Which Camera?

We went out for a family dinner the other night at the local Hyatt restaurant. We got all fancied up, put the kids in nice clothes, I lugged along my camera and planned for some fun pictures in front of the giant Christmas tree at the hotel.

I'm not sure at what point in the planning process that I lost all common sense. Because apparently I've forgotten where I live and what it's like to stage a little photo shoot with my children.

Not of their own fault of course. They're adorable, naturally. But all those other cameras pointed at them bring about quite a distraction.



Yep. Not one of them looking at my camera.

Still a cute a cute shot. But really....guys look at MOMMY! not that lady over there...or that one either...nope not her either...no not that guy either...look HERE!!  It didn't work.
Too many flashbulbs going off. Too many ooohhhhs and aaaaahhhs that they were far too distracted to all simultaneously look at mama.

Ok then, lets try for individual shots...



Well, maybe that is asking a bit much of a toddler to not understand which camera to look at.

Eden was more redeeming. She's becoming pretty fond of me taking her picture.



She's also pretty good at saying, "1 Kuai per picture please!" when people ask to take her picture.

And then there's Salem. When faced with a crowd he waivers back and forth between completely annoyed bordering on the edge of ticked off...


and so shy that he gives a creepy smile.



But for "distracted" pictures, I think we did ok!
Next time, I think I'll do better at working the distracted factor into the family pictures equation and opt for the natural lighting in our own home!