Ahhhh, family pictures. The mere thought makes me shudder. You moms know what I'm talking about, right? It's not just me who spends days rifling through drawers (and doing ALL the laundry, for once) putting together coordinating outfits, shopping for elusive accessories, and keeping everything clean until the big day, yes? Tell me it isn't just me. Then there's the day of...oh boy. Everyone puts on their carefully reserved outfit and gets their hair done. Meanwhile, someone's lost a shoe, the one who just got her hair done promptly goes out and lays down on the floor, the toddler falls asleep (the one who wakes up uber cranky) and oh ya, the 12 extra large poster board letters for the super cool photo Christmas present haven't been cut out yet. We're finally done and we cross our fingers that no one steps in mud, falls, spits up, or totally musses their perfectly coiffed 'do. And that's only half the battle, we then get there and hope everyone looks at the camera...and smiles...at the same time. It's a lot to ask, especially of a two year old, she frequently didn't oblige. When all is said and done, I can't help it, there is a sense of elation and I have to let out a big "Whoop-whoop!!" on the way home. Family pictures? Check. And I'm off the hook for another year or so.
For Nana
For Grandma and Grandpa
Is she the queen, or what? This is the ONLY way we could get her to cooperate at this point. It was "her chair" and she was going to sit in it, no matter what.
Now, for a mini update: We're all fine. Really, what else can I say? It's winter (despite the heavenly lack of snow...until last week) and we've had all the requisite illnesses, but for the most part, we're getting along great. Aidan is crawling ALL over the place and will be walking soon, (Aaaaaa!!) He had macaroni and cheese for lunch for the first time today, which signals an end to buying overpriced baby food (Woot, woot!) and everyone else is pretty same ol', same ol' (meaning, of course, super smart and talented). It's going to be another exciting year with Uncle Ben coming home from his mission in Florida on leap day, February 29th, South Dakota in June, a baptism in August and Disneyland in December. Maybe I'll even post here a time or two...here's hoping!!
