Sunday, October 19, 2008

Family Photo Fiasco:
A Letter to my Two-Year-Old

Dearest Son,

When you grow up and look back upon your youth and wonder why there are no photos of our family from the time you were two until you were four, I just want you to know that the reason has a lot to do with your conduct yesterday.

I had been planning for our family photos for at least a month. Coordinating clothing, getting everyone haircuts, scheduling with our awesome photographer... I took care of it all. I even took time to tell you exactly what would happen so you wouldn't be surprised.

We rehearsed giving a "good smile" for the camera, and not that awful grimace you have been giving me lately. We even went out and took some pictures with a camera just like the one that would be used. You were doing so well, and I had high hopes that we would have a fun day out taking photos as a family. I guess I must have completely blocked out our last family photo experience from my brain.

The big day arrived and we all got ready and drove to the spot I had chosen. Immediately you decided that you wanted NOTHING to do with the entire business. You did not want to sit next to me, or on my lap. You didn't even want to stand next to us. The whole thing was driving daddy and me up the wall. No wait... that was you.

When we finally talked you into sitting with us and letting my friend Cari take some photographs, we didn't really appreciate the faces that you were making. You may think that I want to remember you like this:











But really I don't. And these are the photos that we managed to get when you actually consented to LOOK at the camera instead of something else.












So we tried to move to another spot and spend some time playing in the grass and leaves. We hoped it would help, but you had already made up your little mind. We got a whole bunch of "No no no no no!", which started to get on our nerves.

The final straw occurred when Daddy had to haul you off to discipline you, which resulted in him stepping on his glasses and completely squashing them flat and scratching the lenses. Needless to say the photo shoot was concluded shortly after that.

I guess it's a good thing that Mommy and Pseudo-Aunt Cari know how to use Photoshop. That way we can take the one or two good photos of your cute little noggin and put them on a photo where the rest of us look nice. So we can create our own beautiful photo memory to replace the actual events of yesterday.

Otherwise our family photos would end up looking like this for awhile.
Hey, don't you guys have two boys?

So if you don't see any photos of our family from now until 2011 it is because we were waiting to take them until you and your brother are both over the terrible twos... and that's assuming that you don't get any more siblings!

We love you, and hope that you return to your adorable self soon.

Love,
Mommy

52 comments:

  1. oh no... sorry but that is too funny! just think you will look back and laugh (even if you aren't laughing right now)

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  2. That is just too hilarious! I know it wasn't at the time, but from Grandma's point of view it brings back lots of memories of when you were a child.

    Grandpa says "It seems that each generation has to experience the same frustrations to receive the same joys. Looking at our family photos shows the same frustrations (including you) that you have just experienced, but now it does bring joy to look back. You will learn to love and enjoy the bad times as well as the good.

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  3. Oh, it's nice to know that someone else has crabby photos in their albums - ha!

    Congrats on being saucy this week! Your blog is wonderful!

    Enjoy...

    :^) Anna

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  4. I'm sorry, that's not funny (to you), but I have to laugh! He seems so pissed about being there!! (bribery, woman, bribery)

    Congrats on being Saucy this week!

    Oh, isn't photoshop a wonderful thing?! I used it on my friend's computer and now I want it!

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  5. That's OK Kelsey!
    I wrote this post to try to find the humor in the situation.

    We actually tried to bribe him by promising him a car when we got home. Perhaps we should have brought some candy with us or something!

    p.s. Love, love, LOVE Photoshop!

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  6. Frown or not, he's still a cutie pie :)

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  7. Hilarious story!

    Congrats on being saucy and your blog is so cute!

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  8. the best laid plans, right! gotta love their agendas...all their own!

    found ya on sits...

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  9. LOL...kids...arrrgh. It will get better...really....well...until they hit their teens!

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  10. This post is a prize! You did choose a great way to post about this tough experience. We have many pictures of my oldest pouting but we took them anyway. We all have a laugh when we look at them now! Great post!

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  11. Ahhh...I have been there! We are getting pictures taken in a couple of weeks and I am hoping now that my girls are 3, they'll be more cooperative.

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  12. Hey...congrats on the saucy blog! I totally and completely feel your pain. Family photos are always tough, and that is an understatement, with young children. And for you and your husband to keep smiling through the whole thing...now that is something to be proud of! It's like we want this happy family so bad that we turn into monsters trying to capture the photo! haha...glad you can laugh about it. We have all been there!

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  13. I'm new to SITS too!! Loving it already...

    Your blog is adorable. I'll be back for sure. Come and visit me at One Wired Woman. We're having lots of fun over there too!!

    ~Jill :)

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  14. Oh my!!! How I can relate!!! I hope you have a great Saucy SITS week! Congrats on being saucy!

