We are not the family who goes out and gets their picture taken professionally.
In fact, we have only done this once and that was in March of 2009 and it coincided with Tatertot’s first birthday.
Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVED the photos from that day.
Here are just a few

Again, I really liked the pictures and they were fairly inexpensive thanks to a coupon.
The only thing I didn’t like was that they were so staged.
I am not a fan of catching those perfectly planned and staged moments.
I prefer to capture my kids when they are being just who they are.
In 2009, we had a friend take a picture of us together at a family members wedding.
If you ask me, the result was much better than when we went into a studio to have them done.

This picture just represents our family so much better.
Especially since the little man is sitting there with a blank look on his face.
In fact, I liked this picture so much we used on our Christmas cards that same year.
The following year we took at family vacation and a stranger was kind enough to snap a picture of the five of us together (since I am usually the photographer).
Again, another picture I absolutely adore because it is our family and we are just being us.

Of course, once again the little dude has that dazed and confused look on his face but I still adore the picture.

After having our pictures taken by a professional and then just doing random family shots, I have to say the pictures I enjoy the most are the ones we have taken at random moments. I love that this way we can capture each family members individuality. But, I do not promise that we won’t be donning matching apparel in the near future to take another family picture. What can I say, we are having a baby soon and the Packers are 7-0! I think once the little lady arrives we will be breaking out the Packer gear and getting another family shot in but I doubt we will do it in the studio with a professional. I’m thinking the family, a camera and Lambeau Field as the backdrop!

What is your favorite family photo and do you prefer the staged professional photos or the random moments in life?
Check out the Family Photo Days at Shutterfly, to help meet customer needs and to raise awareness of Shutterfly holiday cards, Shutterfly is planning “Family Photo Days” throughout November.   These have been very popular among  customers in the past on a smaller scale.  The objective is to generally drive inspiration around taking and creating a family photo (early enough so you can get it into a fantastic online holiday card), and raise awareness of Shutterfly as a provider of online holiday cards

Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the Shutterfly Family Photo Day Campaign with Global Influence. I received compensation for my participation. All opinions are 100% mine.

This giveaway is now closed. Winners have been notified via email.

/ I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE photobooks from Shutterfly.
I give them as gifts.
I use them as a scrapbook of family vacations.
I just think they are great.

Since I love Shutterfly so darn much, and happen to have 2 codes, each good for 1 free 8×8 Photobook (Shipping not included) I have decided to give them away to 2 of my awesome readers.

The only catch is that these codes expire on August 1st which means this giveaway is going to be over quickly and you will have to get creative right away to take advantage.

Here’s how to enter:

Leave me a comment below telling me what kind of photobook you would like to make.

That’s it.
Easy as pie.
One simple entry.

The winner will be chosen at random using the And The Winner Is plugin.

This giveaway will begin on July 26th and end on July 28th, 2011 at 12 NOON CST.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I simply earned 2 free photobook codes for a previous sponsored post and have decided to give them away because I am such a nice person!

This Spring, we are looking forward to celebrating all kinds of things. First things first, I completed my degree on April 3rd and am currently waiting for my diploma to arrive. We are also heading out of town this weekend to watch the Drama Queen participate in the State Destination Imagination competition and are hoping for a big win (which will make it into one of our new photo books) ! There are two other things that we are hoping happen before Summer arrives….we hope that we will be able to announce that we are expecting another child and we are hoping to move as well…into a house of our own. **FINGERS CROSSED**

For me personally, the biggest celebration right now is the one in which I became a college graduate! I am still debating on driving the hour and a half in June to participate in the actual graduation ceremony, but if I do, I plan on inviting my family to join me with the help of Shutterfly with these beautiful graduation announcements

This is a HUGE accomplishment for me and I really want to celebrate it, I’m just not sure exactly how I want to do that just yet. I might just wait until the Hardworking Hubby finishes up his degree in November and participate in the ceremony alongside him!

Spring is a busy time of year in our house and who knows just how much busier it will become. Here’s hoping we will be planning on sending out some birth announcements before next Spring!

Are you a blogger, too? Click here to register for a chance at 50 free announcements!

Disclaimer:  This post is part of a series sponsored by Shutterfly. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

The thing I love most about the holiday season is sending out Christmas cards to those who are near and dear to our family. Each year, I design a card covered in pictures of the kids and send them out. This year, I plan on doing the same. I do already have our Christmas photo cards in my hands and they are all stamped and sealed and waiting to go out in the mail. (Can you believe they’ve been ready since October!?)

However, this year, I want to do something else.
Something new.
Since I have so many new friends that exist in the blogosphere and Twitterverse, I want to send holiday cards to them too!

Right now, I’m looking at all of the awesome new holiday designs that Shutterfly offers and I’m mulling over a few of them.

(Please note that those are NOT my children nor is that my family. These are images from Shutterfly.com)

See how cute all 3 of those designs are?
Now do you understand why I am finding it hard to make a decision?

Anyways, if you want to receive a holiday card from The Megalomaniac Family, I would LOVE to send you one!
The 1st 50 people to fill out my contact form leaving me their mailing information will receive one!
(I will update this post when all 50 spots have been filled.)

So….what are you waiting for?
Fill out the form so I can send you one of our ridiculously cute cards!!
And, if you’re in the holiday spirit, pop over to Shutterfly and get your cards!
**Please put Holiday Card in the Subject line and your name and address in the message box.**

Disclaimer: I received 50 complimentary holiday cards from Shutterfly in exchange for my honest opinion. Shutterfly doesn’t represent or warrant the accuracy of any statements or product claims made here, nor does it endorse any opinions expressed within this blogsite. The opinions stated from me are 100% mine and they are my true thoughts on this film. If you are a blogger who would like their own set of holiday cards, sign up with Shutterfly here.