"Smile" for the camera!!

Today was planned as a "quiet" day for us....no plans except a run in the morning with Scarlett and then the pool - we have been getting a lot of rain in the afternoons, so our plan...watching ET (Lucie's favorite movie and she doesn't understand that it is like 20 years old and she keeps asking everyone "Have you seen ET - it is the best movie ever"!!) and just chillin'. Well, after our run and a hot breakfast - we got a call from our friend Jason and Michele asking us to join them for a trip to the mall to get our kids passport/visa/immigration pictures taken. This was on our "to do" list - so we said "sure"!!

We went to the pool for a quick dip and then showered and off to the mall. There are several qualifications for the photo - Martita's hair has to be pulled back, it has to be a 2x2 photo, with a white background and we need 8 copies. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, Jason and Michele's son, Jonathan was first - he sat there perfectly straight and smiled and the photographer took one picture and boom......finished. Then it was Martita's turn....

Our girl does NOT take good pictures...she has a difficult time looking at the camera. She won't smile and she doesn't sit still at ANY TIME!!! So true to form - we had a few issues. The first few shots did not work out...then the camera ran out of charge (only in Nicaragua) so we waited for the photographer to come back. I took this opportunity to "coach" my girl. In my best Spanish I told Martita - "love, you need to sit still, smile and look at me when he is taking the picture" - her reply was "Si Momma"!! She always says, "Si Momma"!! ;)

So when the camera was ready to go again....Martita looked at me and I was smiling and told her to smile....so she smiles but shuts her eyes!!! I'm wondering what in the world is she doing now?!?! Several shots were taken and all with her eyes shut! When I told her to open her eyes, she took her hands up to her face to open them.....again, the camera ran out of charge and the photographer was gone!!!

Now by this time, Lucie is losing it in the lobby - screaming for her Mommy - Scarlett is rolling her eyes and our friends are thinking - why did we bring THEM along?

Then it hit me....Martita is smiling just like her Mommy. Big grin and eyes closed!! My little girl was listening so well and doing exactly what she was told to do! So when the photographer came back I told him it was up to him and I stepped back into the crowd and stopped interfering!! First shot, eyes open - no smile - but she was looking right at the camera!! Albeit, she looks like a criminal (hopefully this is not a sign of the future) I "think" the photos will work!!

We had a great lunch with our friends - did a little shopping and then went home. I had a nice dinner with my girls and am exhausted!! Again, I wonder what everyone is talking about when they say there is nothing to do here....Maybe it's MY family but we seem to fill the days with so much activity that I don't know what else we could handle!!

Tomorrow is another "quiet" day...who knows what will come of it - I'm looking forward to another adventure!!