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  15. They really do have minds of there own eh!? Sorry you didn't get the perfect photo.....too bad I can't do it for you, cause I'd call do over!

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  16. congrats on being saucy!!! try to keep your expectations low...it's the only way i'm ever happy with our pics! LOL

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  17. Family photos are soooooo stressful. How lucky to be a "Saucy Blog". You have a beautiful family.

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  18. Too funny, I'm glad you wrote him a letter so he can read about this in some future date.

    I thought I'd be nice and let any of your Salt Lake Valley readers have 50% photography so they too can have Family Fiasco pictures of there very own just in time for the holidays. Sound good?

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  19. What, no candy for bribery? "See this one-pound Hershey's kiss? It's all yours for a smile!"

    Congratulations on being saucy this week!

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  20. THIS IS HYSTERICAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and the way you wrote it is one for the books. i am serious. you need to print this out for his memory book (if he has one, which i am thinking maybe not. just kidding). okay, you need to go over to halftimelessons.blogspot.com... he is running a contest about the worst weekend. you might just be in the running.

    i am sure you didn't think it was funny at the time, and you may not yet think it is, but boy, i am howling.

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  21. My child is at this stage now... It's soooo hard to get her to sit still for a picture.

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  22. congrats on being saucy.

    your family is beautiful!

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  23. hi, I saw you as a saucy blog on SITS. I love the letter to your son. Good luck with any future picture taking!

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  24. oh man....I have SO been there! We're having family photos taken next month. The first time since we've become a family of 7. That should be fun! I'll consider myself lucky if they're not photographed trying to kill each other!

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  25. I think the fussy photos are the best! They are the conversation starters.

    Who needs boring sweet smiles!

    Just kidding!

    Cute, cute blog and post.

    Congrats on the Sauciness of your blog!

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  26. haha...that is funny--but I'm sure it's frustrating for you! Congrats on being Saucy and I love your banner up top! So cute!

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  27. So I guess this is what I have to look forward to in the months and years to come! LOL Your boys are too cute - even grumpy.
    Grats to being so Saucy!!

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  28. Too funny and I have SO BEEN THERE!

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  29. Oh no! This is funny! Moose was sick once when we did family pictures...but I figured at that point there was only so much you could do with an under one-year-old.
    I'm sure he'll be adorable, even with a grumpy face!

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  30. Hey, stoppin over from SITS, congrat's on your saucy-ness!

    Angie
    www.nanasboxnonprofit.blogspot.com

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  31. awww but those faces he makes really are cute! :)

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  32. That is so funny and so what my kids do!
    Congrats on being saucy!!

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  33. I love it! I understand completely where you coming from my youngest wanted nothing to do with pictures for the longest time now she isnt too bad about it. I hope your sons become sweet boys again and let you take thier pictures.

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  34. hahaha! Oh man, I am sorry for your frustration, but that cracked me up! Especially the one where he is looking at the camera with a full-on scowl! ooooh, I just about died. Glad to see that it is not going to be getting better for us any time soon... :(

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  35. Blogging therapy, that's what this is.

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  36. That will be a great story to tell him one day. And he's such a cute little guy. Cooperate! LOL

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  37. We are planning photos next month........
    I have a 2 year old- we shall see how it goes!!

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  38. Great Post! That was so fun to read! I'm more nontraditional I think, because I like the "not so posed" pictures! You'll like them to one day!

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  39. this is so funny. i bet he will look back on these and some of them, become his favorites :)

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  40. Oh, the two's! :) The pictures are really cute - easy for me to say, since I'm past the two's, right?!

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  41. too funny!!! oh and 3s are worse than 2s so it might be 2012 or so... ugh. good luck getting a great family shot via photoshop!

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  42. i think they just feel our vibe of "please be good today"... and then just let fly!

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  43. OH WOW...that was too funny and being a photographer myself...I've been on BOTH sides of the fence! It's surprising what fun pictures you CAN get though!

    Great job with photoshop! :)

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  44. LOL Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I love the letter though!

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  45. 10 or 15 years from now those may be some of your favorite pictures of him, no kidding. They will bring back many happy memories.

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  46. How funny.. I just love takeing little ones to get there pix taken... Ok Not..

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  47. Great post! Too funny! I've been there!

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  48. Kids are people too and little controllers, which I am sure you know what I mean. The comment about the crazy mad faced pictures eventually being your favorite (in 10 years or so) is probably true. Ah, the best laid plans of mice and men and mommies who want family photos..

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  49. Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest! I love this post! I'm sure my little guy will pull that one on me when he gets a bit bigger :) Visit my blog: glutenfreefrenzy.blogspot.com

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