Family Photos

Boy, are they lucky.

They didn't have to color coordinate. Black and white photos are very forgiving. They're probably all wearing clashing shades of red and hot pink for all we know! And they didn't even have to smile! How easy to take a photo of two adults and three children when you don't all have to be smiling at the same time.

Ahh...the early 1900s. A simpler time for family portraits.

I, however, am embarking on our 2010 family spring photos. How do these things always sneak up on me? I've had it scheduled for months now. Months. And now, in the last few frantic moments left, I am scrambling to assemble four complete outfits that define our our family. Our personalities. Our style. Our bond.

And all the while coordinating???? While not looking too matchy-matchy, of course.

I think we're going with blues and greens. Not pastels or whites, like last year. Bright, vibrant colors. The boys are {somewhat} taken care of.

I have a very tall husband, so simply going to the mall to buy him a shirt is not an option. They must be ordered online from any store that carries XLTs {thus my frantic call to customer service earlier this afternoon asking if I could order a shirt I just spotted in their catalog and have it delivered by Wednesday}. Not that we can't wear something we already own. I get that. The thing is, we just don't buy clothes very often. Clothes are functional. Not super-fun or flashy. And they get very worn out.

And I'm the worst person to dress! And dress in a dress, in fact. I feel as thought I should exude femininity {that made me chuckle just typing it} with three "men". How else to do that than wear a dress? This should be the simplest thing to buy for a woman with my body type {in short, I have hips}. But how come I've dragged my boys in a double stroller {which no tall, 57 lb 4 yr old should legally ride in} through the mall this week and found not one single dress?

I think I'm going to take a gamble and order a dress online as well. Pray that it fits. That it flatters. That it coordinates. That it exudes "Kelli"...whatever that may mean for the day.

Otherwise, I'm wearing my robe, pulling my hair in a pony, going without makeup and telling the boys to wipe all of the snot, Spaghettios and Play Doh on me that they can muster.

After all, that is real life. And that is what I want to capture. {real life, but not the robe}

Does anyone else have this much trouble coordinating their family's outfits for photos? Suggestions?