{"id":2229,"date":"2012-12-06T00:00:16","date_gmt":"2012-12-06T06:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.walkingwithcake.com\/?p=2229"},"modified":"2012-12-04T19:41:06","modified_gmt":"2012-12-05T01:41:06","slug":"in-the-making","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walkingwithcake.com\/?p=2229","title":{"rendered":"In the Making"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christmas cards stress me out.\u00a0 In years past, I would just buy a cute pack or two, address and mail them, and that was it.\u00a0 But then we had James, and Rhys a year and a half later, and now people actually want to see what our boys look like, so it’s become a major ordeal.\u00a0 There must be a special place in heaven for photographers of children, because assembling two uncooperative little boys in matching red shirts and asking them to look remotely pleasant for a half second while a picture is snapped is quite literally impossible.<\/p>\n

Still, we manage to do it year after year, selecting one picture out of a thousand that is a little less terrible than the rest, and I know it is appreciated by the recipient for a minute or two before it goes into a pile with the other Christmas cards, only to be thrown in the trash with the opened boxes and ripped paper on December 26th.<\/p>\n

I know this, because I do the exact same thing with the cards I receive.\u00a0 Seriously, Christmas cards are for grandparents.<\/p>\n

But, in the spirit of good cheer, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the photography torture <\/del>session our boys endure each year, for your visual pleasure.\u00a0 And I’ve edited the selection severely, because there were over 200 pictures from which to choose.<\/p>\n

\"Christmas<\/a>

(The tree is up and the boys take a practice shot.)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Red<\/a>

(After deciding to go through with it, Mommy brings out red shirts for both boys. Lots of thought went into their wardrobe choices.)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Christmas<\/a>

(And the race begins. The first take is less than stellar.)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Baby<\/a>

(Rhys is the first to fall, the victim of a toddler meltdown.)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Cheesy<\/a>

(He quickly rallies, only to be squeezed almost to death by his big brother.)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Christmas<\/a>

(Mommy steps in to help, and makes a threat or two.)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Christmas<\/a>

(Noses start itching.)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Christmas<\/a>

(Which leads to the inevitable snack time.)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Lollipops\"<\/a>

(Exhausted, Mommy and Daddy resort to bribery.)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Christmas<\/a>

(When the insanity finally ends, we are rewarded with a pretty good picture.)<\/p><\/div>\n

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is just a small glimpse into our annual Christmas card photo shoot.\u00a0 If you do receive a card from us this year, I beg you to treasure it forever.\u00a0 Lots of blood, sweat, and tears went into the making of it, and you might not get one next year.<\/p>\n

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