In a successful marriage, you need to lean on each other,
through good times,
and the bad.
Ask for support when you need it,
try not to get too frustrated,
and always communicate your needs,
whatever they may be.
Remember to always look ahead,
stop to smell the flowers,
and know that nothing is perfect.
But what fun is perfect, anyway?
{Which is not to say that I wouldn’t have loved a decent picture of my three children all dressed up. But, oh, well. Maybe next time. Which, hopefully, will be no time soon!}






{ 55 comments… read them below or add one }
I think you got some great shots this time around. Your kids are so expressive. And I’m glad to finally put a face on your husband, the microwave ice cream bandit.
.-= Mariano´s last blog ..Twitter Precision and Follow Friday =-.
How special! And, You have an award waiting for you on my blog :)
.-= Jessica´s last blog ..I got an award!!! =-.
You have a beautiful family!! Love the photos.
.-= Maria @BOREDmommy´s last blog ..Interview with a 3 year old lady =-.
You children are so beautiful! I love the family photo the end.
The road trip was a success?
Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha
.-= Stesha´s last blog ..Happy Hour Is No Place For Your Rudeness, Heifer =-.
This is why the children must stay in school! I meant “your.”
Hugs and Mocha,
Stresha
.-= Stesha´s last blog ..Happy Hour Is No Place For Your Rudeness, Heifer =-.
OMG! Now I need a tutor. I meant “I love the family photo at the end.”
Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha
.-= Stesha´s last blog ..Happy Hour Is No Place For Your Rudeness, Heifer =-.
Indeed, what fun IS perfect anyway? Beautiful family :-)
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Different Strokes =-.
You guys clean up real nice like. ;)
.-= Jen, buried with children´s last blog ..Total Insanity =-.
Very true, very true. And you do have some great pics here!
Sooo… did you end up wearing the flip flops?
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..A few more reasons I’m glad fall is finally here… =-.
Beautiful family! Enjoyed reading the captions you wrote, so true! So I guess you survived the car ride! ;)
.-= Theta Mom´s last blog ..Fine Silver Charm Bracelet Review and Giveaway! =-.
Sweet pictures! That family photo was pretty good! No one was crying, at least!
.-= tracey´s last blog ..An outlet. HA. =-.
What are you talking about… those are wonderful pictures! You guys look great. =)
.-= WackyMummy´s last blog ..A Corn Maize… Er… Maze =-.
Love that family shot. You look gorgeous, despite the stress of the trip. Glad you’re safely back home!
.-= Lolli´s last blog ..Give Me Your Best Shot =-.
Awwwww….. that is so sweet Jill. Perfect to go with all the perfect shots.
.-= OHmommy´s last blog ..Nestle Family blogger event from a participant =-.
y’all look beautiful!
.-= Texan Mama´s last blog ..I Am So Oinkin’ Scared =-.
That must be what you wear when you are lounging around the house.
.-= DCUrbanDad´s last blog ..We interrupt this regularly scheduled posting for something more important than my ramblings =-.
Some of the best pictures are when everyone is being real :) Very beautiful, thanks for sharing.
.-= Traci´s last blog ..My Picks For The Week =-.
Lovely pictures. And yes, I agree – perfect is boring.
.-= Lady Mama´s last blog ..Tip: when your other half wants to watch sci-fi, distract him by taking off your clothes and setting off the fire alarm. =-.
You were that close. But you all do look sharpe though.
.-= Seattledad´s last blog ..We Have an F-ing Issue =-.
That last picture is too sweet!
.-= Anne´s last blog ..Steals and Deals – October 4 =-.
Great pictures! I love the ones when no one is posing.
Woww you’ve just given a whole new meaning to that old saying
“A picture is worth a thousand words!!”
wish you many more (such) perfect moments!!!
.-= Shalvika Sood´s last blog ..Getting rid of the stroller =-.
You got a fantastic family picture! Have I ever told you that you have a radiant smile? Love how you presented this blog post. Genius. And insightful. :)
.-= angie´s last blog ..Twisted Silver-Cinderella Bracelet =-.
But that’s a lovely picture! Hey, they all are. Real memories, and real wisdom too…
.-= Nan´s last blog ..Kitchen Thinking =-.
Cute!
.-= Mwa´s last blog ..Fuckr =-.
Perfection is boring!! :)
.-= MommaSunshine´s last blog ..A little bit “metro” =-.
That’s what PhotoShop is for!! You all look awesome; now we just need to crop and paste and voila – a lovely picture of the kids, dressed up, together.
.-= Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last blog ..What happened to my Mini-Me? =-.
well hot damn woman!!!!! you lookin’ mighty fiiiiine.
