I was hit with “giddy mommy brain.” It is what I like to refer to when I have these great, mushy ideas that I later realize to have been completely impractical.
I just needed one good picture for a Christmas card. Just one. It could not be so hard, right? I am not a professional, but my goal wasn’t perfection, simply two smiling kiddos. Oh, how happy all my family would be to find a postcard from my two little munchkins, happily smiling by the Christmas tree!
And so we began. . .
This is Boston attempting to hug her uncooperative brother in order to gain her candy bribe.
This is her face when I asked her to pleeeease try one more time.
And now here I am foolishly attempting to gain their attention while sugar is involved.
Yeah, nice try mom.
My final solution: make a complete fool out of myself in public (I tried taking these by the tree in our lobby) in order to gain giggles from one and a confused, candy chomping face from the other.
When it comes to my two, this is great. So here we go: Christmas card done! Mommy brain accomplished! Well, half way accomplished anyways.
What about you?? Have you managed a good Christmas photo yet? If you are still deciding, I would recommend using a professional. 🙂
*For more pics, quotes, and ramblings, connect with me on Facebook or Twitter!
Mom Life Now 
I thought it would be a good idea to take a picture of the kids on the steps of our new house. Since my step-son is 14 it’s pretty easy with him but Avery is a different story. The picture turned out okay but my step-son looks like he is wrestling Avery (which he was) and instead of the whole idea of me getting a picture of our new house too I ended up getting the kids, some of our steps and a nice picture of the house across the street because you can see the reflection in our picture window 😉
LikeLike
Haha!!! You tried though, this should count for something, right? 🙂 Thanks for sharing–I love the way we both started out so ambitious. 😉
LikeLike
It always sounds good in your head 🙂 Your pics are cute 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks. 😉
LikeLike
Awww they look sweet 🙂 We don’t have the whole sending a Christmas postcard tradition here in SA (our post office is far to unreliable) When ever Triston has to pose for a picture he makes this weird psycho smiley face… candid shots work best for him…
LikeLike
Haha!! Boston too does the worst face! Tucks in her bottom lip and makes a nice buck teethed “cheese!” 🙂 Much better to make her actually laugh. Candids really are the best though. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This SERIOUSLY just made my morning. LOL! The pic of Boston’s face, (the one when she’s all by herself). haha. I have seen that look many times! Our family photo attempts are much the same. lol. I was thinking of just printing the blurred streak of my daughter this year, because that’s basically the best I got. Ahh..thank you Sasha for this. Love it!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rebekah, you should definitely send the streak out–it would be a Christmas winner for sure. 😉 My solution is candy, lots and lots of candy. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The best pix to send to your family and friends are pix that give an inside glimpse into your world with your children…..might I suggest a multi-picture sequence just like you posted here? Seems to me, anyone close to you would love this secret glimpse! (Second pic of Boston is CLASSIC!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a great idea Torrie! Totally untraditional and yet so fun!
LikeLike
Just did ours! Will post this WE. I too had to let go of the glamour and the high expectations 😛 but your kiddos faces are priceless, and at the end of the day, isn’t it what really matters? Well done, I bet they will melt Santa’s heart !
LikeLike
Yes, Estelea, the pictures made me laugh, and I think they will make for a much better memory this way. 🙂 Can’t wait to see yours! Make sure to let me know when their posted. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Posted one yesterday 🙂 tell you what, peppa pig, M&Ms and marshmallows have been my best assistants on this one 😉 still have some, so more picts to come this week..
LikeLike
Hahaha oh my gosh this was awesome!! Seriously loved your daughter’s face when you asked for one more time. I love the final picture.
I’m even a bigger night. The first two years I tried getting a picture of our daughter with Santa (at the mall of course) were epic disasters. This year went a lot better – of course it took some sugar bribing too. I’ll have to share them on my next post 🙂
LikeLike
Sugar is always a good thing when it comes to photo time! Yes, I would love to see your Santa photos! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! this is funny. I want to take Christmas pictures for holiday cards at JC Penney but my hubby insists on us taking the pictures. I don’t know what to do, but ill probably just brave it up like you did and pray for just one good picture of my three munchkins.
LikeLike
Ooo, I thought two was hard. Three: probably just take individual portraits and photoshop them together. 😉 😉
LikeLike
These are so cute! I have been bad and haven’t sent Christmas cards in a few years. I really need to get some holiday photos, in general.
LikeLike
This was my first year trying to do so. Next year I think I will start trying early–like June. This should hopefully give us enough time to secure a good one. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, I loved this post. Went through the exact same thing myself trying to get a picture of my twins, but was never successful and ended up doing a card with a bunch of little random photos. Thanks for sharing 🙂
LikeLike
The random photo thing sounds like a good idea!! 🙂
LikeLike
Aww! One day I’ll get my Christmas picture! I always end up procrastinating doing it. I also need to buy another camera. My boys broke my camera….again. Oy
LikeLike
Oh no! Perhaps a family selfie could do the trick this year. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha! My toddler is the happiest baby but the minute a camera comes into play, she puts on her serious face and refuses to smile! No matter what I do, I can’t elicit a smile from her on camera which has managed to convince my family abroad that my child is depressed >.< so there's that
LikeLike
Haha, too cute!! I can only imagine how she must laugh to herself about this. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve started taking impromtu photos without asking for a pose. His natural smile is wonderful! My struggle is when I need my husband to take pictures for my blogs, instagram, or Etsy shop… I’ve take those myself whenever possible because he always fails to notice something in the shot that makes the picture unusable. I should add that he’s wonderful in most every other way. 🙂
LikeLike
We all have our strengths. Glad you still love him regardless. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
We did a picture with Santa last night that went about as well as I expected…my almost 2 year old whining and wriggling off of Santa’s lap and my 4 month old looking all pissed off in the opposite direction. It looks AWESOME! And I’m not even mad because that is totally their personalities right now!
