Calvin and I play a game where we show each other photos and describe what was in them and the memories associated with them. You will hear a lot of past tense English as we talk about memories.
This video was Calvin’s idea! We went through some of our old photos and surprised each other by picking pictures to describe on camera. Each photo brought up a special memory, which made this not only fun but also a great way to:
- Practice past tense storytelling
- Learn how to describe people, places, and objects
- Hear real, unscripted, everyday English
We hope it’s engaging, fun, and full of useful language for you!
🐘 Thailand – Our First Elephant Ride
In one photo, we’re in Thailand (2010)—where we rode our very first elephant! The elephant was beautiful and gentle. We were only there for a week after spending three months in India, and this moment still stands out in our memory. The island was called Ko Samet, and the whole experience was unforgettable.
Pregnancy Photo in Barcelona
Another photo shows Camille on her due date—just before Maddox was born! We were living in Barcelona, and the plaza where this was taken brings back so many emotions. Camille looked radiant, and we were doing everything we could to induce labor. Spoiler: he was born a couple of days later! 😊
Toddler Maddox in Mexico
We spent six months in Mexico when Maddox was two. He had a Spanish-speaking nanny and started to speak Spanish himself. We were living on a beautiful property where we did landscaping, and this particular photo was filled with sunshine, leaves, and sweet toddler smiles.
Blueberries in Michigan
We reminisced about summers in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where Camille’s parents had over 200 blueberry bushes! The kids would run out to pick and eat fresh blueberries. This photo was taken during Camille’s pregnancy with our third child, Cairo. Those berries—and memories—were the sweetest!
Ivory’s First Snow in South Carolina
Snow days are rare in South Carolina, but one year, we had a light snowfall, and baby Ivory got all bundled up! Her adorable little face said it all—“Mom, what are we doing?” 😄 It was one of those magical parenting moments that stays with you forever.
Potty Training By the Pool
Yep, parenting is never boring. Cairo insisted on using his potty chair even while we were hanging out by the pool. So we brought it outside! These kinds of family stories remind us how fun and chaotic life with little kids can be
Running from Dinosaurs in Peru
One of the funniest photos? Calvin and I “running” from a dinosaur in Peru! At a salt flat near Arequipa, someone offered to take these hilarious forced-perspective photos. It’s such a fun memory, and now we have a photo that looks like it belongs in Jurassic Park.
Home Renovation Hero
In another photo, Calvin is dressed head to toe in protective gear. Why? He was blowing out old insulation from our attic using a leaf blower (genius!). He later turned the space into two beautiful bedrooms. We even posted the renovation reveal on Instagram—it was one of our biggest DIY projects ever!
Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with us. We hope it helped you improve your listening, learn new vocabulary, and enjoy real-life English conversation. Comment below! Which photo or story was your favorite? And what country are you watching from?
Check out my other videos in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan:
An interview with my dad in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHfGI2k_H7M
Cutting wood with my dad in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_nBofGCZB8
My childhood home in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld6oCCyw2o0
SUBS: English
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