Family Picture Time Again...

So the time to get family pictures taken is upon us.  It's still nice weather, the fall colors are coming out, and we need at least one good family picture to replace last years' in my big frame, and for the upcoming Christmas card.  Most importantly however, I am a FIRM believer in getting your family's picture taken AT LEAST once a year.  It is just so imporntant for you and your kids.  You get to preserve the moment in time of your lives together (which I am quite certain will bring me a lot of joy in my older years when they are all grown and gone) and your kids will love to see themselves and you as they grew.  Trust me, I don't have any pictures like that of my family and I sooo wish I did. 

With that all being said...I have a LOVE(which was already explained above)/HATE (which I will explain now) with getting family pictures taken.  They are SOO much work for me!  SOO much stress!!  What do we wear?  Where do we go?? Will the kids actually sit still long enough to get a good picture?  Will the stars align and we will all be looking at the camera and preferably smiling, at the same instant???!!!  AHHH...

Being a photographer, I can appreciate how much work goes into this.  I always would feel the worst for the mom.  She is usually the one that loses it first in the photo shoots.  She has worked SOOO hard to get ready for this day in hopes of capturing her happy family.  Often it doesn't go as planned and I often wondered after I would leave if the mom is crying in the car the whole way home. :)  I have done that myself.  We moms want SOOO badly to have pictures that capture the essence of our family.  I just hope that the "essence" I WANT to remember is captured, instead of the "other" stuff I don't (i.e. crying kids, annoyed look on my face, etc.). :)  I think that I am just going to try and remember the ages of my kids, then I think I will be happy with whatever comes out. :)

Here is last year's family photo:

Okay, back to trying to coordinate outfits.  Wish me luck... :)  I'll post the pictures soon. :)

P.s. My little girls are in the living room watching Cinderella as we speak.  This is the first time they have been into it.  Fun moment as a mom.  So cute.