 You wouldn’t know from looking at Michelle Lehnardt’s photo book, Celebrate Everyday Life but she created it in just two hours on the last day of school with 35 kids running through the house. Six of those kids, ranging in ages from 4 to 16, are Lehnardts. That’s how it goes with a family of eight. There’s a lot happening every day; drama comes and goes; much laughter is heard; one day rolls into the next. It’s easy to lose sight of the precious, inconspicuous moments. However, on this particular day, Michelle Lehnardt was inspired. She had just seen a photo book that her friend had recently created and she “simply had to make one.”
 Digital scrapbooking made simple
The photo book, Celebrate Everyday Life, combines the texture and richness of traditional scrapbooking with the convenience of online photo book making. The template was designed for Shutterfly by prominent scrapbook artist Ali Edwards known for her use of everyday objects in her traditional and digital scrapbooking designs. Each page examines a different part of what comprises everyday life—celebrations, observations, distractions, play, work, routines and lessons. The layout not only helps organize your story, but also helps narrow down the number of pictures.
 From blog to photo book
Still, two hours to complete a project like this seems unusually speedy. But, Michelle has been curating everyday moments for some time. She keeps a blog with photos and stories about her family and most of the photos in her photo book were pulled from the blog. Some of the stories too. “My favorite page is ‘everyday distractions’. My little girl came home with a cupcake and my son cried until I drove to the bakery to buy one just for him. My husband is fiddling on the computer while the kids look on. One son is practicing his violin and the kitty is distracting him. Another son and his friend arm wrestle for the love of a neighbor girl. I chuckle just thinking about it.”
Everyday moments seen in a new light
This type of family album can incorporate milestones and occasions but it’s primarily designed to focus on the beauty of the day-to-day. “This book captures our family as we are right now. We’re home a lot, there are always toys strewn all over the floor and neighborhood kids ringing the doorbell. My kids play instruments and sports. We bake cookies, we go on walks, and my boys fight way too much. My daughter Mary is spoiled and has too many dresses and toys. We read a lot and the kids make up all kinds of silly games together. It’s pretty ordinary. But when the finished book arrived in the mail I literally cried for joy. This book reminded me of all the happy everyday moments we shared.”
 As family photographer Michelle is most often behind the camera rather than in the frame. “My husband and children are always disappointed if I leave myself out of an album. So I make a conscious effort to hand over the camera. But I’m lucky because I have the final say on which pictures of me go into the finished product.” Her kids share her love of photography and Michelle maintains a practical approach to sharing the shutter. “So what if 99 out of 100 shots are terrible? We can simply delete them and keep trying. I’m trying to teach my kids to ‘look for the nice light.’”
Ordinary moments make an extraordinary gift
Michelle confesses that she is now a photo book addict and this holiday season a lot of people on her list will be getting photo books—even her own kids. And though her busy life gets exponentially busier during the holiday season she will find time to create more books. Sometimes the process of making the book can be as rewarding as the book itself. What better way to get into the holiday spirit than to remember the little moments throughout the year that brought joy to your family and giving those memories as gifts to those you love.
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