Juliet's temporary passport is nearing its expiration date, so we decided to get her passport photos taken in Canada and apply for her new passport once we returned to Kuwait. Initially, it seemed simple enough. The job could be done at the pharmacy across the street and Juliet is used to being in front of the camera (#mamarazzi). EASY. PEAZY.
Introducing Our Passport Photo Experience, By The Freak-Out:
The first attempt included Juliet and Phil only. Because, how hard could it be?
Freak-out #1 - Juliet refuses to sit on the photo stool by herself. Phil lost some beard hair and gained some scratch marks on his arms and neck.
Freak-out #2 - Phil retrieves Smarties for bribery purposes, but faces the same battle once Juliet realizes it's all a trick. More beard hair gone. More scratches obtained.
At this point, Juliet was hysterical and Phil left the store with a box of stolen Smarties. He returned to the house to pick up the rest of the team for attempt number two. Nory was reluctant to leave the house (#ownagenda) and stayed in her Minnie Mouse footie pajamas for the journey. We promised her a treat when we got back to the house. (P.S. Does everyone use bribery as much as we do? No? Oh.)
Freak-out #3 - My gift wrap and ribbons dance (compliments of Hallmark!) was only effective with fellow shoppers. Everyone in the entire pharmacy was smiling except for Juliet (and if I used the term "FML", I would use it in this very instance). Also, it turns out your face must be snot-and-tear-free in passport photos. Who knew?
Freak-out #4 - We finally ditched the stool. Phil did some serious yoga with Juliet on his shoulders in order to get the perfect shot. Things were going well until the camera broke.
Freak-out #5 - While the lady was fixing the camera, Juliet swatted the box of Smarties out of my hands and Nory shrieked at the dispersal of Smarties on the pharmacy floor. This sent Nory off to find new treats in other parts of the pharmacy. MARCO?????????
Freak-out #6 - The camera is working, snot-less snapshots were taken and we think we're home-free! Alas, there was a glare on Juliet's forehead and the shot was unusable. I think this freak-out was had by Yoga-Daddy Phil.
Freak-out #7 - Nory is tired of being at the pharmacy. Juliet's passport photo has still not been secured. I decide to give-in and let Nory buy the whole store.
Freak-out #8 - SUCCESS! A picture is taken that meets all of the passport requirements! HALLELUJAH! Let's check-out and BLOW THIS POP-STAND! But wait, Nory starts crying because she didn't get her picture taken too...
It was a TRIP, I tell you. The photos were supposed to cost $14.95. BUT......after leaving the store with two passport photos, one pack of Smarties, one giant Shopkins toy, one iPad stand/drink holder, and a giraffe neck pillow, the ACTUAL TOTAL cost of our passport photos was $68.95.
To make ourselves feel better, we've divided this amount by the number of valid passport years. It eases the soul. (And other lies we tell ourselves...)
In case you forgot, don't ever take parenting advice from us ;)
Well, these are some FAMOUS LAST WORDS, my friends.
(If only we had the security surveillance video from this Parkinson Affair.)
Introducing Our Passport Photo Experience, By The Freak-Out:
The first attempt included Juliet and Phil only. Because, how hard could it be?
Freak-out #1 - Juliet refuses to sit on the photo stool by herself. Phil lost some beard hair and gained some scratch marks on his arms and neck.
Freak-out #2 - Phil retrieves Smarties for bribery purposes, but faces the same battle once Juliet realizes it's all a trick. More beard hair gone. More scratches obtained.
At this point, Juliet was hysterical and Phil left the store with a box of stolen Smarties. He returned to the house to pick up the rest of the team for attempt number two. Nory was reluctant to leave the house (#ownagenda) and stayed in her Minnie Mouse footie pajamas for the journey. We promised her a treat when we got back to the house. (P.S. Does everyone use bribery as much as we do? No? Oh.)
Freak-out #3 - My gift wrap and ribbons dance (compliments of Hallmark!) was only effective with fellow shoppers. Everyone in the entire pharmacy was smiling except for Juliet (and if I used the term "FML", I would use it in this very instance). Also, it turns out your face must be snot-and-tear-free in passport photos. Who knew?
Freak-out #4 - We finally ditched the stool. Phil did some serious yoga with Juliet on his shoulders in order to get the perfect shot. Things were going well until the camera broke.
Freak-out #5 - While the lady was fixing the camera, Juliet swatted the box of Smarties out of my hands and Nory shrieked at the dispersal of Smarties on the pharmacy floor. This sent Nory off to find new treats in other parts of the pharmacy. MARCO?????????
Freak-out #6 - The camera is working, snot-less snapshots were taken and we think we're home-free! Alas, there was a glare on Juliet's forehead and the shot was unusable. I think this freak-out was had by Yoga-Daddy Phil.
Freak-out #7 - Nory is tired of being at the pharmacy. Juliet's passport photo has still not been secured. I decide to give-in and let Nory buy the whole store.
Freak-out #8 - SUCCESS! A picture is taken that meets all of the passport requirements! HALLELUJAH! Let's check-out and BLOW THIS POP-STAND! But wait, Nory starts crying because she didn't get her picture taken too...
It was a TRIP, I tell you. The photos were supposed to cost $14.95. BUT......after leaving the store with two passport photos, one pack of Smarties, one giant Shopkins toy, one iPad stand/drink holder, and a giraffe neck pillow, the ACTUAL TOTAL cost of our passport photos was $68.95.
To make ourselves feel better, we've divided this amount by the number of valid passport years. It eases the soul. (And other lies we tell ourselves...)
In case you forgot, don't ever take parenting advice from us ;)
THREE CHEERS FOR TRAVEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome story!
ReplyDeleteI think it becomes more and more awesome with time. I was mortified during the actual experience lol
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