your photo collage too.
Love how these turned out Mary. Anna looks so grown up. I LOVE the idea of putting info about them on there. I may have to borrow that idea too! I can't wait to see everyone's pictures also. Posted mine today. Keilee and I had a blast taking pictures. Love the 'blocking a parking spot' story. ;)
I love the "extra info". It will be fun to look back and see how their "likes" evolve over the years.
These are wonderful! What a memory to have to go along with them too.
What a fantastic story Mary. I'm so glad you chose to look at your first day of school change of plans as a blessing. Great photos too!
Oh gosh! Love the photos and the likes and dislikes, I always think Anna would get along FAMOUSLY with Allie and Piper! And she is right between their ages--so it would be perfect!
I hated the school photos. Honestly, even when I volunteered to be there in the room when they got them done, I was NEVER happy with them and always felt Target or Sears did a MUCH better job, but I felt bad NOT buying at least the smallest package which was $30! Then a few weeks later, I would take the to Target and get the package that we actually gave out with Christmas cards!!!
Love this idea. And love the idea of the tradition. I
These are awesome!! I love the back story of blocking of the parking spot! Isn't it amazing how his plans always work out better than ours!
Love how you did this, Mary! Beautiful and creative shots of the kids and a way to remember their favorite things:)
This is a great idea, Mary. Brick walls provide an interest (and consistent) background that is reproducable year after year. Well done!
That is GREAT. I love that idea for pictures...I may have to "borrow" that next year.
; 0 )