$81.00

Thanks for the kind comments about our family photos that we had taken. They were actually taken in late September, before Blaine started radiation, which probably explains why he doesn't look like Sean Penn in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

I was flattered that a few of you assumed that I took them myself, but no. Not even with my timer feature and handy-dandy remote control could I manage to get a good family shot like that. At least not yet. A few more classes and maybe I'll be closer.

I have taken photos of friends for Christmas recently, and in years past, and of my nephews and sister's family in an attempt to get pictures of them good enough to send out in their Christmas card. I've done my kids soccer teams before and I was asked to do my nephew's baseball team photos last year which was fun .....

But I had never actually been hired -- as in, PAID MONEY -- until recently, when one of the moms at the soccer field asked if I would do their team photos, and some candid action shots of the girls at practice. I mean, the players were five years old, it's not like *they* care how the pictures turned out, but I really wanted the parents to be happy.

It went ok, and the exciting part? I made $81.00. Eight-one dollars!! I mean, it's barely enough to pay one months worth of cell phone bill, but it was still pretty exciting to actually make a profit. I thought about framing that first one dollar bill --- then realized that would make me even dorkier than I already am. Eighty-one bucks. Considering I've been a stay-at-home mom since Brayden was born, that works out to about one-billionth of a cent per hour for the past twelve years. Hmmmm. Wonder if I'll have to pay social security on that?

And since I don't know these girls or their families personally, it wouldn't be right for me to show you the images on this blog.

Well, ok. Except for this one. Because how stinkin' cute is this kid???