family photo time

Being a mom who is obsessed with preserving memories of her family is a big job.  At least I make it one.  I've learned a few lessons.  I got a card for a free newborn sitting and a digital 8x10 so I took Maximus because I thought, "Hey, it's free.  What could go wrong?"  Well, we enter the "studio," which happens to be in the lady's basement, and the scene from Napoleon Dynamite comes to my mind where Deb is taking Pedro's photo and needs something soft and billowy.  The process was long and slow.  The photos were fine.  Of course I thought they were cute.  They were my newborn.  But I didn't really like her style, and I won't even say how much they were because it is embarrassing that I paid that much for photos that I don't LOVE.  I am a wimp, and didn't have the guts to just walk out with the free one.  So, when Maximus is 18, he will say, "Well, I can't go to college because my parents spent the money on a photo shoot.  But, hey, I have these sweet pictures of me as an infant sleeping and for whatever reason I am butt naked on a soft and billowy blanket."  Just kidding, I didn't spend that much.  And maybe when I am not so bitter about the whole experience, I will post the photos. 

Fast forward a month and it is time to think about Christmas cards.  

There are reasons why we haven't had a family photo taken since Samuel was 10 months old.  The biggest one is that it is a pain.  Thinking up outfits, getting everyone dressed, getting to the appointment on time.  All of this while trying to keep everyone happy enough to smile for a photo.  And, well, for the reason that I wrote about above, our photo budget was just about spent. 

I'll admit, a certain six year old made a few of my photos really really hard to smile for but we got one.  ONE.  One photo good enough for a Christmas card.  That was all I was asking for.  So the rest of these are just a bonus.  What a more than pleasant surprise.  

I got a photo that I love of each of my kids (that I love, too :)).  Merry Christmas to me (in my head, I sing it to the tune of the Happy Birthday song).  All for a mega reasonable price.  And that, in my mind, makes things even more beautiful.

The photographer started off with some individuals of the older kids...

She was the gem of the family.  Agreeable and helpful.  Thank you, Eva.

 I think he doesn't know how to fake smile or be happy on demand or whatever it takes to get a natural shot.  But this one works for me.  

 I want to kiss those creases on that forehead.  

 Can you believe this shot?  He was so fussy and somehow she got this one.  I need to blow it up and hang it on my wall.  Automatic smile on my face every time I see it. 

 I wanted to show off the "Big Bro" and "Big Sis" t-shirts that I bought for Eva and Samuel but they didn't really show.  But I guess it doesn't really matter, my eyes go right to their faces.  Yeah, and we kind of thought that Maximus might have the Lisa Ling eye thing going on (and if you don't know what I am talking about that is because you are nice and those things don't matter to you) and this photo kind of confirms that thought.  Figure he will outgrow it.  

 Can't speak for Karl, but it turns out the experience wasn't all that bad.  It only took an hour.  And when I saw the photos, it was totally worth it.  I swear the kids have already grown since these were taken.  And it has only been three days.  

Lessons learned:  All photo shoots are not created equal.  A crappy photo shoot can, if anything, make you really really appreciate a non crappy photo shoot.