Love Like a Sunset Part II

three.

three.

It was a bright Saturday morning when Joe and I gathered our chaotic, beautiful family for our much-anticipated photoshoot.

The sun was shining, and the weather was perfect—just warm enough that we wouldn't freeze in our matching outfits of white tops and blue jeans

. A slight breeze danced through the air, promising an ideal day for capturing memories, even if those memories were bound to be a bit messy.

With nine children, the notion of a photoshoot felt ambitious, even reckless. Joelle, our firstborn, was now sixteen, growing into her own vibrant self. Skye, at ten, was bursting with energy, her laughter echoing the essence of childhood.

Then there were the triplet boys—Jamauri, Jayceon, and Jesiah, aged eight—who could hardly contain themselves at the thought of being outside. The dynamic was electrifying, as always.

As if on cue, Kamon and Kairo, our wild four-year-olds, began a mini wrestling match on the grass, completely oblivious to the chaos that was about to ensue.

Kamaiyah, our adventurous three-year-old, ran between them, trying to join the fun, while Samir, our precious baby, let out a soft coo, blissfully unaware of the whirlwind that surrounded him.

"Alright, everyone! Let's gather around the backdrop!" Joe called out, his voice cutting through the playful din.

The backdrop was a pristine white, which promised to make our vibrant personalities pop. But getting all of us in the frame—let alone smiling—was going to be a Herculean task.

"Joelle, can you help me with the younger ones?" I asked, hoping the eldest could corral her siblings. She nodded, already stepping into her role as the responsible big sister, a task she had mastered over the years.

The photographer, a cheerful young woman with a bright smile, set up her camera and gave us a wave. "Let's start with a big family shot! Everyone squeeze in tight!"

We shuffled together, a mass of white and blue, the smell of grass and sun warming our skin. I positioned Samir in my arms, the weight of him feeling both fragile and grounding. The photographer clicked away, her enthusiasm infectious. "One, two, three—smile!"

The moment I heard the word "smile," everything shifted. The boys, typically so lively, started poking each other, giggling as they attempted to maintain a semblance of order. Skye stood at my side, her eyes darting between the camera and her brothers, clearly debating whether to laugh or scold them.

"Guys, come on! Focus!" Joelle urged, a mix of exasperation and amusement on her face. I could see her trying to maintain her role as the peacekeeper, while secretly enjoying the hilarity unfolding.

Just as we started to regain some composure, disaster struck. Samir, sweet little Samir, decided that it was the perfect moment to let loose. In a spectacular fashion, he had a blowout that sent his adorable onesie spiraling into a world of chaos. I felt my heart sink as the unmistakable smell wafted through the air.

"Oh no, not now!" I whispered, desperately trying to hold him at an angle that would limit the damage. The boys erupted into laughter, and even Joelle couldn't suppress a giggle.

"Mom, do we need to do a wardrobe change?" she asked, barely able to contain her mirth.

"Let's just hold off for a second," I replied, trying to remain calm. The photographer, still smiling, captured the chaos. "This is all part of the magic, right?" she said, clicking away, documenting our reality.

As I shifted Samir, I caught sight of Kamon and Kairo, who had moved on from wrestling to attempting to climb the backdrop. "Hey! No climbing!" I shouted, half-laughing, half-serious. They froze for a moment, their faces a mix of shock and delight.

The photo session morphed into a beautifully orchestrated chaos. Every time the photographer tried to line us up, something else would happen. Jayceon had taken to spinning around in circles, trying to make everyone dizzy. Jesiah and Jamauri were in a competitive stance, pretending to box each other, their laughter echoing like music.

"Alright, everyone, let's take a break," Joe said, stepping in, his tall frame towering over the kids. "How about we do a fun shot? Everyone jump!"

We all turned to him, laughter erupting as we tried to coordinate our jumps. The photographer counted down. "Three, two, one—jump!"

It felt like a scene from a movie, with the moment stretched in time as we leapt into the air, smiles wide, hearts light. In that brief second, everything felt perfect, encapsulating the wild, beautiful life we had created together.

"Can we do it again?" Kamaiyah squealed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Absolutely!" Joe said, his enthusiasm unwavering. "This time, let's try to actually jump at the same time!"

As we prepared for our second jump, the photographer caught a candid shot of Samir mid-cry, his tiny face scrunched up in protest. The reality of our day was truly encapsulated: joyful chaos, love, and the inevitable mess that comes with having a large family.

After a few more attempts, we finally settled back down for a more traditional family portrait. I was still holding Samir, who had finally settled, a little angel nestled in my arms. We lined up, Joe at my side, Joelle and Skye in front of us, and the triplet boys crouching at the front, their energy momentarily contained.

"Say cheese!" the photographer prompted, and the smiles returned, a mix of genuine happiness and sheer determination to make this moment last.

Click.

In that fleeting moment, I felt an overwhelming wave of gratitude wash over me. Despite the chaos, the mess, and the unpredictability that defined our lives, I wouldn't change a single thing. This was our family—a whirlwind of personalities, laughter, and love.

The photographer took a few more shots before finally suggesting we try a fun candid shot, one where the kids could just be themselves. "Why don't you guys run around and just have fun? I'll capture the moments as they come."

With that, we let loose. The kids scattered, laughter filling the air as they played tag. Samir, still in my arms, watched wide-eyed, seemingly unfazed by the pandemonium. I felt a tug at my heart, knowing how quickly time flew. Joelle was almost grown, while the younger ones were racing toward their own milestones.

Joe and I took a step back, sharing a moment of quiet amidst the chaos. "Can you believe we have nine kids?" he asked, a soft smile playing on his lips.

"It's insane," I replied, chuckling. "But I wouldn't trade it for the world."

As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a golden hue over the scene, the photographer captured those moments—our family in all its glory, a beautiful mess of joy and love. It was a day I would remember, not just for the photos, but for the laughter, the joy, and the vibrant chaos that defined our lives.

Finally, as the session wrapped up, the kids gathered around, their energy still high. "Can we get ice cream now?" Skye begged, her eyes shining with hope.

"Absolutely," Joe replied, ruffling her hair affectionately. "But first, let's clean up a little!"

With that, we headed back, the perfect end to a wonderfully imperfect day.