This past Easter Sunday I took some pictures of the kids. I really want to capture all of those special moments. As I was going through the pictures this morning I realized the pictures really don’t tell the whole story sometimes. Here’s the low-down on what was going on with each picture:
I told the kids they could do better than this. Bency looks like he wants to bite someone. Iris looks sad. Cesar isn’t even looking at the camera. “Come on kids, get it together,” I repeat over and over!
This is 7 pictures later. Things aren’t getting much better. I have a million things to do to get the Easter lunch ready before everyone arrives. There is slight panic and irritation in my voice and I tell them just smile and we can get this over with.
Guess who tooted??!!
323 pictures later I finally get this. I’m happy with it. I have however popped out 72 more grays hairs and 19 more wrinkle lines. Yet, I still want my husband to take a picture of the kids and I. It is a special occasion after all and I just want to capture these “happy” moments!
In case you can’t tell, I am talking through my teeth in a hissing tone and telling them they can each have 5 jelly beans if we can just get one nice picture….
After 10 more pictures my husband said this is as good as it gets! I doled out the jelly beans and we had ourselves one happy Easter with no more picture taking involved! Well except for one more….
Now, this is a true happy Easter moment…..eating a chocolate bunny!!!
Motherhood Is An Art 
In the second to last shot, I thought Iris was riding Little C (that’s what I call your son when I see pictures–is that weird?!)! Adorable pictures, even if they’re not “picture perfect!” 🙂
Thanks Stephanie! I think Iris was sitting on him…so typical! Also, I never call my kids by their real names at home….I always call Cesar….Skeezer (yes, I know what it means but it just rolled off my tongue one day when he was 6 months old and I loved it…Little C isn’t weird at all compared to that!
Cesar captured it all! There’s nothing better than cracking open the chocolate bunnies on Easter. By the way, I LOVE the photo of you hissing through your teeth. You pulled that smile off so naturally! 😉
Thanks Anka! I think I have perfected the “hissing through my teeth” technique since becoming a mom! It comes in handy in public when you don’t want to make a scene and yet you want your kids to behave!
hahahaha, love the trying to get the “right” picture fiasco! That’s too much fun, thank goodness I only had one to wrangle… that was enough!
I swear they are like working with untamed monkeys! We have only ever been to a photo studio once for a family picture and it took hours and the pictures were still mediocre at best!
So funny, so true! Back when my kids were younger, I remember trying to get a decent picture of them in front of the Christmas tree for our Christmas card. After 80-something snaps and no decent photo, I finally leaned in and told them that I was going to whisper something to them. I got the camera focused and then whispered “Underwear!” and clicked the button. Best picture I have of all three of them — everyone looking at the camera, smiling. Saying “underwear” is still guaranteed to crack them up in our house…. 🙂
That is so funny Joan! I’m sure “underwear” would be a winner in our house too! I’ll have to remember that one for our next special occasion!!!
Always can count on a good toot for a good laugh!!!! 🙂
It just never gets old!!!
You have either more patience, determination or are just plain wacky when it comes to pictures. We are happy if they are looking in the general direction. Both kids smiling for a pic – so rare!
Out of those three choices I would have to go with wacky! I think you used that term to describe me one other time too! I’m starting to see a theme here Larry!!
I mean it with appreciation, but you know that. In fact, I could see you liking that title. Feel free to introduce yourself that way but remember to note my assistance.
so true! I take a hundred pictures of Nate and from them only 1 is good; sometimes he screams or cries when he knows I’m taking pictures of him! 😉 you got some good ones! 🙂
Oh, Bency was the worst as a little one! I would take out that camera and he would immediately start crying. The majority of his pictures under the age of 3 are of him crying or just looking so serious! I wanted some pictures of him though so I just kept snapping away! He’s going to look back on his photo albums and wonder why I only took pictures of him when he was sad!!
You have gorgeous kids! The second family shot is particularly lovely.
Thank you so much!!
Oh I should post some of the pictures that I have tried to take of my kids and their little cousin. It is EXTREMELY hard to get a picture of three or more children where everyone is cooperating! You did well, even if it took 323 pictures to do it!
Oh you should post some! It will make me feel better about my situation!!
ha! loved the story behind the pictures!! we only see the great shots, never the 100 that stood before it! very cute. you did good. 🙂
Oh thank you! Isn’t that the truth though! If I had only posted my one good shot with no story everyone would have thought it was a quick snapshot that I just happened to grab as I was walking past them being so happy….definitely not the case!!!
