In Search of the "Perfect" Family Picture...

Trying to take the perfect family picture is an adventure to say the least!

Ask any family, well, I should say, ask the mom of any family, 

because she seams to be the one - and the only one - who really cares.

Everyone else has to be bribed, dragged and begged to be there.

It can be quite stressful - for the mom.

Among the stresses:

Clothes that need matching. 

Zits, that later will need editing. 

Siblings who annoy each other. 

Hair that looks all wrong. 

Participants not looking in the camera. 

Individuals who can't stop talking. 

Intentional and un-intentional funny and/or weird faces.

The wind that picks suddenly up.

 Closed eyes, half closed eyes.

And I could go on and on... 

Besides all those challenges, in my opinion, one of the most important component of a great family picture is the location!

I obviously have not found the right place here in Houston!

And this place was all wrong!

I really do not like this background...

I  R E A L L Y do not like it.

Almost worth getting everyone dressed up again and dragged and bribed and begged again.

N A 

It will have to wait for another year or 2...

 This is the reality of Family picture taking.

And this is an 'in between' capture.

Love it!

Kirtland

On of our favorite places to go to in Ohio was Kirkland.

There, we would visit our 1st LDS Temple ever built.

We would visit houses and grounds where our Pioneer Religious ancestors first walked.

A beautiful and quiet place, ideal for pondering gratitude and remembering.

Well, that is if you don't have some obnoxious kids running around trying to keep them under control!

Right kids?

They are so cute though, with their adorable smiling faces...

Why am I not smiling and adorable like them?

Judging from my picture... I don't look peaceful or grateful!

What do you think?

More like frustrated and/or exhausted?