Family Pictures

It has been a year and a half since we last took family pictures. The picture on my wall is with three kids, and W is a newborn. So while we were in Idaho, we had new pictures taken.

I was so excited! I scoured Pinterest for fun picture ideas. I toiled over the outfits we would all wear in order to "co-ordinate" not match. I had everything planned. But apparently the rest of my family failed to get the memo.

I get every one dressed at the last possible minute (we don't need the boys to stain their outfits before pictures are taken). Here we go.

Luckily we are using my parent's place for all the backgrounds. So no sitting in crumby car seats that may have a stray fruit snack that will stick to a back pocket. Avoiding such things. It is all in the plan!

Walk out the back door.

So far, so good.

Kids run to swings, slide, etc...

No problem. Let them play while we get everything else ready.

Gather kids.

Decided where and how to stand for first picture.

Then it starts...the crying.

Z cries for no apparent reason. He doesn't want to stand still. I guess that is a reason.

W doesn't know how to stand still.

B doesn't know how to stand.

Great start!

I try bribery.

I try reasoning.

I try yelling.

I give up.

Z and I go in the house to "talk."

Grandma to the rescue.

I go back outside to witness my little diva, S, finishing up her photo shoot! The camera loves her and she loves the camera!

Grandma and Z come out with a small bowl of marshmallows.

Good idea Grandma!!!


I decided a "nice" family picture isn't going to happen and try for a fun idea I remember from my Pinterest hunt. Hang Z upside down! That will get him to smile. Put W on my shoulders so he can't wander off. And of course hold Baby B. We can do this!

Main picture done! If we don't get any others, I can live with that. At least I'll have an updated picture for my wall.

Time to take Z's picture. After he gets a few marshmallows, of course.

How to get him to "pose?" Give him a truck! If there is one thing my boys loves, its anything with wheels and a motor.

Eat a marshmallow.

Put him by an old truck!

Eat a marshmallow.

He's in Heaven!!! Why didn't we do this before?!?

Eat a marshmallow.

Put W next to him and take a picture fast!

W wanders off. Time to lure him back with...a marshmallow.

Repeat.

Boys are in a good mood, so let's try a few more family pictures. We head to the field. One step in and S is in tears!!! She stepped on a "hard grass" in her flip flops. Apparently it hurt enough to make her fall apart.

Reasoning.

Bribing.

Eventually, she gets carried.

We pose.

S cries.

We give up.

Marshmallows all around.

Move to a bench in the yard.

Kids don't want to sit on the grass. I don't blame them, I think we found a hidden ant village. Oops! Sorry kids!

Hand out the marshmallows.

W pictures.

He can't hold still, so we try a ball. That helps him move even more, but if I roll it to where I want him, he follows. We can a few cute pictures.

He remembers the bowl of marshmallows. There is no going back to the ball after that.

Baby B's turn.

She can't walk or crawl! And she has no idea what a marshmallow is (thank goodness, since her brother just finished them off). She just needs some peek-a-boo and kissy noises to make her happy. Cute baby!!! So many great shots.

Time for lunch. Couple pictures with Michael and I after we eat. I think we can handle it, even with out marshmallows.

 Skip a few hours.

Couple pictures. That means just Mom and Dad! Finally the kids want to come stand by us. Of course. They eventually play and we get pictures done.

So what did we learn from this experience? Family pictures and marshmallows go hand in hand. Next time I will be prepared!


***Pictures were done by Kathryn Stone Photography. Find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynstonephotography