We got to Sunflowers for Wishes every year, and this year might have been the best so far. Even though we got rained on. Hard. Which was totally my fault because I insisted on trying for just a couple more photos.

The fields where the sunflowers bloom is one of the most popular photoshoot spots in Connecticut – we must have seen more than a dozen people with their fancy cameras and bags trying to pose families in the sunflower field…without getting all the other photographers and families in their shot. I know in theory a huge field of sunflowers SOUNDS like a gorgeous spot for photos, in reality it’s less romantic. Sunflowers are a lot taller than kids, so posing them in the sunflowers just shows up as posing in a forest of green stalks. The outside of the field is all bright sun. There are TONS OF PEOPLE and you can only Photoshop out so much. Plus if you bribe your kids with ice cream, they’re either whining to go get it now now now or a sticky mess from already eating it.

I am sure there are photographers who get amazing, dreamy, fabulous pictures. I am not that talented yet – plus I went with my kids to, you know, have a good time while they were open instead of waiting until 8 pm for the magic hour light. But I do think looking back on my previous years at Buttonwood is a great example of how far I’ve come:

Sunflowers 2012 – Just a few pictures

Sunflowers 2011 – Evan and Tiny Fat Baby Caroline

Sunflowers 2010 – Avert your eyes from my terrible Picasa photo effects!

So…yeah. Improvement!

Mooing like a cow is hilarious.

Baby cows!!

Pay no attention to the horrible gash on his left eye. He banged it on the couch (????)

Caroline, look at me. Look at me. Look at me. Show me your eyes!

Team Sunflower, roll out!

When we got home, E asked why our daughter was wearing a bag.

Strawberry cheesecake

My precioussssssss…

This is her “Why am I sitting on this quilt when it is raining on me?” face.

Hiding from the downpour. It was an impressive amount of rain. p.s. He had blue cotton candy ice cream.

Tags: buttonwood farms, Caroline, cows, evan, friends, hayride, ice cream, pictures, summer, sunflowers, sunflowers for wishes