official photo time ...

I have about 75 photos like this, which I now have to choose 

from for a photo on my living room wall!

we all remember back when I got my nice camera ...

and how I vowed to do my own pics to make it worth the price ...

well, here we are five years later!!!

the kids have grown - both in stature and in their loathing of being the subjects of photos.

sigh.

how did I manage to do this?

me, the wanna-be photographer!

me, the mom who sees the beautiful family portraits online and gushes

and gets excited for the possibilities of poses and places to do pics with her own little brood!

I have, indeed, stuck to my vow ...

we have not stepped foot in a studio since 2008 (before the camera)!

and, I have lots of adorable pics from my little photo shoots -

mostly of the very young and individual, but even a few of all four have managed to thrill me!

this hasn't happened for a few years now, though.

and days like today - when I end up coming home with four cranky kids,

wishing I could throw my own little tantrum - these are the days I seriously question my vow.

I guess I get what I get and I won't throw a fit.

the photos meant for the wall may never get there ...

and the random ones that amaze me will!

for today, I share the reality of "picture day" in our family ...

and I'll wonder how many of those "perfect" pics online have grumbling kids

and immensely frustrated parent photographers behind them!