"CHEEEEEEESE" A Hoke Family Tradition

Brianna says Cheeeeeese

Brandon says Cheeeeeese

Carissa saying Cheeeeeese
( although she isn't aware of it :) )

Any one who knows me knows that I have always, always loved pictures! My house is decorated, mostly with my family photos. There has been the occasion that a friend or two has actually said, you know Colleen ~ you can decorate with things besides pictures ~ Okay I'll admit it, I am addicted to photos of my loved ones. While pondering this and admitting to it, I don't find it a "bad" thing ~ so sue me! My younger kids Brandon and Brianna have had the misfortune of being born the same year My Uncle Dennis and Aunt Carol bought me my very first digital camera.....not that I didn't take a lot of pics before, I did but the capability it provides me to take many, many, more pics to have has increased a bunch! The little ones especially come up to me on a "normal" basis and say in their own little words, they want to take a cheeeeeese picture! It has become a "Hoke Family Tradition"

No, the rooms in my house will never look like the ones on the cover of magazines, but I am comforted by the love and memories I get to relive every time I look at one of my precious photos displayed on my walls, and if it's not the most "hip" way to decorate one's home.....I do not care, I love the pics of my family and, I myself, do not care what is status quo, I just do what makes me feel good! To those of you who keep your photos in photo books and not on your walls and decorate you house "to the hills" Congratulations and I wish no harm, and I take no offense to anyone telling me "decorate with something besides pictures" nor do I think any less of them, but for me decorating with pictures of my loved ones is what makes me happy! :) And in my house, as I am sure in all "Mama's houses" " What makes Mama happy, makes my other family members happy!" As long as I am capable I will continue to "click" the camera as often as I can.....I only wish I could take some classes and afford a "high tech" digital camera and camera accessories to become a professional and capture other peoples memories as well! I then would truly LOVE MY JOB! Until then I love the cheeeeeese pictures and will continue to share them with everyone!