Family Pictures 2015

Well, I made them do it again.  The boys (including the grown one!) suffered through family pictures for their mother's (and prosperity's) sake.  Haha!  Of course, this is the best version of ourselves.  Or as hubs says, not reality.  

I definitely admit there's some truth to that.  For instance, it's true that in reality the oldest child won't wear jeans to save his life.  It's sporty pants or nothing.  And you should've seen his face when I showed him the sweater I picked out.  But, by golly if he isn't one handsome stud muffin sporting that thing!  Oh and speaking of sweaters, the hubs had a similar look on his face when he saw his new outfit.  He relented when I assured him that half the mannequins at Kohl's were dressed just like that. ;)  It's true...wearing my hair down and curling it?!  That sure doesn't happen every day.  And you won't catch me with those earrings in for fear they'd be ripped out of my earlobes by one of my rowdy boys.  It's true...it was freezing cold this day and the baby was not having it.  In between each one of these fabulous shots he was curled in a ball on daddy's shoulders crying "cold! cold!"  It's true...lil' peanut is actually just as cool in real life as he looks in these pictures.  He wore his hair "spikey" at his own request and he adored his new stylin' outfit.  Of course, on the way there he declared that he hated family pictures and vehemently refused to smile until it was his turn in front of the camera and we told him he wouldn't get candy and cocoa if he didn't stop making his angry face.  

Oh, family pictures.  I love you.  Not only do you make us look really good, you freeze in time this precious family of mine.  You give me pause as I reflect on how we have grown and changed and increased our capacity for love with the addition of each of our sons.  But, mostly I love you because I know your story.  Facebook just sees our coordinating outfits and happy smiles.  They don't know that when I came downstairs after getting myself ready, my middle guy gave me the biggest smile and declared how beautiful I was.  Or that our oldest kept making our photographer laugh with his snarky comments.  Or that the baby flashed his signature shy grin and tried to run away from the camera every time we sat him down.  Those are the untold stories of family pictures.  

So, hubby is right.  On the surface these pictures are maybe not "reality."  But, when I look a little deeper I see us pretty much just how we are. :)  (And I'm enjoying what may be our last time of coordinating clothes and combed hair as I agreed to a "come as you are" shoot next time.  I'm afraid once the boys get a taste of that they'll never let me put sweaters on them again.)