undercover photography

January was a hiatus on the whole of all photography after the previous month's documentations.  Almost all the pictures were taken on a cell phone (often out of focus) and on the sly.  Michael and I just had to capture some of the sweet moments of the kids.  These moments disappear the minute they find out they are being recorded.  We managed to sneak into their lives several times and were only caught in the act once or twice.

All three kids were busy (in their own unusual outfits) at the counter one morning.

Another time, I hurried to document strong big brother carrying middle sister on his back.  They caught me doing this and posed with grins.

Middle E has struggled with severe fear for a while. It had mostly gone away but returned with a vengeance this month.  Now we have her shouting 2 Tim 1:7 at the top of her lungs regularly.  My sweet D will often join me in praying for her.  We captured one sweet moment of D counseling E (on his own accord) to not fear "because Jesus is always with you."  And finally, when that did not work, he put his arm around her and escorted her upstairs to brush her teeth so she would not be alone.

Meanwhile, A was dancing and singing on video (unbeknownst to her).

We were caught only minutes later though...

Another time it was the kids all on the floor of the study.  E was brushing/spraying (their form of beauty salon) A's hair.  D was supposed to be doing his math but was trying to listen to his audio book too.

There was one stealthy moment captured by Mommy of a note that David left for Daddy and a few others captured by David himself when neither I nor M knew he was taking the pictures of his legos.

And the month was rounded out with 5 pictures that have a huge amount of meaning to me.  They were not taken "on the sly" but were taken quite flamboyantly and with great joy!  Along with the fear that middle E was experiencing this month, the spiritual battle also was taking place in the matter of defiance.  School time became almost impossible to do as she sat and declared that she "didn't know it" and then clammed up (and every time it was with things she knew quite well).  We rejoiced in every sweet spirit and accomplishment.  And in the past week, the promise of getting to send an emoji or two (via text) to Daddy and receiving one or more back was just the incentive she needed.

And now for more about A since she was neglected a bit above...

• She still loves to do puzzles--over and over and over.
• Still wears her shoes on the wrong feet
• Still can't count higher than 2.  It is always 1, 2, 4!
• One day she told me, "Moms don't toot.  Daddy's toot.  Brothers toot. and sometimes sisters."
• And yesterday, she came down screaming and throwing a tantrum.  "Mommy!!!!Mommy!!!! David locked me in the upstairs bathroom!"  Anyone see the irony of that when she is standing outside my bedroom door?
• And in a fortunately more rare moment of exhaustion and mental melt-down she told me yesterday afternoon amid tears, "I want to be a baby!  I am going to go upstairs, lie down, and suck my blanket!"