LikeLike
Yes, sometimes these really are the best photos, for they show reality. What’s another boring kid anyway? 🙂
LikeLike
Hahaha I love this, Sasha! Could Boston and Pierce get any cuter?! No. Not a chance. Boston’s face is absolutely hilarious–totally a teenager face! 🙂 We haven’t done Christmas pictures yet, and actually I think we might just skip it and use pictures from a shoot we did earlier this year. Love this post and all the cuteness!
LikeLike
Aw, thanks Marla!! And yes, her face is completely 16 years old. 😉 Using professional photos sounds perfect to me–great idea!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have learned to totally and utterly give up on getting a perfect picture for our holiday card. One of my best friends is a photographer so she takes our photos, and I tend to pick one of the outtakes to use for our family card. I feel like it represents us the best. Your kiddos are too cute!
LikeLike
The outtakes really are the best ones! Such fun memories. 🙂 And how smart to have photographer as a best friend! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
They look absolutely perfect. 🙂
LikeLike
Aw, thanks! 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
The last photo is adorable! Getting a decent family photo is tough, I have come to realize now that I have a feisty 2-year old and a very active 8-month old. I’m about to give up for this year’s holiday photo, til I saw your post. I am not alone. 😆 I’ll give it another go this weekend. 😂
LikeLike
I hope you do give it one more try! However, mine were 2 years and 9 months last year. I do not have a Christmas photo from last year! 😉 If it doesn’t work out, remember, there’s always next year when the baby can start eating candy. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
In Kosovo (where I’m from) it’s not a tradition sending Cards for New Year (some people, like me do it for fun though), let alone making personalized post-cards… but I do, I love them, and honestly the whole process no matter how time-consuming, nerve-consuming and tiring it is I still enjoy it with every single cell on my body.
But If my ‘perfect picture’ fails (which usually does), I try to get another happy picture and frame it online with new year’s theme frames and it always looks perfect .. I’ve learned that the best picture are spontaneous , and I just use some creativity upon that
LikeLike
The candid shots really are the best! And I am glad you have caught the card sending frenzy we have over here in the States! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha! Well, consider yourself lucky as you captured an awesome card worthy pic! I’ve been attempting mine for 2 weeks now with no luck…. let’s see how Sunday goes?! Beautiful littles & great blog 😉 I shall stop by again…
xo,
A
LikeLike
Yeah, I am so happy you enjoy the blog!! I LOVE connecting with new people and do hope you stick around. 🙂 I will cross my fingers for you Sunday. Remember: lots and lots of candy. 😉
LikeLike
I’m trying to take mine this weekend, and maybe I think I should prepare for the worst. Thanks for sharing your story!
LikeLike
Haha, don’t think of it as the worst, but as a great and wild adventure. 😉 Remember to bring the skittles too! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gosh I didn’t even try… You are brave!!! 🙂
LikeLike
Haha, either brave or a bit off kilter. 😉
LikeLike
Your children are beautiful!! I did the same thing last week! I dressed my kids, who are 2 years old and 8 months, in matching outfits and took them outside! In my mind I had this perfect picture with both smiling and co operating but of course that didn’t happen! We had a blast and the pictures may not be perfect but we have a lifetime of memories! Our imperfect pictures are perfect portraits of their true personalities! I will cherish them all my life! 🙂
LikeLike
You did great Rene! Mine were the same age last year, and I didn’t even attempt one. 🙂 I love the way you found the beauty in the perfect imperfection of it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are no longer sending Christmas cards in the Philippines anymore. We exchange e-mails here. Anyway I Love the final picture! I like to see kids smiling 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks! My kids are smiling constantly. . . until there is a camera in front of their face. They seem to often use this time to put on their somber expressions. 🙂
LikeLike
Guilty as charged! I was so ready I dressed them in their pjs I had this wonderful vision of them two smiling and playing with the lights I had set up. Reality hit me right in the face when i put the lights next to Kason and he freaked out lol. I have like 5 pictures of him crying and then Noah gets in them and he is not having it. He says I take too many pictures and that I don’t get tired. I have two of him smiling and Kason is just siting there with a straight face. Why can’t my children take ONE simple cute picture? I will never know. When we take professional pictures they are awesome
LikeLike
Haha, scared of the lights–too cute! I suppose they are professionals for a reason. 😉
LikeLike
Yeah dont know where that fear comes from
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my goodness they are so so gorgeous. I don’t think you need a pro! I think you could use that last one, it’s perfection, but all of them are so so cute!! Happy holidays! – Rachel
LikeLike
Awww, thanks Rachel! And happy holidays to you as well! 😃
LikeLike
Oh my goodness! That last shot is so adorable!! I love it! My kiddos are all over the place come picture time-lucky for me, my dad is a professional, so photos (all the time) are a given.
LikeLike
What I would give to have my dad a professional! How awesome for you guys! 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person