All that said, I like to make Valentine's from the girls. (Click here for V-Day cards from 2012 and here for V-Day cards from 2011) I should involve them more, but this year, there wasn't the time. So I made the cards. Actually, I did involve them by taking their pictures while they were wearing their beloved princess dresses. This is how that played out.
Me: Lily, do you want to dress up like a princess and take pictures for Valentines after nap?
Lily: Yes! Can I be Cinderella and Bella be Tangled?
Me: Sure! Does that sound like fun?
Lily: Yes, of course it does. (This is when I realized that she mimics things that I say.)
So, the time comes for the pictures. And, I realize that we have other things we need to be doing that afternoon and have a babysitter coming. However, Lily will not be derailed, so on the dresses go. I throw a white sheet that had been sitting in the laundry room unfolded for over a week onto dining room chairs for a backdrop, and there seems to be enough afternoon sunlight to do the deed without a flash.
The true test is when it is actually time to take pictures. Will little girls cooperate?
One little girl sits down, squealing with delight, but not exactly posing for a picture, and the other little girl rushes to her side.
They rejoice in Bella's snack and the fact that they are wearing princess dresses.
Lily runs off to do who knows what, and I try to get Bella to laugh and smile. She has other ideas.
Plus, she's thirsty. Also known as "hungry and tired, "she tells me.
Then, it was time to scream about something. Anything will do the trick.
Big sister is back, random toys in tow. Now is as good a time as any to lick that red block, though Bella does seem to think it an odd choice.
Fake soup makes an excellent afternoon treat. "So Good," she tells me. Big sister has vanished again, in a rush to do something important.
But then, I get the Bella money shot. She is laughing about something super witty I said, and I caught the moment. After adding a little text and retouching some of the marks on her forehead, her Valentine was ready to go!
I convince Lily to come back for her close-up by saying she should bring Francie with her. Since she always finds this appealing, it worked. If this was on Instagram, I would follow it up with a "poor kitty" hash tag.
Francie is trying to wriggle out of Lily's firm grasp, and I can't say I blame her. She is a really nice cat.
In laughing over Francie's inevitable escape, I catch the Lily money shot. Just. like. that. Getting pictures of them is always so easy. (insert sarcasm font)
But, I do love the way they turned out, and I know I probably won't always have to work for it like this. Then again, maybe I will.
Happy Valentine's Day from the Princesses Spenst.
0 comments:
Post a Comment