Family Pictures

I gotta admit, it's one of my least favorite parental duties - and that's reflected in the fact that we have never had a "professional" family portrait taken (outside of a quick snap at Target or a friend with a fancy camera.) And as much I wish we had a wall filled with each annual family photo as a consistent growth marker, it just isn't gonna happen. Life gets busy, Christmas creeps up and I'm too cheap to spring for anything fancy last minute. I would also rather cut off my right arm than go shopping (especially for the whole family) so I generally pull everything out of closets and try to create some sort of color coordination. I stress out about weather and posing and keeping everyone simultaneously clean. I am a grump when they screw up the shot. But in the end, I'm always glad we did it. Despite there rarely being a clear winner, at least it's a glimpse of life at that moment, in that crazy stage when you're doing hair and wiping noses and hiding blow outs, all to make it look perfect and easy and happy for one split second. :) It's funny, isn't it?

Darren and I had different favorites for the Christmas card so here are the rest of the ones we liked.

You know, seven months later.

Turned out alright for deciding the night before - did a swap the next morning with our friends with the fancy camera. They even showed up with the same color palette! I actually preferred it so last minute and low key rather than having to stress out about it for weeks. But I figure I better post some before another Christmas rolls around and we do it all again.

The "Christmas Card"s

  

The Boys & the Girls

The Singles

'twas a nice way to spend the morn of our 12 year anniversary

Still never quite got a shot with all five looking/smiling, but man, they're cute.

 Some Artsy and Some Outtakes