My parents’ farm was spared any damage in the crazy tornadoes that tore through Birmingham yesterday.  Very thankful that my favorite oak trees and the crazy horses and barn cats are still there!

I’m feeling guilty for being so happy about an old tree when so many people lost their lives.  Sad days for sure.

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As a preemptive strike this year, we decided to have “Ivan the Adorable” groomed in preparation for blowing his coat any day now. Although from far away his fur resembles that of a golden retriever, it is actually this whacked out double layer of furriness that seems to be pretty common with sled dogs. Last year, we discovered after the fact, that when he starts to shed, his compact under layer becomes a thousand little dread locks that are completely hidden by his longer outer layer of fur.

Yesterday, Ivan had his very first “day at the salon”. He loved it, of course! He can totally be the belle of the ball. He came prancing out of there all shiny and glowing and I giggled to myself all the way home! For a canine usually covered in mud splashes on his forehead, his shiny white fur glistening in the sun caught me completely of guard. I knew he had to be photographed in this moment or it would be lost forever.

Unfortunately, Ivan, knows no doggie obedience so the whole family was enlisted to help with his photo shoot. Although he is pure mutt, on occasion he strikes a very regal pose reminiscent of a Russian Wolfe Hound. This is the pose I thought most appropriate for his glamour shots. This is also the pose most impossible to recreate with no obedience training. We sort of came close and then threw all plans to the wind in return for whatever he would give up.

I am proud to present “Ivan the Terrible” and his glamour shot debut!

Every year I say that I am going to hire a photographer to take family photos for me and every year I wait until the last minute and try to do it myself.  This year was no different.  My 2011 New Year’s Resolution is to book a holiday session for next Christmas with someone else before the end of January!

These little love monkeys totally have me all figured out.  They go on hyper-alert the minute the camera comes out and they morph into spazzed out performers.  Chaos hardly begins to describe it.  Sid starts vogueing for the camera and Sol pulls out the dog and pony show.  There is non stop-bouncing, running, face making, yelling, banging and knocking.  I’ve made the mistake of enlisting their help whenever I do a new lighting setup or studio change and so their game now is to do a crazy pose and then jump up to see the photo on the back of my camera. All this is done with much cackling and howling in the background.  This is all fine and good when I am just testing things out, but when I try to do things for real, there is no hope.  Unfortunately I’ve trained them this way!  Their new favorite pose is to stick their rear ends up as high in the air as they can to ensure the camera gets maximum exposure. (Those have been edited out!)

It’s funny to me that I am completely unfazed if it’s someone else’s child I am trying to take photos of! For my boys, however, Dad always has to be enlisted to do the off camera entertainment and to assure me that my blood pressure will revert to normal within the hour.  This year was more of the same.  Luckily, through the chaos, their personalities shine through.  Their expressions are priceless to me and they represent their little souls to the fullest.

Next year, however, we are going to have the whole family in the photo and there is going to be a feeling of calmness and tranquility and someone else is going to pull the trigger.  I am sure of this!

Merry Christmas!