I can't keep a secret

I never could, actually. And in this case, I definitely couldn't. Not after I saw what you're about to see.

Dede, aka Grandma Loop, aka Kelly's mom, requested one thing for her birthday, which was way back on Halloween: family portraits of the Hamilton nuclear unit. Not much to ask, you're likely thinking. But to say we're bad about family portraits is an understatement considering that, in really close to 20 years of marriage, Kelly and I have done portraits exactly three times--once at a PetSmart with our cats in the early 90s, once with Zach and Zoë in 1993, and...well, today. That's it.

It took us a couple weeks' worth of cancelled aappointments(too busy, cold feet, couldn't find anything to wear, etc.), but the planets finally aligned today and allowed us to muster the confidence to do the deed, the results of which are posted here.

Kelly and I went in figuring whatever happens, happens, particularly since our eldest daughter has a thing about being photographed, particularly by strangers. We'd left at least one portrait appointment in the past frustrated and photo-less. But fortunately, we got the same photographer who earlier did Zienna's first portraits, who was an absolute joy, and everything just fell into place, Zoe's apprehensions (or lack of them) included. And when we saw the results...well, we were just so pleased, we couldn't hold back from sharing. Not counting the pictures with the tired, old guy. But then, with kids as cute as this--personal biases aside, of course--who's counting?

We'd intended to use the photos for Christmas cards, and we still do. So when you get yours, do us a favor and just pretend you've never seen the included picture before, OK? And whatever you do, savor it, and thank Grandma Loop. Because at the rate we're going, it could be a looooooong time before you see an updated Hamilton family portrait!