The Family Pictures That Were Almost Not Meant To Be

I probably should have just put "Family Pictures", posted the pics, and left it at that. But that would just be so unlike me to leave out all the exciting details that you probably don't care about.

You: "No, no. I care so much. Now tell me, Rachel, what exactly happened?! Why were they almost not meant to be?!"

Oh, you're so sweet. Thanks for asking!

First of all, I should say that I love them! Cynthia, who I found out after she took our pictures, doesn't even take pictures professionally anymore. Pretty much, I kind of put her on the spot and she agreed. And I love her for that! And although there was/is a twinge of guilt, I'm already scheming up ways for there to be a next time.

And now for all those details you've been asking about:

• We had been in Tahoe for a week with my family (over 4th of July). Tom reluctantly agreed to drive back home a bit early so we could stop for a day in Utah for Cynthia to take our pictures. We got out later than we had hoped which got us into Utah (at our friends', the Mollers) super late on the Friday night. Pictures were early Saturday morning.
• I slept through my alarm (haven't done that since high school)! Cynthia very kindly let us reschedule for that evening (it's all about the lighting).
• We headed over to Tom's aunt and uncle's house so the kids could take naps. The kids were not on board with that plan and didn't nap well or at all.
• As I was taking a shower that afternoon, the power went out. So there I was with sopping wet hair not knowing what to do without my precious blow dryer. My hair is a wavy (not cute) poofball without one. After trying to wait it out for a bit, I frantically called the Mollers asking if we could run back over there to get ready (about a half hour away). They, being the gracious people that they are, of course said yes!
• I went out to the car to back it out of the garage and realized that the garage wouldn't open because the power was out. I figured out how to open it manually (although pulling it off track) and backed it out.
• Tom and I got everybody out to the car with all our stuff and suddenly the car wouldn't start! Tom ran around to all the neighbors (his aunt and uncle weren't home). He found somebody and luckily was able to jump start it.
• About 10 minutes down the road I realized that I forgot something back at his aunt's house. At this point Tom was beyond not thrilled with me and made me promise that we would never take pictures out of town again!
• We got back to his aunt's house and the power was back on. Hooray! We hurried and got ready although by this point I was a big sweaty mess and my hair was having some definite issues. Whaddya do?
• We got up to Salt Lake a bit late. Just when we thought we were in the clear, the real fun began....Claire! She was soooo overtired and after a few individual shots was ALL over the place! She was either grabbing Everett, or running away, or just plain refusing to smile or look at the camera. Cynthia, Tom, and I left thinking that we did not get a single family shot. I was totally bummed about that.

Shockingly enough, we got one! We call it our, "hey-everybody-is-looking-at-the-camera family picture!"

As for the rest...I think she got some dang cute shots of my littles! (The first 3 are going up big on my walls.)

This is so my Everett! He makes this face about 80% of the day. I extra love it when it's coupled with "Wow!"

Ha! Love this! This is the face he makes for the other 20% of the day.

Just think, without that in-depth family-picture-day explanation you would have continued to think that we were just the perfect little family who had it all together. Tricked ya!