Family Pictures 2013

Does anyone besides me dread taking family pictures?  I hate it.  I only do it every two years and then just because I would be a hypocrite if I didn't.  (I get seriously perturbed if I don't get an entire family portrait at least every other year in the Christmas letters I receive). I used to think it would be better when the kids got older.  You know, we wouldn't have to bring candy to head off the inevitable toddler tears.  Our photographer wouldn't have to throw toys in the air to get babies to smile.  It just seemed like we should be home free by now, right?  Wrong.  So, in case you're wondering - the boys all say that the shirts they are wearing look totally gay and that I should definitely never plan to see them again,  Aaron is way too cool to smile, certain boys don't want to stand next to certain girls and Amber apparently still does better with bouncing toys. Who knew?  Anyway, big Amber (who I will hereafter call "Super Amber" instead because she's really not all that big) made the whole affair as painless as possible and we made it through.  So, here they are for your viewing pleasure.  Maybe tomorrow I'll post about Halloween or - you know - anything else that has happened this fall. :)

I personally thought I did a great job picking out clothes (with the help of Aunt Emily).  Doesn't this just say "autumn" to you?  Yeah, me too.

 Look at these cuties.  We are so lucky to have these great girls.

 And here are three handsome boys in the shirts they hate.  Whatever!

What a feisty little hot pepper.  We had to summon her back to the photo shoot on more than one occasion because the temptation of playing with Kade and Keian proved entirely too great.

 Here is our resident seventh grader.  Isn't she getting grown up?

 Sweet Miranda and her very favorite blue boots.

I think this is the picture I chose for Chad's senior ad in the yearbook.  It's either this one or the next.  They were both pretty awesome.

 Can you believe my baby is going to college next year?  Don't leave me Darling!

This is probably the closest we got to a smile with Aaron.  He doesn't look like he's in too much pain, does he?

And here's our little firecracker again.  She is simply bursting with flavor.  Last weekend, she sneaked up behind Aunt Emily, said "I bet you didn't see this coming!" and then proceeded to pinch Aunt Emily's bottom.  We laughed and laughed.

 Just chillin' out at the park.

 Sam and Julie after twenty years.

 Here's the less high maintenance contingent of the Smith family. Ha!

And this is my favorite one.  As a matter of fact, when I'm done here, I'll be ordering it poster size for the family room.  Woo Hoo!

Miranda insisted on having this picture in front of the climbing vines.  I think it turned out quite nicely.

 

And so now I just have to write the Christmas letter and we are good to go.  Signing out!