Tate, the kids, and I spent the weekend in our favorite Midwestern destination, St. Louis.
With the holidays coming up, we took the kids out to a few different places hoping to get some fabulous pictures for our Christmas card. Since we were in the middle of a move last year, I didn’t have time to send out Christmas cards and I know the rules of the game. One year without reciprocating a photo Christmas card and/or cheesy family letter is acceptable, though noted by the non-recipient with disdain. Two years without reciprocation means you are forever banned from receiving further photos of friends’ children or cheesy letters describing in detail the past year’s accomplishments.
I CAN’T BE BANNED! I want to see photos of my friends’ kids and I want to know about their Aunt Erma’s hip replacement and that their new puppy, Gizmo, is FINALLY crate trained! Getting mail during the month of December is something I look forward to the whole year.
Also I have really adorable children that actually, if we’re being honest here, are way cuter than everyone else’s kids and therefore I OWE IT to everyone to send out their photos.
My requirements for the fabulous picture included:
1. Both children must be in the photo.
2. Both children have to be looking at the camera.
3. Both children should have pleasant expressions on their faces.
4. If the children are smiling, it must be a genuine smile and not one of those “say cheese” smiles.
5. No action shots. The children shall sit quietly while mommy takes the pictures.
These requirements seemed TOTALLY REASONABLE because OH MY FRICKITY FRACK IT’S NOT THAT HARD!!!
With more than a few heavy sighs and frustrated pouts, I have resigned myself to the fact that rather than sending out a fabulous picture, I may have to settle for a decent-enough picture.
Nearly 300 photos taken, nearly 300 rejects.
1. Both children need not be in the photo. I’m flexible.
2. Neither child actually needs to look at the camera. Hell, why not just look off into space!
3. Pleasant expressions unnecessary, any expression is fine. Really. Just any old expression.
4. “Say Cheese” smiles are at least smiles!
5. Action shots! Yeah! Blur can be…good?.
I can’t BELIEVE how BIG!!! Ella is! WOW!!!!
Love the pumpkin patch shots.
.-= VDog´s last blog ..It’s A Birthday Party! And You’re Invited!! =-.
Oh I laugh at your pain because it is mine too. We got away with our picture the first year b/c the girls were still babies. Everyone kept saying “what cute smiles!”; we didn’t inform them that one girl was actually crying.
Last year we gave up and sent out a family shot where my husband and I looked awesome; the girls, not so much.
.-= Kate, aka Guavalicious´s last blog ..Break Their Hearts And I Will Kill You =-.
This made me laugh!
.-= magpie´s last blog ..At the Intersection of Blog and Child Rearing =-.
Our Christmas card pic is officially the ‘worst photo ever’. It’s now becoming tradition…
.-= Amo´s last blog ..It must be nice where he lives. =-.
I’ve been putting off even thinking too hard about taking our Christmas card photo. I can’t take it too early since Tessa is so young even a couple of months can mean a lot of change in her so I’m trying to wait until early – mid November. I have at least 1 (matching! how precious!) outfit choice for them but location is fuzzy.
.-= Michelle Smiles´s last blog ..Something old, something new =-.
Too funny! I actually think the first one is cute with Ella looking at Carson!
Our last year’s picture we didn’t mention that our son burst out crying not 3 seconds after the picture was taken!
This year… suckers to the rescue! I’ve got an awesome picture with all 3 of us munching on those huge multicolored suckers from Disneyland. Still no smile from the boy, but I might be able to find another picture of him to add to the card!
Not that you know me or anything, but I liked the one one the green step in front of the wall/door like thing. It seems like you kiddoes are in their happiest and most natural state.
Love the one of them both sitting on the stairs!
I don’t think we got a shot of the twins both looking at the camera at the same time until…maybe this year. They’re 6. I know I’m no help am I .
.-= WM´s last blog ..Celebrating my favorite breast cancer survivor =-.
I can tell you now, getting all 5 requirements in one shot is IMPOSSIBLE. Maybe you could do some Photoshopping?
.-= C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Five Forever =-.
I love the sitting on stoop staring into different directions of space one. Very authentic yet artsy. It would look great with Brenda’s Urban Processsing, I think. (Google that, I have no link handy!) I have only done photo cards once. Maybe I should try this year.
I like the last one where Carson is pulling his underwear out of his butt the best.
Heh heh…yeah. Anyone with more than one kid will tell you it most certainly IS THAT HARD!
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..I Give Good Blog – and other phrases you didn’t expect me to say. =-.
