Spring Photo Op

Every Spring I get excited.  Sure, there is much to be happy about: Easter, warmer weather, birds singing and flowers blooming.  But what really puts a smile on my face is the chance to take an enchanting photo of my enchanting children.  I lovingly pick out color coordinated outfits, complete with new shoes and accessories.  I pick out the perfect backdrop and I wait for the perfectly lit day to take the photo(s).  Easter Sunday arrived and everything was picture perfect.  This is what I got:

My attempt at taking that perfect photo didn't quite work out.  That's okay.  I knew there would be another chance.  Much to my chagrin, I had learned earlier this Spring that bluebonnets do not grow where we live in East Texas.  I had considered a "bluebonnet photo" a rite of passage for the state's newest residents (namely my kids).  I had wondered how I was going to convince my husband to drive at least 2.5 hours to find a field of bluebonnets.  Last week we went out of town to attend my grandmother's funeral.  Always one to look for the silver lining, I thought that perhaps while we were in town, I could get a photo of my kids with bluebonnets.  They happen to grow in abundance there.

The morning we were set to drive home, we decided to leave in the late afternoon.  I knew this would be my only chance to get the photo I wanted.  We dressed the kids back in their carefully selected outfits and headed out to find the bluebonnets.  We searched here and there and only found the occasional patch of bluebonnets.  Nothing like the vast fields I had imagined.  Had all the bluebonnets gone to sleep for another year?

We decided to try one more road.  Finally, we found the elusive flowers.  Hundreds, if not thousands of them awaited my kids and my camera.  There was only one small problem.  The "field" of bluebonnets was located right in the middle of a small town cemetery.  Not one to be discouraged, I asked Mark to pull over so I could scout the location.  It appeared that there were only headstones surrounding the bluebonnets, not actually among them.  Good enough for me.  Even more wonderful was the cloud covered day that would ensure good lighting.

Once again, my plans did not quite work out the way I expected.  The cloud covered day was deemed "too shiny" by my five year old with the others quickly in agreement.  At one point, I even had them close their eyes until just before I hit the shutter button.  You see how well that great idea worked:

I gave up on the group shot and instead focused on getting a nice individual one of each kid.  Perhaps I could make a collage of their perfect poses? 

Alas, my mission of obtaining the perfect photo in this field of bluebonnets was a bust.  But never fear, one day I will get a great group photo of all the kids.  It may even happen this year sometime.  Did you know the "Op" in photo op is short for opportunity?  I think in my case it is short for optimistic.

At least this bluebonnet took a "perfect" photo.  See, that's me looking for the silver lining again. :-)