Barry OConnell

Christmas of 08

When I got back to Smallville I needed a haircut so my Son #3 and I went off to the barber. The snow was really falling and the car was snow-covered in the time it took us to get trimmed. We probably should have gone straight home but I promised Son #3 a trip to Starbucks. With three sons and all the traveling I do I make it a point to have some one on one time with each of them.

Son #3 doesn't eat dairy so he got Orange Juice, I just had a small drip coffee. If I can't get Turkish Coffee then I like regular drip coffee. I shot this picture in the parking lot of Starbucks in Smallville. I wanted to get Son #3 out of the snow before I started fooling with the camera.

By that afternoon the storm was full strength. One thing I love about our house is that it is filled with children. The middle two are mine. Son #2 (10 years old) in black with yellow trim and Son #3 (age 6) with a red hat. Their friends are on each side.
Son #2 is my 10 year old. On this vacation he started helping me with the videos. You can see our video camera on the tripod behind Son #2.
Of all of my guys Son #2 is the most active, most adventurous, and my risk taker.
As Christians Christmas is a very special time for us. This was a particularly nice one for our whole family.
I asked Son #3 to show me the present he was opening. The boys got everything they asked for and then some but the size of presents was physically small. Instead of toys they wanted games for the WII and Play Station. This year like every year I suggested assault rifles but we went with video games instead.
Son #1 is almost 14 and he stayed out of the camera's eye this year.

Why no names? My wife is cautious about personal information on the Internet since not all the notice I attract is positive.