An Evening with the Tillmans

Evenings with the Tillmans are always entertaining. How could they not be, with the presence of Max and Maggie inspiring our children to new heights (literally) of poor judgment?

Here is Julia, showing off her climbing skills to the Max, who looks to be regarding the base of the railing for some means of undermining its structural integrity...

Am I sending a mixed message by telling Julia to stay put while I take a picture, then by reprimanding her for climbing something she shouldn't? Does it matter at all, since she is a monkey who will climb anything she can get her hands and feet on?

Clutching Horsey

We always check in on the girls before we go to bed. Most nights we see Kate like this, in a classic (almost staged) sleeping pose, with Horsey clutched to her. Horsey may be ragged and even sporting a deep, stuffing-revealing rip along her neck (where her jugular would be), but Kate doesn't seem to mind.

Neither does Horsey.

Is He Davey Crockett Junior

...or is he one of the Mario Brothers having recently caught himself a raccoon tail?

Perhaps this question is answered by the fact that immediately following these photos, he leaped in the air, bounced on his auntie's head and proceeded racing around and lashing his siblings with his tail, all the while collecting coins.

Of course, the last we saw of Ben, he was on his way to Texas, supposedly doing his 'patriotic duty'...

The Hand Writing on the Piano

This is why we try to dust more often. There are fewer greater slights your child can offer you than to use your own lapse in cleanliness to entertain themselves. But Genna could have chosen worst things than her name to write, and I'm proud of her for not turning to the default of 'wash me.'

This reminds me of a time in my youth when I was caught having written in my neighbors freshly-poured cement. I tried to deny it, but my guilt was soon proven for my vandalism had consisted of writing my actual name in the cement.

Morning Light on Julia

Here is one of my mostest favoritest photos of Julia. Nothing terribly special was going at the time. It was sometime after breakfast, and Julia and I were at the table. I noticed how the morning light was filtering through the window, and I liked how it shone on Julia's face. So I busted out the camera and captured it. Thus is a perfect picture born.

Brothers

Sam and Ben continue to bond, though Sam seems to be doing most of the effort. Ben just lays there (getting tummy-time here), while Sam presents his mouth for a kiss. Ben never reciprocates, save with his customary smile, and Sam seems content with that. We're all content with that. Ben could charm Al'Qaeda agents into talking, and liking it, too.