TOP PICTURES for SHOW & TELL


I have a confession to make, when I first read Andrea's's prompt for the Show & Tell this week being the top five pictures of your life, I thought to myself this has to be the most difficult prompt ever for me! Everyone who knows me, knows that I am crazy for pictures. Always have been. You see, there are things that I easily forget in life but a photo can't transport you right back to that moment in time. Details about that experience come floating back to life and to me, it's magical to look back at treasured photos. 

I know my husband and sons get frustrated sometimes when I want to take yet another photo but I'm telling you, they too will thank me someday when we look back on these bits of our lives through photos.

There was virtually no way I could pick just five so I'm throwing in a few more than that. And it's just so difficult to pick favorites because so many of the pictures of the people, places and times in my life have been favorites.

Here are some in chronological order.

While I don't remember this, I'm always so blown away with how styling my parents always were and are! I mean just look at their beautiful holiday reds and my mom's sweet choker! So on trend!

Boy, did my family love to go to amusement parks like Cedar Point! We would have a ball, sometimes going with other family or friends and of course always a sunglasses sporting family!

My BFF as a toddler and pre-elementary school was a boy… Yep his name is Ryan and he was my bud! We had so much fun playing And we would always pretend to get married with the officiant being my mom, lol, who would babysat for him.

With my birthday coming up on Sunday, I always think back to the beautiful cakes my mom made. They often matched what I was wearing of course. She always did and always does make birthdays very special and I always looked forward to blowing the candles out on those cakes, now she makes it special with my favorite pie every year, the key lime. Plus, this was my favorite dress as a little girl, look at the sweet little grapes.

Senior Year Spring Break. This time of year been conducive for all the spring breaks, it takes me back to my senior year and how much fun we had in Florida. These are just a handful of the girls including my best friend Rolonda. Loving the tans loving the smiles and of course that Hot Dog!

3 generations of fun loving ladies at my college graduation. Missing Grandma, almost a year since her passing.

Another favorite birthday picture of love, giving mom the gift of shoes on her 30th. This will always be a picture very dear to my heart and fashion sense, LOL!

Just look at those cheeks and excitement!

My precious little beach boy. Loved the beach then, and loves it now! Just love the story this black and white tells.

My mom and I work for the same health system and they did a special feature on us on the cover of a magazine the health system used to publish. These T-shirts were purchased in New York and everyone was quite enamored with all our celebrity sightings and the fun we had as it was the initial trip to celebrate mom's big birthdays that we take every five years.

This is the last year our youngest believed in Santa Claus! It was the first year for that pretty wood block decoration "Believe" for which the boys got up on that ladder to set up for me and begin their tremendous help in assisting me with decorations every year. Don't you just love how hard they're squeezing their eyes? Makes it look like if you squeeze them really hard, dreams do come true!

This is a picture of me in Italy with the cone full of the most yummy gelato I've ever had; cinnamon, and I literally can still taste it sometimes when I look at this picture! For my 40th birthday, Mr. Nine took me to Italy and it was definitely a trip to remember and this is one of my favorite pictures that he took of me. Says Happy Tourist in Rome, lol.

Mr. Nine Took this one Christmas of our sweet Daisy Mae and it's my favorite pictures of her ever.

For most of my regular readers, you know that Mr. Nine and I enjoy summer date days! Being so close to Lake Michigan, there is much to take in. This day was one of the best And while we have and always will not be great at selfie's, this tells a lot: hair pulled back in the jeep ready to enjoy an afternoon at a winery, craft fair, sidewalk chalk competition, a rooftop bar and sensational sunset.

One of my favorites of our handsome "men" in our favorite place on earth, the beach town in Michigan.

These guys are pure adventurers! They love water sports, they love action and they love to laugh. Just love the looks on their faces with how much fun they're having!

The baby of the family is a straight A student. And while all of our kids have been smart, this guy has just blown away with how far he has come and how well he's killing it in high school. So proud! Just found out he is wining the medal again this year as a sophomore.

Last June, the two oldest graduating, both with honors and look how happy we all are! It tells such a story because this was the beginning of such an adjustment with two going off to different colleges and mom having a hard time adjusting.

So SMILE and Remember to Capture Life's Fleeting Moments.

xoxo

49 comments:

  1. You started as a cutie and wound up a beauty! Love the picture journey. What a beautiful family!

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  2. I loved seeing this little journey through time! We can never have enough photos, and now they are so easy with smartphones. Hope you have a marvelous Monday!

