Not what I planned.

A recent day. I had a 9.95 coupon for a photo session with a great package.

9 AM Pool for swim team practice and set up for meet.
11:30 Home and make lunch (and ironing, coordinating clothes for pictures)
12:00-12:30 Eat lunch (and ironing, coordinating clothes for pictures)
12:30-1:15 6 children showered (and ironing, coordinating clothes for pictures)
1:15-1:45 Dressing 6 children and giving my evil eye to all who would dare sit, lean funny or otherwise look as though wrinkling their clothes was an option. Pack the car for the swim meet, pack kids dinner...knowing there won't be time after pictures and before the 5:00 warm up for the swim meet.
1:45-2:00 Drive to photo studio with no music, movie, etc because I spent the 15 minutes grilling the children on how to smile, reminding them that even though some of them didn't like having their picture taken, this was a gift for daddy, for Father's Day and that they should please think of fun times with him and how happy he'll be to receive this gift.
2:00 Arrive at photography studio.
Check in.
I am told they are running a bit behind.
I ask for specifics knowing I have to leave by 4:00.
I am told that even though my appt was at 2:00, there would be no way we would see the photographer until 4:00 to 4:30 SINCE THEY WERE RUNNING A BIT BEHIND, and wouldn't be done until around 7:00 PM.
I pointed to my children and said, "Wow. A phone call to warn me would have been really nice. It takes a lot to coordinate 6 kids."
To which she replied, "Why? You just have to throw some clothes on them."
It was at that point we left.
And no, I didn't say the 88 different things my mind wanted me to tell her.

I felt so bad for the kids. I had yelled, fussed, given dirty looks and otherwise made them miserable for two solid hours getting ready to take a Father's Day picture for Keith. You see, the picture wasn't actually the gift. The gift was that Keith wasn't there for any part of the pre picture taking process. The gift was that he didn't have to put up with me getting the kids ready for the photography session. The gift was that he had no part of my horrible mommy head spinning fit, which is in fact a part of any photo session my children have ever been involved in. It's not a pretty sight.

While driving home I was soooooo upset. Mad at everything. I called Keith, who had gotten home from work, and spilled my guts. Did I say I was upset? What did I think I was gonna get with my 9.95 coupon? My hopes weren't even high. I dreamed of all 6 children in the frame and looking at the camera. Smiles on each child? Oh, that was bonus, if it should happen.

Yet, my children were looking quite smart (Uganda term for good lookin'). So while driving, I pulled off into a church parking lot remembering some pictures I saw by Jason Kovacs. There was brick, there was green foliage in the background, there was a little structure with white posts. I had the cheap camera we took to swim meets in my purse.

Enjoy.