Every spring, we do a photoshoot of the boys together. We take individual shots throughout the year, of course, but it's kind of unusual for us to have all the kids coiffed and napped and fed and in non-meltdown mode at once.
And simultaneously wearing pants.
So we don't get sibling pics as often as we'd like, but come April it's a BIG tradition for us to go shopping for all new matching outfits and capture the kids in their element.
It's not really part of the tradition for me to be in the photos, but someone has to hold the baby.
And the toddler too, apparently. He's been in full-blown “mama” mode lately, and will barely let me put him down. It's a weird contrast next to our five-year-old, who's developing an urge to be more independent. I know it's all just part of the process of growing up, but I want to soak in ALL the squishy little baby hugs while I can get them! It's a good thing I have two strong arms and rather large hips to shoulder the weight of all these snuggles.
No matter how old they get, I'm pretty sure the sight of my little men in an oh-so-mature collared polo will always melt my heart. Kohl's was the source for all our clothes in this shoot, from their cute button-ups all the way down to their Chuck Taylor sneakers.
We shot this at the local market in our town. People we know kept showing up, watching our poses and contemplating our rad coordinating outfits and asking what the heck we were doing. I tried to convince them that we always look this well put-together on a random Tuesday afternoon. But these people know me in real life and have seen me WAY too often at school pickup in the messy-bun-and-yoga-pants mom uniform, so I don't think they bought it.
Nothing could shake this dude's confidence, though. I let him have a hand in choosing his own outfit, and he wanted to pair some Nike running shoes with cargo shorts and a versatile polo. The rest of us tend to be more of a Converse family, but Olin is all about the athletic gear. Being a bit older than the other boys, he's more advanced in his play and spends a ton of time out on the field with his playmates. I've noticed that he tends to naturally gravitate towards shoes and clothes that can really stand up to rough-and-tumble activities and help him run faster, go further, and be active all day long.
Elich, in his usual way, tried to mimic his older brother for a bit.
He has a hard time pulling off the serious look, though, and eventually lets his true “class clown” nature shine through. I picked out a super-soft pocket tee for him, along with cargo shorts in a color to coordinate with his brother, and these fun Chuck Taylor leather sneakers that have colorful accents to add a little spunk to any outfit.
As for me, I also wore a bit of a style mish-mash with chucks beneath Jennifer Lopez Skinny Jeggings and a SONOMA tank. I'm not usually big on mixing blue and black because I've always felt like it looks a little…well…colorblind. I feel like I really pulled it off here, though, thanks to this Juniors' chambray button-front shirt
Yes, I shop in the Juniors' section on occasion, especially when there's something this high-quality just begging to be integrated into a fun look. I'm always impressed with the versatility of Kohl's items. I'll admit I do size up to a large because, well, I'm not 16 anymore. I also nabbed these super-inexpensive oval sunglasses in the Juniors' section because I dig the mirrored look and apparently I have a tiny head. If you want something a bit more grown-up, I also like Lauren Conrad's Cat-Eye glasses.
My best accessory, of course, would have to be the baby in his sweet little bodysuit.
Want more spring fashion? Checkout my friend April's Mommy and Me shoot with her daughter!
If you're looking to get a photoshoot done with your kids this season, one of my favorite ways to get outfits together in a flash is through mix and match outfits and Kohl's. The work is already done for you! No more running around the store holding various items up to each other. Just put the sizes in and order. It all comes right to your door, and you'll have a clear picture of what your kids will look like side-by-side to plan your shots in advance. Plus, their clothes hold up really well so you'll be totally prepared for all the busy spring play days that lay ahead!
Have you ever arranged a sibling photoshoot?