This is... a very true story

Ever since we moved to the Chicago area, I have daydreamed about doing pictures of my kids on the beach with the city behind them. Last October I decided I was finally going to do it. My bestie also needed family pics so I told her to come with us and I would shoot their family at the same time.

Ok, so maybe I started the day off on the wrong foot. We decided to meet for lunch at Ed Debevic's but I forgot to inform my children that the waitress was supposed to be mean to them. My youngest was hiding under the table before she even took our drink orders. Hmmm.... perhaps I am seeing that I was more of a culprit than I originally thought. Sending children into a photo shoot terrifed = not a very good idea.

After lunch, we headed over to North Avenue Beach (which, by the way, is a fantastic location.) I started with my kids because I knew I would have a much harder time with them than my friends' children. Twenty minutes in, and with the bestie doubled over in laughter at how hard of a time I have working with my own children, I moved on to her family. This was the first shot I took of them:

Pretty perfect. I CAN do this. That picture was followed by this:

(hahahaha! Love that one!) and this:

OK, confidence rebuilt, heading back to my children. I shot with them for two and a half hours, folks. Not one usable image of the three of them. Nothing. Nada. I guess it's true what they say about the cobbler's children not having any shoes.

Of course the bestie's Christmas card came in the mail this year and I was instantly jealous. It was exactly what I had envisioned for mine for the past three years. Sigh.

I did end up with individual pictures of each of them which I am happy with. I just wish I would have gotten ONE shot of the three together. Here is Masey:

Grayson:

and Holden:

The saga will continue on Sunday. I figure with it being Easter and them already being dressed, the battle is half won already. Check back, perhaps the Easter Bunny will bring me the money shot of my kiddos. I sure hope so!