Family Photo Shoot - August 2015

When you are usually the photographer shooting other people/families, what do you do when it's time to get YOUR family photos taken? Pay big bucks for someone else to take them? NO WAY! We already have the camera and post-shoot editing skills. We just needed someone to use our camera and take them for us...and someone ELSE to get the kids to smile!

Step in.....PopPop and Grandma!

When we realized we hadn't taken a nice family photo in months, we really wanted to get them done in August during our break at home before leaving for our fall tour. THANKFULLY, my parents were in town so we asked them to help us (my dad would take the pictures and my mom could bring toys and be silly and get the boys to smile!).  It started out a bit rough (we had promised a lollipop to David after the shoot if he smiled nice the whole time...so for the first minute of photos he had the BIGGET and BRIGHTEST smile. Then, he demanded his lollipop, thinking we were done! Whoops! We had a tiny meltdown, got him cheered up, and then continued with the shoot - I think we ended up giving him the lollipop for a few licks in between pictures or something...as kind of a "meet in the middle" resolution!). Anyway, despite the bumpy start, we are so thankful for how well the pictures came out! As any of you with small children know, it can really be a challenge to get them to cooperate, look in the right direction, look pleasant, not get dirty/wrinkled/untucked/slimy(from drool or runny nose)/sweaty ETC!!!! during the shoot...so yeah, with all of those things working against you, you are VERY happy when you get pictures that end up looking like this! :) Enjoy a few of our very favorites!!

I'm so in love with these two sweet smiley little guys!!

His smile lights up the room! I almost can't take this much cuteness in one little chubby face!!!!

Love David's "wink smile"! He has gone through so many phases of smiles (there was a long phase of not really smiling for pictures at all!!)...it's been so fun to see his developing personality shine through in these expressions!!

The little goofball!!

With my man <3

This was a quick snapshot of Caleb and the boys, as he kept them happy while I took some pictures of my parents! :)

Love the lighting in this one!! Didn't get a big smile out of David but still LOVE this shot!!!!

My absolute FAVORITE!!!! Ear to ear smiles on everyone! Jonathan is clapping :) David's little hands are folded so sweetly! The stone wall is gorgeous and makes for a more unique pose. I just LOVE IT!!!!!

And boy am I thankful for mine!!