Giving "Picture Perfect" The Boot!

I spent the last week getting ready for our family pictures. In typical Michelle fashion, I tired to do it as cute as possible for as cheap as possible. Yesterday as we were getting ready, I became increasingly uptight and bossy. Nate almost boycotted the whole thing. I'm sure I'm not the only mom who takes family pictures very seriously. So some of the prep included hair cuts for all of us (three of which we did ourselves to make up for one professional one, guess whose that was). I made two different bows for Elizabeth's hair, because I didn't like the first one. I shopped for several hours last Saturday. I got Harrison a new outfit which was not on sale (much to Daddy's dismay, but really honey, it was Old Navy, not Nordstrom), Nate a new shirt from the clearance rack (he was happy about that), and a new shirt for me, which I will be returning because I ended up borrowing a different shirt from Jenni (thank you!) that was way more flattering. I knew I wanted to borrow a dress for Elizabeth from Shauna (thank you!) and I had really wanted to get her the most adorable black patent leather boots from Old Navy.

But they were $20 and I couldn't bring myself to do it considering I usually get the kids' shoes from Target when they're on clearance for $2.50. Well, a few days later a friend told me the boots were 40% off. So I went and got them. I was so excited about her wearing these boots in the picture. And they were going to be her black Sunday shoes for the winter. I tried them on her, and she could barely walk in them because they are a size too big (smallest size they come in) and because she has the shortest legs ever. I started to get worried that this may not have been the best idea. But I tend to place fashion over function, so I just hoped for the best. Well sure enough, she hated wearing the boots, kept asking for them to come off, saying "all done" and "no thank you," and crying incessantly. I was one disappointed Mommy when she ended up in white socks for half the pictures. Bare foot would have been better than white socks, but no, she wanted the socks.

I guess no matter how hard you try, when it comes to an almost 2 year old, there's no such thing as picture perfect! Somehow, Melissa still managed to get some great shots. Thanks again, Melissa! Check it out on her photoblog http://blueprintsphotography.blogspot.com/ The post is called "The Winners." Notice how I'm trying to cover the white sock with my hand in the family one!