Pictures for Christmas cards December 2012

Ryan and Stacie gathered the kids together and headed down to one of the beautiful parks in Rogue River to take pictures for their family Christmas cards.  Not a bad picture and it looked even better after Stacie placed it on the Christmas card and had it printed.  The kids look relaxed and comfortable making it seem like taking a picture like this is effortless.  For those of you that believe that there is very little exertion to capturing a picture like this I have provided just a few of the picture that better illustrate the trials that come with picture taking (this picture is 55 of 73 taken that morning).



One moment Calvin is sitting on the stool smiling and looking at the camera.

The next moment in mid snap shot he is headed to the ground.

Ryan manned the camera while Stacie corralled the kids (similar to herding cats, feel free to try it, Stacie seemed to enjoy it).

Now the next set of pictures will require a little clarification.  We took our first set of pictures in front of a large redwood tree.  After about seventy pictures we decided to move down closer to Evans Creek to get the water in the background.  So Ryan headed down to set up for the next pictures with the camera, the blankets, the stool, and Emma and Roc while Stacie followed with Calvin in the stroller and Porter.  For those of you that have not experienced Porter in open spaces I like to make the comparison between Porter and a boarder collie that has been locked in a small room for several days and has just been released to run free.   Porter has the tendency to forget how to walk when he gets excited so he just runs nonstop, it is actually quiet impressive to watch as he makes laps running in all directions while screaming with excitement.  This day Porter was very excited! As Ryan was setting up the stool and trying to find the best back drop for the next set of pictures he heard a scream behind him (not Porter's scream this time).  He looked up to see Porter in the pond with is head poking out of the water and Stacie running after him.  As Ryan started toward the pond to help he had the optimal position to watch Stacie jump in after Porter and pull him to safety.  Needless to say that ended the photo session for that day and taught the kids a valuable lesson: "If you want to get out of pictures jump in the dirty water!"


To the left side of the pond you can see a small clearing exposing the water.  Prior to Porter going swimming the entire pond was perfectly green and I believe Porter had no idea that it was a pond. 

 

As Ryan gathered up the rest of the kids and the supplies, Stacie took Porter to the truck and began getting him out of his clothes, Ryan did say that he could stay in his clothes but he would have to ride in the back.

Pay close attention to Stacie's facial expression in this picture.  This is one that over the years Ryan has become all to familiar with.  This is the "Ryan you are not helping at all" look.  Don't worry, from our knowledge this facial expression is only reserved for Ryan!