Family Photos 2014

A few weeks ago we got our family photos done by the talented Natalie Michelle! She did a fantastic job with our crazy bunch. I did so much planning. Read Pinterest obsessed. Checking all our closets a hundred times for the perfect outfits for all seven of us. Checking numerous stores, numerous times, to make the "pinterest perfect photo". Ha. I had treat bags for the girls if they behaved. Coached them on smiling nicely and acting like little ladies. Stuffed my pockets with M&M's for quick bribery. What was I thinking? We were a hot mess.

Let's just keep it real for a minute for y'all with one or two kids who can get those perfect family photos each year. Lucky you. Lucky, lucky you.

 It was so much fun. It was pure hell. Honestly, pure hell. The girls were all over the place, not listening, running a muck. Anna's shoes kept falling off five hundred times (please don't judge that she is barefoot in some of the photos). Anna kept pulling her hair bow off. The girls only wanted to see the horses or run away. My mom kept yelling at me that the girls were cold, freezing, tired, not feeling well, this list goes on and on as to why I suck at motherhood....it was hell. The wind was blowing. I was ready to cry. I try to do it all perfect and yet, it all comes back to bite me in the butt. Hard. And no one lets me live it down. Ever.

Oh and the fact that I wanted two different outfits...Good Lord, you would have thought I asked for a million dollars. How dare I want to change clothes on five kids when it is 60 degrees outside. That's surely going to give them Ebola. ;)

Tim kept telling me, "that's it, we're done" and I'm like wide-eyed screaming, "NO, we are NOT done!!!!!!!" We need that perfect photo.

And the kicker....we got in the car and Tim looks at me and says, "well that went pretty well considering we have five kids." Really? Really? You think that went good? Are you nuts? 

And then I get some of the photos a few days later and am simply amazed. Natalie really did pull it off! She got really great photos considering my crazy, screaming little princesses. 

So here they are...

Love this!

Love this!

Love Love Love this!

Love Love Love this!

Poor Anna is dying because she's barefoot. How dare I?!?!?

Love this!

Love this!

Individuals:

Love this of my sweet Natalee!

Our Madelynn

Claire

Anna-Kate

Emily June

The triplets! Almost FOUR!!!!

With my mom, dad and sister:

And with Tammy:

Love this!

And just to confirm, no children were hurt in the capuring of these photos. :)  Okay, mom.