Easter photographs

I love springtime, and so Easter is one of my favourite holidays. When someone from George at Asda got in touch with us and asked us to take on the challenge of creating an Easter Sunday outfit, I couldn't resist. Buying children's clothes is one of my absolute favourite things, and I was given a budget of £20.

I had a look through their girls clothes department and selected an outfit for Eilidh. I like little girls to look like little girls, so nothing shiny or tight or stretchy (can you see the arguments ahead when she's a teen?) and fortunately there were lots of lovely things to choose from. I actually got a gorgeous dress with hearts on, a pack of vests with hearts on and a white cardi for a total of £16 (which is probably roughly the equivalent of the price of one mitten from Boden or a pair of pants from Gap).

I then had to decide how to photograph Eilidh to show off her beautiful fresh and yet smart Easter Sunday outfit. My little girl has just started standing up by herself for the first time, so I had the idea to photograph her in the garden, standing up, smiling and perhaps holding a flower. Very classic and springtime, right?

Unfortunately, I forgot two things. 1) We live in Britain and 2) My daughter is Eilidh. The first of these things meant that when we went out to the garden, it was actually bl**dy freezing. The second of these things meant that my highly-strung little girly would not only not stand up to order (and when I tried to stand her up she crumpled to the ground and lay there weeping) but she would not sit with her legs touching the horrid, cold grass, which made quite an amusing photo, if not the one I had had in mind.

 

No problem, I thought. She looks so sweet that an indoor photo will be just as nice. So I took her inside, got Mimi mouse to cheer her up and arranged a nice photo (fortunately Mimi's colours blended well). Eilidh, still upset from the traumatic grass incident, was not up for this either. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, The Saddest Little Girl in the World:

Oh dear. Then, just as I was about to give up and try another day, something nice happened. Something that proves that the best photos of children are ones that aren't posed, but are ones that just happen. Arran (3) came over and sat down next to his baby sister.

He talked to her and played peek-a-boo with her. He got her interested in the open-up plastic eggs (which I'll tell you more about in a minute). And finally, finally, with his usual craziness, he got that long-awaited smile from her! This I think was far more of an 'Easter' photo than a posed one would have been, because Easter for me is about family and fun, and when I stopped trying to force a beautiful photo, an even more beautiful one just happened. (The photo really is spontaneous by the way, he is dressed like that as he'd just been to a party! He is particularly proud of his tie and says he looks 'like a teacher'.)

Inspired and cheered by big brother's antics, Eilidh suddenly grabbed Mimi mouse, hunched forward...

And stood up! (Isn't the dress gorgeous?)

And we got our pretty outdoor photoshoot the next day anyway (with a blanket to protect Eilidh's legs from that dreadful grass).

Ladies and gentlemen, may I proudly present The Happiest Little Girl in the World:

George at Asda is also giving five readers the chance to win a £20 gift voucher. If you look at the photos above, you can see the children playing with some plastic eggs. The 19 other participating bloggers were also sent a number of eggs. If you can track down them all, enter the total number of eggs in the box below (you could perhaps google 'Asda Easter egg blog hunt' to find out who else has been blogging about this).

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Comments

[Mummy Vs Work]

Aww what a gorgeous smile :) Beautiful dress too!

[Catherine]

Love Eilidh's dress. Our Asda in Worcester opens on Monday and I will be on the look out for one for Izzy...x

[Jennie Stevenson]

So cute. Love reading your blog :)

[Alison De La Pena]

She looks beautiful and I love the ones of Eilidh and her brother playing

[Claire]

Look at my gorgeous god-daughter! Love the dress, really suits her!

[Ann Simpson]

the picture of the saddest little girl in the world made me laugh out loud - Pat and John too. Does this make us bad people?

[Mum/Me]

Thanks everyone! Ann - if it does, then I am a bad mother because it makes me laugh every time I look at it. She wears her heart on her sleeve, our Eilidh.

[joanne southward]

Beautiful children and beautiful photos. Love reading your blog xxx

[Gill Penny]

Eilidh looks gorgeous in Easter outfit, and I was inspired - I took Luke and Tamara to Asda to choose Easter outfits too. I'll take some pictures and show you. Thanks for the idea.

[Kelly]

awww how lovely! what gorgeous children. x

[Caroline]

Love the dress - and the little girl in it! xxx

[Amy]

Hi love

The dress is lovely I cannot wait to buy one (not for me obviously but to send to baby Chloe in Korea)! Having bought their stuff before I know its really well made. More ideas for clothes to send from Asda please?

Amy xxxx

[Amy]

ARRANS SHOES!!!!!

[Merkle]

What a special brother - a real dashing guy in his tie, he compliments his sister in her pretty dress.