
Originally I’d planned to do our family photos over Thanksgiving, but when an e-mail coupon for Shutterfly coincided with one of their holiday cards deals, I decided It Was Time. Monday became Family/School Photo Day and my father-in-law gallantly came over to take the pictures over Haus Meister’s lunch break.
With the promise of Hallowe’en candy, the kids dressed up in their Church clothes/ Christmas dresses and got giddily hyper. Always the proper mentality before getting photographed for posterity.
Alas, Dino fans, he did NOT wear a hat this year. He was even marginally more cooperative. One might think he’s growing up. Or one might think the candy bribe was pretty powerful.
In any event, here’s a bunch of Pretty, Happy, Funny, and oh so Real!

This remains one of my favorites, even if it didn’t fit in the card we chose. I love Princess’ exuberance (although I had NO idea she was doing that at the time), Sunshine’s sweet smile, Dino’s coy look, Trooper’s goofy look (because he was laughing), and the corgi photobomb.
That was picture #4. My father-in-law wisely just kept snapping in hopes that one picture would come out with us all looking in one direction.

Picture #24. Miss M: “Oh! Look! I see the plane! Do YOU see the plane, [Posey]? Mama, a plane!” Posey Pie: “Whoooooa.”
Sunshine is ready to move on. I only wish I HAD known Princess was doing that. The boys look fine. Corgi still photobombing. Time for a change of scene….

LEAF PILE! YAAAAAAA!
I wanted one of us all in the leaves, and one of me with our girls, and Haus Meister with our strapping lads. Too much to ask?

Four out of five girlies. Not so bad. Come on, Sunshine!
But the fun of prancing in the leaves in full dress was just too much. Daddy had to sit in just so SHE would sit down. And shout “CHEEEEESE!”

I love that Sunshine girl. She puts her heart into it. Meanwhile, no clue why Princess is jumping up. Miss M is still looking for planes, Posey is about over it, and Littlest is still along for the ride.
Littlest isn’t so little, if you notice. There’s only about 4lbs difference between Posey and herself. She also just turned six months old. I am in denial that it’s already been half of a year since her quick entrance into our life.
Anyway, back to the photos. The boys didn’t fare much better. A truck lumbered down our street and completely distracted Trooper while it was in sight. The other two young miscreants had no such excuse. Not one picture had all three of my little men looking at the camera.

But I am pleased as punch that after cropping out our neighbor’s air conditioner unit, we have Family Photo 2014!

Trooper had just yanked me backward into the leaves. What a stinker! Posey’s two-finger habit now captured, Miss M looking 75% more dainty than she normally appears, and we are all, generally, facing forward.
For us, SUCCESS! 😉