Christmas Pictures

Richard has always wanted me to send Christmas cards and I've only done it about 2 times in our whole married life. Last year (the second time) I decided that I was going to continue to do them every year and made a list and addresses of our friends and managed to keep it. When I mentioned to him last week that we needed to get a picture done so I could make cards again I was a little surprised at his un-enthusiastic response since he was the one who really wanted me to do this. Then came time to take the picture and I've realized that picture taking may be the one thing that would make him not care if a card was sent out at all. First of all, we really didn't have time to take it. Second, it was just luck that Stephen came to our house Saturday and would be there to take the picture. Thirdly, the kids had friends over and Richard had quite a list of things he wanted to get done. I ironed a few clothes in the morning and just said to myself if it happens it happens. When we were getting close to no daylight, I just started getting everyone dressed and told them, "just a few . . .I promise." I started with the kids first. Porter would not put down his bat or cars and when we finally got him to put them down, he would not sit with his sisters, nor look at the camera + he insisted on playing swords with sticks. When I was ready to just pack it up I got the girls to tell their dad to step away from something he was working on and put on new clothes for a quick family picture. We managed to get Stephen to snap a few on the porch - let me add that Porter would not sit next to the girls without being gross and wipe gross things on them. I snatched him up and we took two pictures and called it a day. I would never waste a photographer's time nor my money to get this done professionally. Richard hates this saying, but "It is what it is" - and I'm fine with that. I need to make a collage of all the stick hitting, car running, pouting children - these three were by and far the closest to ok that I got. We do love to get cards from our friends however, and have learned that you don't get as many unless you send one as well. It is sad that some years come and go and a Christmas card is the only communication we have with all the people we care about. With the passing of our good friend Kelly, our hearts have been reminded of how blessed we are to have such wonderful friends and want them to know how much their friendship means to us. You'll just never get that perfectly posed beautiful picture from us . .and I guess if you're our friend you already know that.