Perfectly Imperfect Memories

My kids are pretty good about smiling for the camera. I have a bazillion pictures of all of them, so we've got the photographic part of our family history covered. It usually takes a bit of reminding to get them to all look in the right direction, but once I get them all focused, I usually have a few seconds long window of opportunity to get the shot. (Sometimes, though, someone slips through the cracks and is making a really odd face...or is staring off into nowhere and obviously not paying any attention to my commands to say "cheese".) See Exhibit A, Jericho:

Sometimes you also have the shots where someone has annoyed the baby. She has had enough of whatever this "cheese" business is. That would be the point when you are just done. Just put the camera down and walk away until everyone has as least napped or possibly even slept overnight, or eaten. As you can see Tirzah is trying to calm her down while still holding onto the "cheese face". Jericho? Well, Jericho just isn't really even trying. He is 3 years old...need I say more? So here is Exhibit B:

Honestly though? I kind of like when the shots don't come out right. They are probably going to be some of the ones that I get to look back on and remember just how hysterically fun these guys are.