Photos, Tantrums and Thunderstorms

Today was a day I have been looking forward to for weeks.  We had our appointment with a local photographer to take family pictures.  Not only did I have to book months ago to get in, but we had booked an outdoor shoot which we have never done before.  I was nervous.  My parents were coming to be in the pictures and I had a couple of adorable outfits picked out for the boys.  All was looking good until the weather forecast predicted thunderstorms for today starting early morning.  I had mixed feelings because our area has been hit with a horrible drought and I knew we really needed rain.

I woke up to sunshine and began preparations for an outdoor shoot.  We got to the location (a farm nearby) and our happy toddlers wanted NOTHING to do with posing, being in long grass, or generally doing anything that might get a good photo.  I was devastated.  When the boys get like this, their stubbornness and tempers prevent them from getting out of this state.  Since we were standing in the middle of a grass field there wasn’t too many options to distract the boys with.  We tried tickles with pieces of grass, funny faces, and a wide variety of generally silliness.  Nothing worked.  It was hot, everyone was sweating, and I worried this day was going to produce zero photos.  The tide changed when one noticed a flower in the grass and the other decided to investigate too.  I think there were some good pictures in that series and we decided to head to the studio to get some shots there.

I sure wish I had brought a makeup kit, a hair brush, really anything.  I could not believe how sweaty and gross I felt, not to mention my curly hair straightened was now just frizzy because of the heat.  I am pretty sure my makeup had slid off my face by that point.  But, I went in with a smile, and a few prayers that Photoshop could fix any facial or hair flaws that had been created.

I think the photographer got some great photos of Martin and I, and hopefully some of my parents, but the boys, I am not too sure.  The twins were not happy with props, with being held, with doing anything other than playing.  So, fingers crossed that a day of tantrums will result in some pictures that look like the beautiful, happy family we are.

The thunderstorm came around dinner time, with large pieces of hail and heavy rain.  Not the kind of rain that helps the fields and the crops.  The kind that damages them.  I guess it was Mother Nature’s version of a tantrum, a very fitting way to end my day.