family pics
November 12, 2009 | daily ramblings, family
My children bought a family portrait package for me…
on Mother’s Day.
Ever since then we’ve been trying to find a weekend where we could all get together and take the pic.
It’s a real sign that my children are adults now. With careers, and new marriages, and friends and churches. We’ve got together many times since May, and I see some of them all the time, but it’s usually for a family event or it’s one couple, or divided by other things.
Now that we’ve conquered a date, a new issue has cropped up. What to wear.
“Mom, just throw out some colors.”
That seemed simple enough: white, lavender, gray, and black for pic one. Fall colors for pic two.
“So, do I wear my manly lavender shirt?” one asked.
“Lavender, really? What is that, purple?”
“I wanted to wear my brown boots.”
“You know someone’s going to show up all dressed up. Other casual. Mom, you’ve got to be more specific.”
Why are Eller family pictures like an act of Congress? Is this only my fam?
It brings me back to our last family picture. A really long time ago. It so scarred me that I haven’t tried again. In the pic, Leslie is gripping Ryan’s arm like a cold, hard vice. Payback for the conflict between them seconds before the flash.
I’m grimacing, sort of like a smile. Kinda.
The thing is that we really love each other. If you asked anyone of them who they like to hang out with, it would be the family. We laugh. We joke. We love.
But family pictures brings out a whole different side.
We’ve nailed down the colors as of last night. I finally tossed out this statement on our FB discussion: Hey guys, I don’t care about the colors so much, or even if someone wears brown boots and another has on black shoes. I just want it to be wrapped in nature, and I want to have fun.”
I’ll share the pic later. We’re taking it on Saturday. The weather is supposed to be beautiful. We’re meeting in Tahlequah at one of the most beautiful places I love to hang out.
But if Leslie is gripping her brother’s arm in the picture, and a pair of brown boots is kicking someone else in the shins, it will still be beautiful to me. I love these group of people called “family”.
(pictured in my 50th bday party – Leslie, me, Richard, Melissa, Stephen, Josh, Ryan, Kristin)
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Suzie,
Haven’t visited much since She Speaks and wanted to say hi.
Love the family pic. What a beautiful one you have!
Blessings,
Chef Diane
November 14th, 2009 at 9:19 pmYes! This is totally my family when it comes to family portrait time, too! People always tell me how amazing it is that all of my children are smiling in the picture, and then I tell them that I bribed them all with ice cream in order to get them to behave for long enough for the camera to flash.
Great post!
November 14th, 2009 at 9:51 pmSuzie,
I can’t wait to see your family picture!!!! I love to see how your family interacts. You are ahead of me and it’s encouraging to see someone who has raised her kids and remains so close to them all. And you all are so beautiful!!!!!! I look forward to seeing the black boots/brown boots/lavendar shirts/ and all else in between!
Love You,
November 15th, 2009 at 1:20 amMelissa