The Calm Before The Storm

How hard can it be to just get the family together and take a quick photo to put in with the Christmas cards? Chez Jackson things are never simple. We have to move furniture, bring in festive props, set up lights........ Lights? Yes, lights! That's the easy bit. Then we have to corral the cats and do the logic puzzle as to who sits where in the photo based on height for humans, then who gets which cat based on the feline preferences as to male or female handler and which other cat they can tolerate being next to. Cats captured, Rodney happilybedecked in his festive bowtie, squirming in Nick's arms, thrashing clawed paws in my direction, and of course farting, Edna in my arms, hind claws embedded in my thighs, hating on everyone, Agatha blobbing with Kate hoping that treats will be there soon, and Tom dashing from the tripod to slot nonchalantly into his spot before the flashes fire and the cats escape! In the end we did get a usable photo thanks to the magic of photoshop :)