Mommy's spend weeks planning the perfect outfits. Then days planning around colds, nap times, bruises, and bad moods. And hours fixing hair and keeping little boys out of mud puddles...just to get that perfect picture. THAT'S what "the big deal is!"
The last time we had pictures done of all of the kids, Dani and Dakotah weren't even born yet. Considering Dani is seven and Dakotah is four, we decided it was time!
With six kids, you don't spend months and weeks planning. We decided on a Saturday afternoon that we would take the pictures the next day.
I decided on black & white. That would be easy enough. I went through everyone's closets and found them a black or a white shirt and jeans. I stressed over and over. "This is what you will wear to church. Then right after church we'll take pictures. DO NOT GET DIRTY!"
Dustin, nine hated the shirt I gave him to wear. It was "sooo retarded looking." I told him to get over it and went on getting everyone else ready.
Church starts at 10:00. At 9:40 I was still running around in my pajamas coordinating outfits. Ugh...
Dustin came in the back door from jumping on the trampoline with mud all over his "retarded looking shirt." I may have overreacted, sent him upstairs to change, had a minor melt down, and while I was breathing into a brown paper bag, Devin came in and said, "Dustin did that on purpose. He said, if I roll in mud I won't hafta wear this stupid shirt."
Breathe Jenny. Breathe. If Curtis hadn't been here to bring me back to reality, I probably would have taken the retarded, muddy, shirt, rubbed Dustin's nose in it, then made him wear it to church and for pictures. It would've made a funny picture and story...eventually, right?
Okay, picture time! We have Kaya 14, Daymond 14, Devin 12, Dustin 9, Dani 7, and Dakotah 4.
On our way rushing out the door, heading for two separate vehicles, because we can't all fit in one, I said, "We hafta take Darli!" Curtis looked at me like I was from another planet. "Are you kidding? I don't wanna hafta keep up with the dog!" "I will. C'mon Darli! Should we take Tyson too?" "NOOO!!!" "Goodness, now who's overreacting?"
There's a beautiful little park just a couple minutes from our house where we went to do our family "photo session."
Curtis had lots of fun ideas. We had everything we needed. Camera. Kids. Props. Sunshine. Smiles. Positive attitudes. Nothing but time. Let's do this!
Kaya and Daymond, both teenagers were over this before it ever started. So they were fairly cooperative from the get go. I know they were probably thinking, smile and it'll be over before we know it.
With Dani and Dakotah, all you have to say is, smile and strike a pose. They love being the center of attention. So they both done great.
Then there's Devin and Dustin. Wow! Although the park is very pretty. It also has a lot of distractions for little boys. Streams, rocks, woods, bugs...
Every time I snapped a picture they were both off and running like wild animals. Jumping across the creek, climbing trees, rolling down hills, throwing leaves at each other.
I felt like a broken record. "Devin stop. Dustin don't get dirty. Devin you're going to get hurt. Dustin put the bugs down."
We left the park Sunday with a total of 30 pictures taken. Six grumpy kids, one angry, disappointed mama, and a daddy that was probably wondering what he was thinking when had the idea to do pictures. 
After editing, we came out with ten amazing pictures of our beautiful kids. And now that the anger has subsided, I can look at these pictures and laugh and say it was all worth while.
Don't take life too serious. Lesson learned!
Most well behaved of the day? Definitely Darli!
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