Operation: Cheese! Part II

We had our (extended) family photos done on Sunday at Santa Monica Beach. I was anticipating children fleeing to the sea in every direction, overcast skies, a busy beach given the upcoming holiday and the fact that it was a weekend.

Yes, that would be MY child with her mouth open like a baby bird ... (photo by me)

It was a cool morning but the clouds dissipated just before the lens cap came off. The kids were such troopers. There we all were - jeans and white tops - all 14 of us - marching down the bike path, over the sand, down to the waters edge. The song in my head started as The Flight of the Bumble Bee by Rachmaninov but as the morning progressed with few tears, lots of snacks, and promises of toes being dipped in the cold water - the soundtrack slowly shifted to Do-Re-Mi from the Sound of Music. You know the part, all the kids with Maria skipping and dancing and singing their way through Salzburg in coordinating outfits?!? Here was our troop - from the Papa all the way to the littlest who turns 1 in a week.

Ok, where are we going for lunch?!!

Happy Girl! (photo by me)

Phew, So glad I didn't have to be the one to take the photos. It was much more fun to watch the morning unfold and not worry about the direction of the sun or who forgot to take their sunglasses off (me!). Pretty excited to see what the finished products look like!