The quest for a family picture

We have, maybe 2 pictures of the 5 of us. So when I got an on-line coupon for a photo shoot and prints I booked a session right away. I choose white shirts and jeans for everyone to wear (and argued with 4 family members to get their compliance). Brushed hair, washed faces, cleaned nosed, socks matched, all looking good. Until we went to the studio. Renee look one look around went into the corner and repeated, between tears, "no pictures, no smiles, no people". She warmed up half an hour later but by then Samuel had reached his limit and did "spy eyes" (when he pulls his eye lids down so the bottom of his eyeballs are visible) for most shots. Within 20 minutes of the end of the shoot, they called to offer a complimentary re-shoot.

We booked the reshoot, but had to cancel due to Matthew's black eye. I had the idea to let the kids wear pajamas to the shoot and choose colour coordinated ones. But when the day of the re-shoot arrived, and no one wanted to wear the pre-selected pajamas, I focused on the desire for a picture of happy kids and not matching clothes with "no smile" and "spy eyes". Want to wear those pajamas, wear those pajamas, they don't match? Doesn't matter, you don't want to brush your hair, that's ok. And red socks, of course.