Tess and Cole Birthday Portraits

I have decided that it's not worth the trauma of trying to get portraits of all the kids all at the same time.  I'm sure I will lose my mind at some point and try to get a picture of all four of them together in the future, but never again will I try to get individual portraits for each of them at one sitting.  (It was No. Fun.)

So for now I have decided that Tess and Cole will get their portraits in the spring, because that's when their birthdays are, and Spencer and Josh will get theirs in the fall, sometime in between their birthdays.

After today's session, I might rethink this policy as well.  Oh boy.

Both Tess and Cole started off well and happy enough, but Cole soon turned into... well, Cole.  He was belligerent and stubborn and just would not cooperate.  This made Tess anxious and upset. (Actually, my anxiousness and becoming upset with Cole probably brought it out in her, but whatever. Tomato-tomahto.)

It was like pulling teeth trying to get some cooperation and smiles.  Geez-louise. 

And at one point I caught Cole trying to pull down the flash bulb shade.  And then I caught him trying to climb up some boxes at the back of the studio to reach all the wooden letter props. (Remember the ABC obsession?  It's still there.)  And how many times did he run into and ruin Tess's pictures?

Oh well.  Despite all the torture fun, we managed to get a few good shots. 

And it must be said: I have the Cutest. Children. In. The. World.  (Just not the best behaved.)  ((At. All.))