I feel your pain. Trying to get my 4 kids looking, smiling, etc is so frustrating. Last year I created a card that included four individual photos of their faces because I couldn’t get a good group shot. Who the heck knows what this year will bring.
.-= Kristin´s last blog ..Yes, Big Families CAN Go Out to Dinner =-.
You still have lots of time and I am confident that you can capture them! good luck!
.-= Domestic Extraordinaire´s last blog ..The Post Where I Get Sappy & Sentimental =-.
Your kids are cute! Good luck with you picture.
I always take ours in front of the Christmas tree.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..The Pumpkin Patch =-.
I hear you! Taking photos with 3 kids in them and all looking at the camera with a regular, happy expression is nearly impossible. Add hubby and I into the mix and it is definitely impossible. I hope you got something you can work with.
It sounds like an article from Good Housekeeping or something: Can these photos be saved? Creative Photoshopping? Cropping? Collage?
I usually give up on the one perfect photo, and get a card that I can put 3 photos on, one of each kid and a halfway decent shot of the two of them.
.-= all things BD´s last blog ..Yet Another Reason To Love Texas =-.
Crap. 2 years… really? Hell, I’ve had a kid for nearly 6 yrs and 2 kids for 3 years now and I’ve never sent out a card.
I guess my card etiquette book went the same way as the “how to raise this kid” book…
Dadgummit.
I like the third from the top. It has all the sibling dynamics in it and each’s personality too!
You gave me a great idea for a Christmas card design. Thanks!
I love the first one….and I totally feel your frustration. I’m glad I’m not the only one desperately trying to get a Christmas card shot in October.
I love the one by the train where they are holding hands and she is looking up at him. That totally needs to be removed from the reject pile. You could do one of those cards that has 3 pictures…and take individual closer up shots of their faces to add to this one.
.-= Ashlie- Mommycosm´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday: The Stink Eye =-.
I am writing an article about holiday photo tips, but I think I will just swipe this, mmk?
OMG – hysterical! I love the one on the pumpkin wagon where Ella is rubbing her eye and Carson is scratching his back. Actually, I love them all as a set even better! This whole post would make a great Christmas card letter!
.-= ragtopday´s last blog ..A Tale of Tails =-.
Two weeks ago we went to the Taj Mahal to take the “perfect family holiday card photo”. Um… I was sicker than a dog, vomited everywhere, and didn’t get the shot of a lifetime… or anything resembling anything close to that. All I got was Giardia… and that’s not something that’s going anywhere near my holiday card.
I can relate.
BTW – The Hunger Games sequel just came out! Catching Fire – it’s awesome!!
I just died laughing at the title of this post.
The pictures were pretty hilarious too.
I have similar requirements plus add in matching outfits to max out the cheesy factor.
I really like the photo where the kids are sitting on the green bench/steps. I think it’s a keeper!
.-= mep´s last blog ..Brown paper packages tied up with string . . . =-.
Yup – the one on the step.
I love the one of them in front of the RR tracks where Ella’s looking at Carson and they are holding hands!So sweet!
.-= Jen L.´s last blog ..Twenty-One =-.
oh but what good efforts!
i actually like the one w/ them on the stoop.
and my very first thought when i saw the top pic was how much ella looks like you.
good luck to getting a shot.
.-= mpotter´s last blog ..#88 explained =-.
Well these are still super cute!
I actually go for candid now, because both of them looking at the camera with a reasonable face is impossible!
I love the crazy pictures, better. Honestly. Especially if I can see the progression of the whole attempt. LOVE that.
.-= tracey´s last blog ..Maxi pads: not just for periods anymore! =-.
Sometimes two is harder than seven. Then again, maybe not. In recent years I have become a strong believer in the mosaic card.
.-= tiff´s last blog ..Alert! =-.
Them sitting on the doorstep is my fave.
If you take a bunch of pictures really fast in sequence, you can photoshop like crazy. Photomerge is my best friend when it comes to family or group pictures!
.-= Bridget´s last blog ..Not So Bad After All =-.
Testing. 1, 2, 3.
This is absolutely hilarious! Thanks for making me feel better b/c my 2 y.o. has decided that he will no longer be a willing participant in photos. And like you I have the same requirements. Can’t I just get one good pic for each holiday and season! Geeze! But at the pumpkin farm this weekend – 100 shots taken, 0 turned out the way I wanted : (. Come on kids, I birthed both of you, it’s the least you can do for me
[...] year ago, I couldn’t get a good picture of the kids either. Two years ago I was definitely not on House Hunters. [...]