As is the case in many families, we take a holiday photo of the kids...aiming for something Norman Rockwell-esque. We've done it every year and now have a wall full of memories. That's not the same thing as a waffle of memories although I did have a Belgian Waffle once at a Madison, Wisconsin Perkins that I still recall with great fondness. When I was little, a friend of the family snapped a black and white shot of my three brothers and I in front of our fireplace. My brothers look okay but, of course, I'm adorable! To my knowledge we never took another such photograph. It is possible that they still took one each season but forgot to tell me. Perhaps my brothers' fragile egos couldn't handle being so routinely overlooked as friends and relatives "oohed and aahed" over the cute little angel in front.


There is another holiday photo of me sitting on Santa's lap...warily. On the town square of Baraboo, Wisconsin, they used to set up Santa's Workshop in a little half-trailer. You'd stand outside in line waiting for your turn. In my photo-op with the big guy, I'm wearing a very fashionable pale green snow-suit, red stocking cap, mittens and boots. I was 18 at the time. No, that's not true. I must have been about four. I don't look at all comfortable with Mr. Claus. I'm not crying but the look on my face does seem to indicate that I'd feel more at ease in this negotiation if my lawyer had been present.

As for the pictures my wife, Jessica, and I have of our own kids, the first one is, naturally, of the first one. Just little Alexander in a red & white striped jumper. He looks like a candy cane on steroids. The next year he was joined by Taylor who looks totally un-enthused by the whole process. Interestingly, Taylor gets the same look on his face at picture time nowadays. The first couple of years, their mom would drag the kids to some local store for the bit of photographic magic. Then, a co-worker at Channel 9 offered to snap the shot. This person came to our house two years in a row and took the boys' picture. In one, you can see a giant claw mark on Taylor's face...the battle scars of brothers. Well, after two years of wrangling the boys, my co-worker made a point of telling me, in July, "I just won't have time to take the picture this year...or ever again. I'm going to be very busy every single day...from now on. Sorry." I don't think I can really blame the behavior of the boys. I suspect my co-worker just didn't want to spend anymore off-hours time around me. Well, you just gotta respect that.

One year, right after Harrison was born, we had the family photo shot by one of the Kansas City area's finest photographers. We all got dressed up and went to his studio. After the shoot...that's what they call it in the biz...as my wife and I were making our order, Taylor took up residence underneath a large table in the middle of the room. This was a unique and, clearly expensive, piece of furniture. It was all-natural with a tree-like base, complete with bark. Well, Taylor, being part beaver, started to peel the thing. We found him, looking quite content, surrounded by strips of wood. The photographer was gracious and told us, through clenched teeth, "Oh, no problem. No big deal. How cute. I'll send the pictures. Please, don't come here and get them." We gathered up Taylor, before he could build a dam on the leather sofa, and bolted.

We went the store route again for a few years after that...including one where the photographer was really squirrely. You can see it in the eyes of the kids in the picture we ended up purchasing. Alexander is smiling nervously. Taylor appears to be looking for an exit. Samantha seems to be reaching for a can of mace and Harrison has clearly decided he's done with this whole thing as soon as the flash, flashes. After that experience, my wife took over.

Jessica has gotten great shots over the years. One year we set the kids up outside the Nelson-Atkins Museum. The one we used feature Taylor doing or saying something which made Harrison appear to be shocked and appalled. We have shots of the kids down at Crown Center and looking out over the skyline from the Liberty Memorial. Another was taken at Union Station and you can see poor little Samantha's cast on her broken arm. It was decorated with glitter for the holidays. We have taken our fair share just around the house. We had a very pretty one taken in Wisconsin with a snow-covered lake in the background. It is interesting how each kid's personality shines through in the photos.

Alexander is always trying hard to smile naturally. He wants to please!
Taylor almost always looks a little tired of the whole process. World-weary and not even 20!
Samantha strikes a pose. Always a big smile and shining eyes.
Harrison looks completely at ease. His self-confidence is obvious. There is a bit of mischief in his eyes, too.

This year, Jessica had a great idea. She took pictures as the kids put up the tree. Then, when it was all done, had them stand in front. The card covers the whole process. The final shot was actually the brain-child of Samantha. After a few "stand-up-straight-and-smile" attempts, Samantha said "Let's hold Harrison up in the air." And, so they did. The final choice turned out to be the three bigger kids hoisting the littlest one...who's not so little anymore...off the ground. It gave Alex his best smile ever. It even made Taylor look like he was having fun. Samantha looked completely lovely and, Harrison? Well, he looked like he had the world on a string...as usual.

If Norman Rockwell had used a camera instead of a paint-brush, I think he'd have been quite pleased!