It has become a tradition in the Blakely family to take a family photo around the holidays. Once the Mrs. and I tied the knot, she became a part of the tradition. While I contend that we have not consistently taken these photos year in and out, others in the family insist that this has been done annually. To dispel my premise, mom referenced our wall of photos (lovingly dubbed the Wall of Shame). I countered that this hardly served as consistent proof since we stopped hanging photos on The Wall somewhere around my 9th grade year. There are, in fact, still three empty hooks next to the photos where we had intended to continue the display. Mom's final salvo came when she dragged out the stack of old family photos for a large group review. Although the proof would seem far more compelling had the photos all been labelled and in order, I acquiesced that we consistently memorialize our current family condition in (digital) film.
This year's family photo planning began a bit earlier than usual. There is normally an intense conversation a few days before the event on the subject of wardrobe. The compulsion to match outfits is often a significant draw on the conversation. Often, my brothers and I will fight this in an effort to hold on to some of our manliness. Now that Lyndsie is in the picture, mom has a tendency to engage her in the decision-making on the outfit debate. This year's final decision...black tops and jeans.
Our normal family photo spot closed since our last trip so we had to head across town to a different mall. The fun fact about the new picture spot: right next to a child's play area in the mall. If you read "child's play area" and thought of cute kids quietly enjoying one another's company, you would be completely wrong. Instead, you should picture the seventh circle of hell complete with screaming demon children and enough diseases being traded to concern the CDC. In short, by the time our name was called to begin the picture experience we were all ready to get to the relative quiet of the photo booth.
Even though we do family photos every year (according to some) we always have the debate about what poses to use which, inevitably, causes the photographer to be confused. Four Blakely males in one place can be a bit much at times so I usually feel sorry for the sad photographer who pulled our family in the rotation. When four Blakely males turn their sarcastic, dry humor on the choice of poses for the photo...well typically hilarity ensues along with a healthy dose of awkwardness, never mind all of the little kid toys strewn about.
Into all of this Blakely family bonding comes BB. Unbeknownst to the rest of my family, this year's photo included the next generation of Blakely's.
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