Snap Shots and Snarkiness

So on day two of the photo shoot at The Picture People, we were told that our pictures would be ready in 15 minutes. 15 minutes turned into 2 hours. Such delays bring out the worst in us. In our impatience, we found ways to entertain each other and ourselves. After feeding and changing the babies, who are freak magnets by the way, in the store (we were so over the vinyl couches in front of Sears), watching Ryan talk to a picture of a kid he just met, cleaning Charlie’s spit-up puddle off the floor and watching Eric clean up his Big Gulp puddle off the floor, we turned to people watching. We admired the coordinating outfits of other families and the sparkly dresses of a few little girls-all with the purist of intentions and holiday well wishes. However, as our wait grew, so did our innate snarkiness. That’s when the taxidermist walked in; Dad and son in camouflage holding a deer head. Bryan found it so amazing that he photographed them surreptitiously with his cell phone, which is weird since we would pass Ted’s Taxidermy on the way to his family home, you think these things would not phase him. He’s is so urban now. I thought Camo Dad was on to 007 Bryan Bond and felt that we were priming for a fight. However, I mistook Camo Dad’s stare into space as a stare of discovery. Confrontation averted.

Strike a Pose

Everyday before the afternoon nap I read from a book that Liz gave Nori and Charlie called Give Me Grace. As I just wrote the book title, I am reminded that I have written about the book before and perhaps that the book was more for me than it was for Nori and Charlie. It is a book of daily prayers but they are more meditative than bible banging. Today’s prayer asks to “give me gladness, give me grace.” Some days I do have to ask for it, but today I just have it. Those are the best days.

I did not have much grace last weekend at The Picture People, at least not on the first day. On Saturday morning we propped up Nori and Charlie along with Tyler, and Ryan in dozens of poses-individual, together, the cousins, Tyler with his mom and dad-all the while suffering near the malodorous photographer. (It is a miracle that Ryan did not point out her offensive smell.) It was only a 45 minute photo shoot but in baby time that can seem like days-mostly because I was holding my breath (helpful skill near the photographer) in an effort to somehow hold off any crying or bowel movements. Afterwards, Bryan and I made a quick exit to feed the babies in the mall. I feel like every time we have to feed them somewhere besides home we are brought right back to that rest stop in Jacksonville. It’s like one step out from our routine and we lose all of our baby management skills. So, while we tried to feed the babies in the “lounge” area in front of Sears (maybe it was the vinyl that brought me back to Jacksonville) Amanda came over to let us know that we had no pictures. I think I blanked out while she explained the cause but I recall the words corrupted file, no memory card, or odor contamination. After we got over the disbelief, we sent Bryan in to negotiate our compensation-those skills, luckily, were still in tact. We were scheduled for Sunday morning at 9:40 am with their best photographer. We just hoped that she showered.

Sunday morning came and we tried to face it with a new attitude. Our photographer smelt a little like the Marlboro man but is was a big improvement from the day before. We felt like she took fewer shots but we were just hoping for one good one. Three hours and too much money later-we walked out with our baby glamour shots. Something about those smiles in those glossy pics made all the irritation melt away. Grace, indeed.