Happy Couple

Well, we went to get our family pictures taken a few weeks ago, and it turned out to be a stressful night that yielded a few good results. Nathan had been gone all day and I stewed for hours over what we should all wear, but didn't feel like I'd come up with anything wonderful. In the end I came up with a rainbow theme and had each person with a different bright color, that seemed to work nicely. I had dinner made and we all ate early so as to have time to get ready for pictures after eating. I was upstairs trying to get myself and the kids ready, while Nathan was downstairs watching some really "important" football game. By 6:15 I was starting to feel the pinch for time, as our appointment was at 7 and was at least 15 minutes away. I started getting all crazy, like I normally do when I feel like I'm going to be late for something important and no one is helping. I was yelling and running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Nathan strolled upstairs casually and slowly got himself dressed around 6:25. I begged him to help get the kids dressed, only to have him say, "What are these clothes they're wearing? They can't wear this!" Then he proceeded to ask things like, "don't we all have any matching clothes?" and "What else could they wear..."

Needless to say, I was in no mood to hear that kind of response to the wardrobe I had chosen, especially when it was given right before we needed to leave. I ran into the kids room and searched desperately for something else. Nathan was especially disgusted with the green shirt I had chosen for Carter, so I had to find a different bright color for him. Red was the only one I could find (without prints on it), so that meant that the red shirt I had chosen for Lily would clash, so I had to find her something new too. I was a frantic mess and quite beside myself. I am getting to the point where I don't know why I try to do things kinds of things, because it's going to give me gray hair and a heart attack!!!

However, after all the stress and craziness, we were able to make it out the door and to our apt. almost on time (which didnt' matter in the end because their was another family in front of us). We were there for a long time, but ended up getting some pretty good shots.

Nathan and I have different opinions about his smile. This is his favorite picture of us, and my least favorite. I love his smile in all the other pictures of us as a couple, but this one bugged me, it doesn't look real. Apparently, he though it was the only one that did look real. Whatever.

I really liked this one.

And this one too!

In the end, we all learned a few lessons:

1) Just break down and buy matching clothes BEFORE scheduling family pictures

2) Don't change the wardrobe 2 minutes before leaving the house, and if you do, don't be surprised if the wife turns into a scary looking chicken with her head cut off.

3) If I have a wardrobe picked out, show it to spouse well before the time to put the clothes on

4) Remember that just because the pictures will go up on our walls and in our albums for years, it is not the end of the world if they aren't perfect, and they are definitely not worth causing contention and distress in the marriage or family!

5) There is no such thing as family pictures being PERFECT!!!

6) The kids are cute in pretty much anything, so does it really matter what they wear?

7) In the future I will defer the entire responsibility of dressing and getting the kids ready to Nate, it might make me less stressed. I'll also let him pick the clothes next time, he will probably do a better job, and will definitely not waste as much time doing it as I did (only to have it not be suitable after all!)

8) or maybe we just shouldn't get our family pictures taken, wouldn't that be easier?

Okay, so after reading the lessons learned, I realize that I have some pent up anger or frustration about the clothing issue. It makes me really embarrassed and sad. So maybe I should've just said one lesson learned: let Nate do it!