The Franke Five: Christmas Cards

Ya know there are times I think it would be so much easier to take our boys somewhere to get their pictures done rather than us doing it ourselves. Something about a stranger getting you to smile is easier than your own parents. Jonathan and Noah are old enough now they are easy. It's fun! Caleb on the other hand, it has to be his idea. After his speech evaluation at Children's Mercy Hospital a few weeks ago, he was diagnosed with Apraxia and the dr seemed to think he will become less of a strong willed child once we can understand what he says. I want to believe that but my mommy gut says no, that's who he is. He can understand us we just don't know what he is saying back. So when I tell him Caleb sit on the chair he should do it without a tantrum...right? I guess time will tell.

So this morning we were taking pictures of a little girl, younger than caleb, and I thought what a perfect time to get one of the three boys together. Caleb will see her doing it and then he will want to do it. WRONG! He was so from doing it. We had a battle of the wills. Normally we would just give up, put the lights away and say we will try another day. Well not today. We had no where we had to be so...we battled it out. We kept punishing him, let him sit for 2 minutes and we tried again. You would think he would give in after a while. NOPE! We did this for 3 hours! Thankfully Jonathan and Noah were pretty cooperative. Finally we put him in his room for 1 hour. After that he was ready to go. I don't know what changed his mind but he was all for it. After about 10 snaps he was ready to be done but thankfully he hung in there for a few more. We were able to get some good ones for our Christmas card but here are a few of the not so good ones with everyone either being way toooo silly or having attitude.