July 14. Day 196. Pretty as a picture

See this? This is the joy of finally getting the family portrait sorted.
Every time we gather the children from the various branches of the family for Grandma's brag book we swear "never again".
There is always hair pulling, face pulling, tears and tantrums.
There was the shot where one child had a black eye from a sporting accident the day before. There was a shot with my sister-in-law's leg on the fringes because one child refused to pose without Mum.
In one, my son is clutching Elmo which the photographer had planned on using as a puppet to induce a smile but Mr O wouldn't cooperate until he was allowed to touch "M-Elmo" then he wouldn't let go.
It has been six years since the last family photo. Perhaps time has eased some of the pain or perhaps it was the rare moment of all the little ones in town from their various far flung parts of the world but we fronted up to the Powerhouse for the photo today.
No-one got a black eye but it was a bit like Grandma and the seven dwarfs - Sulky, Snooty, Silly, Superior, Stupid, Savage and Bored.
One child thought strangling was preferable to hugging her sister but otherwise there was no actual physical violence. The photographer earned her money and I think there will be something nice to hang on Grandma's wall.
And we have plenty more stories for various 21st birthdays. Isn't that what family photos are about? Memories?
For the children, there was the added reward of being allowed to go in the pool - in the middle of winter - when it was all done.