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  3. First of all you are looking more and more fabulous every single year!! I so agree with you that your family - more so your kids, will thank you for all the photos later in life!! I'm loving that your best friend was a boy when you were younger!! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  4. Loved your pictures! We went to Cedar Point all the time!! I grew up in Toledo.
    Jaymie

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  5. You are right, pictures do take us right back and your boys will be so thankful! I loved looking through these, they tell the story of a wonderfully lived life with lots of love and family right at the center! Have a fabulous day gorgeous friend!
    xoxo,
    Kellyann

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  6. What a great post! It was kind of like getting to take a little peek at your life unfolding. I'll bet it was fun to dig through the pictures and pick some out too. Have a great week, Andrea!

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  7. What great pictures!! My boys always get annoyed with how many pictures I take too!! But they are always the first to want to take about those pictures and want me to share! HA

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  8. Loved these photos and seeing your life in pictures!! You definitely have zero signs of aging and look amazing! I am a photo natzi of my family but they will thank me one day!

    Brittany :)
    www.kingdomofsequins.com

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  9. This was just precious . . . I'm so with you on picture taking . . . it just triggers a walk down memory lane and you can almost feel like you did back then. So fun!

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  10. These are all such precious memories and I loved learning more about you!! You were just the cutest kiddo! It's so nice to look back with photos especially of loved ones we've lost! Such a great post!!

    www.rosyoutlookblog.com

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  11. Look at you!! I loved seeing all your photos! I need to get over to my mom's house and find some "old" photos of myself! Great post Girlfriend!

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  12. What wonderful pictures!! I see the Debbie Gibson resemblance...lol. I have mine ready to go for tomorrow! I may add a few more...

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  13. You have such a sweet (and gorgeous) family! These are great memories. BTW, you appear to never age. Please share your secrets.

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  14. Aww I just love all these pictures!! I too love photos. There is just something about them. It is always so fun to look back.

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

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  15. What a sweet post, Andrea! I loved looking through all these pictures -- there is something so special about pictures and how they can instantly take you back to that time. Happy Monday!

    xo, Rachel
    A Blonde's Moment

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  16. What a fun post! I love seeing all of your photos and memories! Have a great week!

    Jill
    Doused In Pink

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  17. So many sweet photos, and how fabulous is your mom! Cheers to a fabulous week <3
    Green Fashionista

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  18. You have always had such a beautiful smile! All of your happy pictures made me happy this morning!

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  19. Aw I can see why you chose each and every one of these. Such beautiful, precious memories. I'm a picture fanatic so I can totally relate lol. And what a cute child you were! :)

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  20. I love seeing all these photos. Such a great timeline through your life. And to see you as a child. Your parents were very stylish!

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  21. I couldn't narrow it down to just a few picture either, Andrea! LOVE, LOVE, LOVING this post! I have to say, you and Mr. Nine haven't aged a bit!
    xo, Lily
    Beauty With Lily

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  22. oh my goodness, I love looking at all of the pictures of you growing up! so sweet, I just love your family, hope you have a great week! P.S. you're birthday is the same as my anniversary :)

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  23. Isnt it so fun to look back through pictures & see time pass in front of you?
    I love the 'boy' friend who you got married to a lot - what a fun friend. Do you know what happened to him since?
    & love the picture of your momma... you see where you got your style from. :)

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  24. Andrea, this is just the sweetest post! Loved all of the throwback pics! What a little cutie you were + LOVE the fact that your youngest son is a straight A student! You and your family must be so proud! You are most definitely a fantastic mom and I really adore you! Love you, sweet soul!
    Happy Monday, babe!
    xoxo, Vanessa
    www.WhatWouldVWear.com

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  25. I'm linking up tomorrow too, and there's no way I'll only have five pictures in my post. Lol. Maybe five per category! Haha. I loved taking this trip down memory lane with you!! It was so much fun! And I would DIE to taste that gelato in Italy with you! I can't even imagine how good it must have been!

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  26. Oh I LOVE all the pictures. My guys are the same way- I occasionally get an eye roll from them, but I remind them that one day this is all we will have to remember things and moments- all the pictures! I love all the sweet stories behind yours. So precious, xo!