.-= nic @mybottlesup´s last blog ..oktoberfest: a whale of a tail =-.
Now that is a beautiful family. Congrats you guys. Bet you or the kids and everyone here would love to win this…go now..it’s over tonight:
I love stories told with photos….they are always my fav. And, don’t worry about getting that perfect shot with all three of our kiddos – I only have one, and I still can’t get that “perfect” shot…
.-= HaB´s last blog ..Morris & Murphy =-.
Bean – you look absolutely stunning. Even with Ben and Evan’s pacifier, it’s a beautiful shot of your family.
The family picture made me catch my breath. There you all are…so, so beautiful. Jeff, you, and the kids.
Then I caught site of the black gloves.
Were you wearing black gloves?
I will be calling momentarily to discuss and debrief. Prepare yourself.
-Francesca
.-= Mayhem and Moxie´s last blog ..Pour Some Sugar on Me =-.
What precious pictures! They are perfect.
.-= Nel´s last blog ..Of Surgery and Swooning =-.
In the quest for your perfect picture… you have captured SEVERAL perfect pictures, Jill! No kidding, your children are gorgeous and the pictures are just beautiful, too. And I LOVE the family shot! That is a great picture!!!!
.-= Loukia´s last blog ..A lesson learned =-.
Great metaphor…adorable family
.-= Stephaine @ Geezees´s last blog ..Gift Ideas for people who are hard to buy for…and helping a great cause =-.
I would add that dressing up once in a while and looking cute also is good for marriage.
Great pics.
Totally remember my mom dressing us up for wedding when we were kids and making us sit with our hands in our laps without moving. Oh and don’t you even dare trying to eat. You kids are so adorable! And next time is allowed to be in the near future.
.-= Sevi´s last blog ..hello october! =-.
How often are we able to catch a picture of all our children? I don’t know that we have a single good one yet. Glad you, and your kids, made it back alive.
.-= Bruce Teague´s last blog ..Can I Get A Surgeon? =-.
I’m not sure what you mean. I think those pictures are brillant.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..A whole lotta nothing, again =-.
I have an award for you up on my page!!
Mud Pies For Mommy
http://mudpiesformommy.blogspot.com
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Honest Scrap =-.
absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Look at your family!
.-= georgie´s last blog ..CSN-Giveaway =-.
Lovely post – loved all the shots! And girl, you looked HOT!
.-= Elisa´s last blog ..Stamp of Approval: Things I should have stocked up on =-.
You look so lovely in that dress Jill! Just lovely! And your kids are the CUTEST : ) I hope you don’t have to try to get them all dressed up anytime soon! It will take years until they all look at the camera. Trust me! What a beautiful family you have. I prayed for you tons this weekend! Whenever we were in the car driving I thought of you and your long trip!
.-= Life with Kaishon´s last blog ..My favorite things: =-.
Your family is darling! But seriously, that little one? Oh. My. God.
I love the metaphors!
I think the second and last pictures are my favorite. That smile lights up a room!
We’re going to a family wedding in a couple of weeks. It will be small and almost entirely family, and the bride just informed me that she thought it might be fun for the kids to walk down the aisle before her. Um – okay. We’ll see…
.-= Kate Coveny Hood´s last blog ..Convenient Fiction =-.
Those are some great photos! And you look beeeyoooteefulll!
.-= Cara´s last blog ..To Hug Or Not To Hug =-.
Awwww, you all are too sweet. Way to make a girl feel good! xo
Everyone looks great! :-)
So cute.
2 picture down? your kid is giving me the finger.
.-= cristin´s last blog ..Messengers. =-.
shoot! I could have come taken one
why didn’t we think of that?
great to see you
made me realize how much we miss you all
Perfect is boring and just not real. But you guys look pretty perfect in that shot though. So, the drive went well??
.-= Live.Love.Eat´s last blog ..Whole Chicken in a Crockpot & Asian Inspired Asparagus =-.
Wow, looking great :) Love the pics and love the metaphor !!
.-= Aritza, Goddess of ..´s last blog ..Goddess of .. Brand Spankin’ New Blog ! =-.
This is a beautiful post. I love how the pictures truly illustrate marriage. Love this!
yeah, trying to PLAN a good photo almost never works! what a handsome bunch tho!
.-= scrappysue´s last blog ..photostory friday: mr and mrs scrappy’s big adventure: by the numbers =-.
What a beautiful family… you clean up well!
We have a wedding coming up soon…my youngest is getting married! Time does fly…
.-= Ronda’s Rants´s last blog ..Turn… Turn… He’s Four! Turn…Turn…He’s Thirty! =-.