For several years, we have had family and friends requesting a family photo.  The last professional photo we had taken was Easter ‘03.  I was newly-pregnant with Brett. 

Since then we have taken snapshots.  I have had two of the boys to a studio twice.  I really, REALLY don’t like studios.  Unless you go to a very expensive one, you have fifteen minutes to get everyone shot.  I mean with a camera.  Though when we’re twenty-five minutes into our fifteen minute time allotment, I usually feel like shooting someone.  Mostly myself.

I kid!

I did really well until our fourth child.  I had all of the boys into a studio at the one year mark, give or take a couple months.  I totally bombed with Eliana.  I tried.  Really I did.  But for various reasons, had to keep cancelling.  So the poor girl will go into her adulthood knowing that her mother missed the all-important one year photo shoot.  She did, however, take a trip a few months earlier with her parents, sans freres.  To the Caribbean, no less!  I figure it all balances out.

Last year, I plunked the kids in front of the tree, and had our neighbour assist me in snapping a few photos.  Then I played around with them on Print Shop.  It was fun, and they turned out great!

This year I took it a bit further.  Daddy & I joined in the fun as well.  I set up a couple spot-lights, pulled the shades to block the light, and hung some white sheets.  I was then reminded why I am thankful to have not wasted spent money on a studio sitting, complete with stress and excessive sweating (I have a knack for sweating profusely before pictures.  It’s a gift, people!).  There was enough stress and sweat going on at home in the warm, Christmasy comfort of our own living room. 

So for your visual, viewing and optical pleasure, I give you, Christmas ‘07.

*note* I haven’t had a chance to fix any red eyes yet, but if you squint and tilt your head….oh whatever.  It’s red-eye fever around these here parts.

See why we don’t do the studio?  Between Cole expressing holiday joy in a completely excessive manner, Luke going feral, Brett looking anywhere but at the camera, Eliana too embarrassed to show her face, and psychedelic shots of Damara, would YOU go for the studio experience?

But wait!  There’s more!  The BEST is yet to come!