Christmas Pictures Reveal!

Last night I spent hours going through our pictures from the "Old Navy photoshoot"  with Alicia Sutton Photography to create the 2012 Wise Family Christmas Card. I finally finished around 1:30am and I am feeling that late night this morning!

You'll have to remember that Parker was so misbehaved that day that I spent most of the photoshoot close to tears.... so all things considered I am pleased with the outcome. I wish Parker had worn his vest I scoured the city for but it just wasn't gonna happen! 

We got a great shot of the kids individually and a nice family picture to adorn the Christmas card with. I'm saving posting those until after everyone has received their cards but I'm happy to share the rest.

I brought a football for Parker and Daniel to play around with. I had visions of boyish actions shots dancing in my head but little Miss was much more interested in the deflated football than her brother was.

Daniel eventually grabbed Parker, the football and announced "here is your football shot..." It turned out surprisingly cute!

The light was so pretty with Avery's bright coat and grey/blue eyes

We got a canvas worthy picture of Parker and I was elated! It's on the Christmas card so I can't show it yet but here are two others of the most handsome little boy who hates having his picture made!

See the tree above? Climbing it in was the only way to keep Parker still and smiling so the majority of our Christmas card worthy photos are in the tree. The only problem is it looks like 2 legs spread open and we're all coming out of it. I giggle at the thought of being worried about our Christmas card looking like an Old Navy ad because now I've renamed it something infinitely worse.... "The Happy Vagina Tree Christmas Card" which I realize is totally inappropriate but when you see the full uncropped picture, you'll know why!

Avery got in on the tree climbing as well.

After a quick change in the parking lot, the kids were ready for Christmas! Well.... Avery was... Parker was ready for time out and a nap.

Now that I've got these photos back, I was able to finish up a lot of Christmas presents. Thank you Shutterfly! I'm feeling good about where I am on my Christmas list, cards are ordered and the Christmas decorations are beckoning me from the shed. Its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in the Wise household!

The Day Parker Refused to Take Family Pictures

Y'all..... it's Christmas card picture day and as I suspected but prayed against..... it was a disaster. Everyone woke up in good moods. The time change gave us ample time to get up, get ready and eat breakfast since Miss A woke up at 5:58am... SO close to not seeing the 6 o'clock hour! We talked in the car that good behavior meant a friend could come over and play and he'd earn a NEW train. He picked Paxton. Well... I'll just say his playdate was cancelled and Paxton has been put in storage for Christmas. 

I DO think we got a few good ones despite the fact that he would ONLY smile if he were running and tackling me and he refused to wear the vest I spent days trying to find. Children.... Poor Avery's face is still scrapped up and she just ran around kicking a football or being thrown in the air pretty much the whole photoshoot. I totally lost my cool with Parker which resulted in a phone call apologizing to the photographer. I put SO much effort into organizing this. Jotted down shots I wanted to "try" to get. Picked out just the right outfits. Appliqued Christmas shirts for the kids.... the works. I was SO bummed on the way home that we stopped by Starbucks for a "cheer me up red cup Starbucks" but the line was SOOOO long (church crowd!) that I just grabbed some International Delight caramel macchiato iced coffee and taquitos.... lunch of champions my friends. Despite being a committed lover of Starbucks, I think I'm gonna start having an affair with this ID iced coffee. It's THAT good... just don't look at the ingredients or nutrition facts.

After we got home, I sent Parker outside to the swing set to play out his grumpies. He came inside 15 minutes later saying he was itchy. Poor kid got bit by ants at least 10 times on his face, neck and hands. I felt so bad for him. I can't stay mad at him long...especially since he keeps coming up to me with a HUGE smile and saying "Look mommy! I'm smiling!" If only you had done that 7 hours ago, love bug! Bless his heart. You win, Parker.... I give up on photos of you for a while. When you're older and you wonder why I only have pictures of Avery just know I love you equally and I tried!

After Miss A's nap she wanted to go outside so I took her to walk the neighborhood trails. I thought she looked SO cute in her new outfit (I LOVE Smockadot packages in the mail) so I brought the camera along. At least this one still enjoys having her picture taken!

I'm excited to get our pictures back in a few weeks. They always surprise me and make it worth the "experience." Even if Parker is having a meltdown in all of them I'm sure eventually I'll look back at those pictures fondly and laugh at the day I spanked my son because he wouldn't stand next to Avery so we could get a shot of our shoes.... it seemed really important at the time.

PERSPECTIVE