Christmas Picture....Take One!

  I was seriously dreading excited about taking our Christmas picture. Three kids all looking at the camera with their eyes open and smiling in good light? No problem. I also wanted to get them done early, and by that I mean, in December. I am not working at all the first half of December and have lots of work the last half, so trying to make the most of it and get it all done. So, my first thought was to go to a beautiful park and have my three angelic children sit on a park bench. Yeah, scratch that. The light in our bedroom is always good, so I figured I would start there. Alaina helped me out with the test shots.

OK, the light is good although I don't like the background...

Conner joined in (we were waiting to wake Zane up from his nap so he would be super happy). Yep, light is good but man, the background is bad. 

So, lets switch perspectives on the bed.....nope, background worse. Plan B.......

We (the kids) had the idea to have Conner lay on the bottom, then Alaina, then Zane. We tested that but all I could picture was Zane tumbling off, crying and then no picture. So I tried Keith's suggestion, take it from above. Yeah, somehow that didn't look like all the cute pictures I am seeing on the photo company website. Ugh. Plan C.

We headed outside, I had the idea to have the kids lay on the trampoline. It was covered with leaves which I thought would be a very natural foundation to the picture. So I sent the kids and Keith out there while I got Zane up. Well, my sweet husband decided to sweep of the trampoline for me. Yeah. Took a test shot but not liking the trampline backdrop. Ugh.

 Plan D. The fence. Hey, it is an earthly, natural background, right? Despite the fact that you can see the neighbors junk through it, that is. Test shot with Alaina....I like. 

 OK, here we go, bring on Zane! He was happy, I was grumpy and already barking orders, but hey, we were making progress.

 Alaina, you really need to look at the camera for this to work.

 Alaina, easy on the smile, and Zane, look alive.

 OK, Conner, I need you be looking up. Please, someone look at me!

 Glad they are having fun, but at this point I was SO frustrated. It was IMPOSSIBLE to get them all looking at me. Zane was engrossed with the leaves. Probably because I never take him outside, poor kid. Yes Zane, there is a whole other world outside of our living room and Target. : )

*SIGH*

I will say, we did eventually get a good picture. In fact the Christmas pictures I ordered arrived today and I have to say, I love them. You all will just have to wait by your front doors in anticipation for the mailman to bring your card to see the final product. HA!

At least that is one thing off my list of Christmas things to do. Now on to the other eighty six things....