picture perfect

Today is a day that I’ve been looking forward to for awhile.  Whitney met up with our family late this afternoon to take our pictures.  Basically for this to happen, at least several planets had to align.  Like the planet with pants that fit all my children, for one.

While I have looked forward to this, it’s been the vague kind of looking forward that happens when you live your life largely without an actual plan.  But somehow, this week, I finally got around to setting a date for these photos.  And then the scrambling began.

First of all, my boys have not had their hair cut since August.  That’s right, because the last time we had to pull it together was apparently for the START OF SCHOOL.  Second, our clothing had to be addressed. In my opinion, it would be nice if we could all wear something that is in a decent state – no holes in the knees, no hems floating above our ankles.  It would also be nice if these things didn’t completely clash with the things the others of us are wearing.  It would be especially nice if all aforementioned things were clean.  Third, I needed to come to terms with the fact that it is impossible to lose 15 pounds in 24 hours.

So today began with a trip to Target to pick up a boy shirt that fit and matched and was not short sleeved. Bryan was called for consultation twice, since shopping is – how do I say this? – completely beyond me. Girl boots were looked at (because I don’t notice holes in shoes until they are about to be photographed) but deemed unworthy.  Side trip to the printer, because their driver was out today. On to work, leaving early to take Jonathan to the orthodontist, then heading home – no scratch that! I forgot there is a shoe store right here – hello, Shoe Carnival.  Two pairs of boots later – what? the sale is buy one, get one half off! – and once again headed home, where I have exactly 40 minutes to get everyone changed into clean, fitting, non-clashing clothing.  Some of which still needs a bit of ironing.  My mother meets me with Elizabeth and Will in tow, while I brush aside my mortification at the crazy state of my house.  She graciously takes over the ironing.  I attempt to tame everyone’s hair.  I remember to change my own clothes.  The boots I picked out for Elizabeth don’t quite fit, but everyone is dressed and reasonably fit for picture taking.  We have 15 minutes to get there.

It’s a small miracle.

Almost.

I gather my various bags and children and then the keys – where are my keys? That would be the question of the hour.  Or of the fifteen minutes, more specifically.  Friends, I can tell you that they aren’t in my pocket, my purse, my bag, my other bag, my couches, my bathroom drawers, the car, or my bedroom floor.  What I can’t tell you, even as I write this, is WHERE THEY ARE.  At 4:00, when we are supposed to be meeting Whitney and my head is about to explode, my sweet mother pulls back into my driveway and takes us to our photo shoot.  On the way there, I attempt to regroup, apologize for anything I might have said during the bout of temporary insanity brought on by key hunting, and generally try to cheer! everyone! up!  You know, for the pictures!

Well, we finally arrive and have a great time with Whitney, walking around our old neighborhood of Argenta.  Things begin to relax.  We look like a normal family – or pretty close.  We’re smiling for the camera till the sun goes down.

So then dinner out with the fam since no one made anyone else cry or bleed during the photo shoot, and then they drop me off for a rehearsal – since, still, no keys.  Finally, I’m home, so ready to be out of the heels and into my pj’s and it’s at that moment, when I pull the turtleneck over my head and reach up to my ears that I realize:

I only have one earring in. And it’s been that way all afternoon.

Oh well, I was clean, matching, and slightly unbalanced.  Couldn’t get a clearer picture than that…