My photos of my kids are better than your photos of your kids.

I took this collage I recently created and made two black and white copies of it. I gave a copy to each of my kids and asked them to take the images further, however they wanted. I provided colored pencils, markers, stickers, pastels, and other random tools and they went at it.

This is Sophia's (she's 4):

This is Nick's (he's 7):

The advantages of lighting equipment, a home studio/office, and a willing subject.

My daughter is that kid.

You know the one: the kid who likes to jump into the frame and make a goofy face when a photo is being made. Especially when it's not one of her.

However, when I deliberately try to make a photograph of her she's as fickle as a four year old can be. Sometimes she plays along, other times no way. Bribes are common when faced with the latter. As are my desperate pleas of "just one."

Then there are the other other times. For those there are no words.

Sometimes they are big and colorful:

Most times they're intricate drawings and stories made with his favorite medium, a Sharpie:

And other times they're so honest that they break my heart:

Encouraging my kids to be creative and to express themselves through art comes naturally around here. May it never end.

Don't you know we're living in stolen moments
You steal enough it feels like we're stopping time
These days are gold we're living in stolen moments
Just grab hold and feel these days are yours and mine

John Hiatt, Stolen Moments