Wow – it’s an accomplishment to get all 3 in the same frame for so many shots! Well done – and great memories / storytelling too!
Thanks Cathy! Yes, it is always accomplishment when I can get all of them in the same shot regardless of how they are looking!!
I think they are great pictures. I did think I saw a little saliva shooting out of the side of your mouth though. Come on Mom,it’s no wonder the kids are a little figidty!
haha!!! Oh Liz….you just crack me up!!! I hope your knees are making a quick recovery!
Eating a chocolate anything is a true moment in my book! Gosh, you sound like me when I’m trying to take pictures of the girls. Only I end up becoming evil about it! 🙂
Oh, I was definitely bordering on evil! When something that should only take a second turns into a half hour I can get a little testy! I wasn’t asking for perfection…just a nice smile and standing still….is that too much to ask…apparently the answer is yes!
I know what you mean. I don’t know about your kids but as I keep trying to get that “one perfect picture”, my girls seem to get worse and worse until it escalates into a frenzy and then we’re all unhappy! Oh mothers!
Melissa, all the pics a very nice but I like the Jelly Beans Pose the most. The next in line is the 72 more Gray Hair, next eating a Chocolate Bunny, and the rest. Thanks for sharing. Be Blessed, Mtetar
Thank you Mtetar! I like them too. It shows the true colors of our family!
You’re always welcome, Melissa! Mtetar
Oh aren’t we tired of saying ‘say cheese’ ‘smile’ you can have 5 jelly beans’ whilst they squirm, pull faces or fight. I could see you talking through your teeth 🙂 lovely shots never the less, you did well Mel, patience of a Saint…well to us it seems 😉 xxx
Thanks Jen! You wouldn’t have been saying I was very saintly that day! That talking through your teeth bit can really scare people!!
Great pictures! Your family is beautiful!
Thank you so much!!
Also, do you like how I took your advice from your one post about picture taking and positioned all of the kids in front of me so no one can see my rolls!!!
Ha Ha! It really works for me!
This is super!!!!!
Thank you!!
Did I ever ask you if you scrapbook? I think the “out takes” would be nice in those little tiny format around the perfect one. Your kids are so cute.
I actually do not scrapbook! I know, surprising right?! I do make up real photo albums. However, we have a digital photo frames sitting out and each month I change the pictures on those and I put on all of the “out takes.” Yes, we definitely need to acknowledge those moments too!
You’re doing better than me, Troy usually won’t sit still long enough to capture all 3 in one shot, let alone look at the camera unless I just happen to be lucky enough to catch him before he runs away! haha! Gotta love the “fun” kids have at picture time!
I always feel like I am traumatizing my kids when I take these “posed” photos! I hope they appreciate it when they’re older that I took a few of them all together!!
Our Christmas picture usually ends with Trystan and tears and me picking the one I look best in. Hey, everyone already knows the kids are cute and could be having an off day
haha!! Yes, it is always key to choose one where I look half-way decent!!
beautiful pictures… you definitely look very natural in that “hissing”picture. I can’t tell!
It looks and sounds like your photography sessions go about like mine do. My munchkins are more wiggly than fish in a barrel when it comes to getting a photo of the two of them together! Thank God for digital photos, because it’s less sickening having to take at least 10 shots to try to get one decent one of both at the same time….and still have to take more most of the time. 🙂 The easiest time to take good photos of them is when they are mesmerized by something. Mommy-the-photographer fails to fascinate them both at once on that level for very long. 🙂
At least our kids are all cute enough that the photos look good even when they’re being goofballs. I like the photos with you, too! I rarely appear in photos anymore because I’m always taking them.
OMG! I can almost hear you — “Get it together, kids!” So funny.
And I soooo knew you were hissing through your teeth in that other picture — even before I read the caption!
I have THE funniest picture of Fangette from a long ago Thanksgiving — she was the “World’s Most Unhappy Pilgrim!” I really have to write a pst about it. Every time I see it, I burst out laughing. Someday you will do the same with these photos!
Yes, SOMEDAY I will laugh. I still look at this post and I can remember how irritated I was. I wasn’t asking for that much. I am not a perfectionist. Just smile and act like it is the best day of your life and I will be happy!