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  27. So many fun memories!!! You were such a cute little girl! Its so fun to look back at pictures through the years and so I try to take as many as I can now so that Zoe will have a ton to look back on one day. Now can I have some gellato?

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  28. Oh I love seeing this, so many great memories! You were so cute as a little girl and are even cuter now. This reminds me to take more pictures of the people in my life, not just food!

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  29. You really haven't changed one little bit! I'm right there with you with loving to capture pictures of special and even ordinary occasions because they can transport you back to that time and place immediately. A picture is worth a 1000 words, and I loved getting to learn a little bit more about you today!

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  30. Y'all are such a cute family! And you and your mom- love it! That birthday cake to match your dress- so special! Can Mr. Nine call my husband to give him some pointers on birthday trips!? Have a great Monday!

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  31. Love it all!!! From the BIG hair the prides and joys of your life to the Mister. So blessed, Andrea! So blessed! XOXOXOX

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  32. I enjoyed looking at these. Great memories. :)

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  33. You were a little cutie and of course now transformed into a stylish beautiful lady! I see where the good looks and style come from both parents. I agree about taking pics to capture the memories even though the hubby might get frustrated (I think he's getting better though). Love the photo of your 30th birthday gift from your cute son and then the other photo of all three sons cheesing from ear to ear. How could you simply pick 5 photos with so many memories? I'm sure it was hard summing it down to these few even.

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  34. Gosh, this post is soooo my favorite and what a neat challenge to have to pick a few of your fave pics. And I agree, it would be hard for me too! What I love is how happy you look as a child and you continue to look so happy in all your pics you share with us each week! Having a wonderful childhood/family is such a blessing, and it's so special when you have the pictures to document it all! Have a wonderful week, beauty! XO

    Shauna

    www.lipglossandlace.net

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  35. Oh this is so lovely! A little peek into your family!. Isn t looking at older pictures fantastic.

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  36. These are so great! I would've had a hard time picking just 5 too. You've always been so gorgeous & stylish! I definitely see where you got it from. I love your mom's outfit in the very first picture. Have a great day!

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  37. Andrea, I LOVE this post and all the sentiment and meaning. I had such a hard time picking my favorite pictures. I LOVE how close your family is and I pray that mine will be as close when my kiddos get a little older. I loved all of these pictures! Have a wonderful day lovely lady!

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  38. No kidding, how could one only pick 5. Love the walk down memory lane- feels like I"ve known you forever now.

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  39. Thanks for sharing your family history in pictures. You were an adorable toddler who grew up to be a beautiful (and styling!) young woman. Looking at the pictures of you and your husband and boys just makes me smile. xoxo

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  40. You are just way too cute and truly a mini-me of your sweet mama. I love seeing the pictures of the past. (Are your eyes swollen? Mine are from doing my post😭) Girl, you had the big 80's/90's hair when you graduated just like I did. My husband always says he loved my "big Nashville hair". So funny!!! Great pictures Andrea! Thanks for sharing!!

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  41. These photos are great, Andrea. I have similar photos of my parents and us at Cedar Point! (Your HS photos remind me of mine - a lot of curls (perms) and hair spray!)

    Lisa
    Daily Style Finds

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  42. Andrea, you've had the most fun style and hair dos FOREVER! Like seriously, you have always been so on top of fashion. I love it!

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  43. Such great photos and wonderful memories.

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  44. Wonderful photos... I'm with you... I couldn't pick the top 3 or 5 or 25! There are just so many precious photo! :)

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  45. So many beautiful moments captured!! I loved reading more about you and your family!! My favorite pictures is the one from Italy and the one in the jeep with your hair up - you are stunning and such a fun person!! Such an inspiration :)

    Sarah
    Trendy & Tidy

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  46. What a collection of memories and special times.

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  47. Such special photos, full of super, special memories. I love it! Hope you're having a super weekend Andrea. x Jacqui
    www.mummabstylish.com

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  48. So fun! And your parents were just cute as could be! I'm seriously in need of a day date with my man...I will take anywhere but the lake would be tops.

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  49. Ah! I don't know how I missed this post! So glad I went back looking for it. Love all of these sweet memories! The major "CHEEEESE" Christmas photo of your boys just makes me laugh. I absolutely love it! And you eating gelato in Rome... love that shot! Blue Ice is my favorite gelato place there!! :)

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