The subtitle of this post is: WHY DO I EVEN BOTHER?!
Grandpa has all but instructed us not to get him a Christmas gift this year. Contented people are always hard to buy for. That’s a compliment of course. But I had the grand idea of taking a group picture of him and the boys and having it blown up and framed for him. The boys have some new “traveling duds” and “wedding duds” so they were going to work perfectly for the picture. When we went purchasing said duds they all saw “Grandpa hats” and wanted them. I couldn’t resist. Grandpa must know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
So, clothing-wise, I had the perfect materials to work with. A nice balmy 10°C day, adorable children, a loving Grandpa and fancy new duds. The only thing I didn’t have was completely complicit attitudes. There was one fine cooperative cheerful subject, one insanely goofy hammy subject, one very wiggly and unsure of what to do in front of the camera it’s been so long subject, one angry poo-poo head subject and one really weary Grandpa subject! You can figure out which is which…
Non-compliant subjects and all, I think we actually captured a moment quite well.
Pathetic a moment as it may have been.
Poor Grandpa looks like a deer in the headlights there.
Oh and then I added one incredibly hot, sexy pastor subject.
But the antics continued unabated. I would have to do a lot of photoshop chopping off of heads and sticking them in different pictures to get one where everyone is smiling and looking directly at the camera. It would look something like a photographic version of Frankenstein’s monster.
I did get a few very cute pictures…
Then to punish the boys I took them around the corner… TO THE WOODSHED. Just kidding. I took them around the corner and took even more pictures, cruel mother that I am. But with all of the sickness of the Fall I had not gotten around to taking Fall portraits as I usually do so I needed to get this done!
Here is Mr. Mature. Mr. Serious. Don’t blame him. I told him to be serious.
This one managed to behave for this 13 second portion of the photo shoot, thus enabling me to come away with a few fabulous pictures of him.
This guy, I like to call Cheeseburger.
We call this one Ham Loaf.
I particularly like these two baddies. Look at those rotten little scowls.
It did go downhill again though.
Way down hill.
Punks. Every one of ’em. And I love them to pieces.
Broken Sojourners 
Nan, these are awesome!
Those are all absolutely adorable! They fit the punks perfectly. I love it when they make those faces like they want to run off and not be taking pictures..but I totally understand why you kept taking the pictures anyway! I do the same thing! Many fabulous memories!
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Oh. My. Gosh!!! Seriously! They are so, so, so, so cute! These are the best pictures! Nice work Nancy! You should be a proud mama, they are adorable. 😉
We love’em too. We’re going to miss y’all while you’re away on holiday. Don’t like it too much down there 😉
great shots… i think i see some of momma in the cheeseburger and hamloaf…. i have seen those mischievous eyes before!! 🙂
You know your boys are adorable, right? Oh my goodness, they are cute.
And in light of this subject matter (of your post, not my comment) you would appreciate the last picture of this post: http://www.fivewalkers.com/journal/2009/11/29/continuing-to-count-the-blessings.html I feel your picture-taking pain. Although you are MUCH (like majillions times better) at taking pictures than I am. 🙂
the ones with grandpa stole my heart
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Absolutely precious!! Thanks for sharing!
Oh Nan,
These pictures are just beautiful! I love the bright colors and the fab personalities!!!
What a wonderful little crew!
I love those photos. Maybe Grandpa would like a collage of several (or all) of them … some of the silly ones surrounding the “deer in the headlights” picture. Or, one of those photo frames that shows a series of digital pictures.
Some of the ones of the “line-up” looks like they are before the firing squad. (They have the cutest facial expressions … bewilderment? fear? pleading? gotta “go”??) loved ’em
NANCY! OMGosh…these are fantastic. What a gorgeous little crew you have there. Those grandpa hats are perfect. Grandpa must have been pretty proud!
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Your boys are absolutely adorable! Great pictures!
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These are great photos. The first one is my favorite!! I love the little smirk on “Grandpa’s” face!! 🙂
Great pics! They look like they are straight out of the Little Rascals!
Have a great trip!
See you soon!