the blue blog archives: chuck e cheese is a lousy photographer

I got these photos of the boys seven years ago from a little kiddie ride at Chuck E. Cheese's. They only ever agreed to sit on the ride one time and even B couldn't hang out in the seat long enough for the picture to be taken. Boys.

Now that wee one is old enough to enjoy Chuck E. Cheese's, I've been trying to get her in the car for a little sis version of the same picture. But she's been afraid of the big shaky car with the giant mouse in it. (Smart girl, that one.) Until this week, that is, when she went to Chuck E's with some little friends and watched them have a blast on the kiddie rides. She hopped up in the car and finally, I got my picture!

Okay, not awesome, but still, now I've got these three little matched crappy pictures of the kids, oddly similar in quality and size to their ultrasound photos and oddly just as likely to cause me to tear up.

Crap. Now, I'm on it. I will get a good photo out of this silly ride thing with one of my kids or else! "Come on, sweetie, smile. Smile!"

Ugh. Finally, my friend came up with the brilliant idea of standing in front of the ride and acting like a fool to get wee to laugh continuously at us during the ride. (She's good with the kids, that one.) And....

But Chuck E. saved the best photo for last. Wee and one of her buddies did this one all by themselves while I was ordering the food. She grabbed it out of the machine and ran over to me, overjoyed with their success.

posted by alison at 10:11 pm | in just blogging 2010

Comments

Hmm. I hope they didn't charge you for the bottom one!

Posted by: LibbyH at May 14, 2010 7:27 AM

Of course they did - it was our last token too! But, no biggie. Each ride or game just costs one token, which is only 25¢. And she still gets the shaky ride, even if the picture is crap.

Posted by: ALISON at May 14, 2010 7:33 AM

Best photos ever!

Posted by: Johanna at May 14, 2010 7:38 AM

I still have the picture of my son, in which he looks about as interested as your boys. I, too, cannot part with it somehow. The last photo is truly the crowning achievement of your toils!!

Posted by: Donna at May 14, 2010 11:15 AM

My kids were always creeped out by Chuckie Cheese type of places. I think they each went once and never again. The place seems dark, dirty and way too noisy for any kind of enjoyment.

We turned down most party invitations there.

So in the last photo.... Someone came and sat against the car? That is weird.

Posted by: sandee at May 14, 2010 12:03 PM

It's great that your kid's charms come through in even the CeC pictures. Amazing, no wonder you tear up.

Posted by: Seanna Lea at May 14, 2010 12:23 PM

I didn't even know you could get photos at Chucky Cheese. My grandson had his 6th (I think - coulda been 5th) birthday party there. Fortunately it was in the late afternoon on a weekday so there was not the migraine inducing noise of a Saturday afternoon. Personally I love the first picture of Wee. With my grands, it's the middle child (a boy) who is afraid of most rides. Baby M seems to have inherited her mother's fearlessness (she was climbing to the very top of the monkey bars by age 2 & by 5, she was climbing very tall flag poles at parks).

Posted by: Donna at May 14, 2010 1:37 PM

those photos are too funny, the black and white tone give them somewhat of a 50's look to them. She's a cutie pie!

Posted by: Melissa Cordstone at May 14, 2010 4:26 PM

That mouse hasn't changed a bit.

Posted by: Dava at May 15, 2010 1:36 PM

She is a brave little one- everytime we went there all of the kids would cry whenever he came near. I kind of like the pics, they have a vintage feel to them.

Posted by: Andi at May 16, 2010 5:07 PM

Oh no---our grandson's up-coming 6th birthday is in August and I already dread going to Chuckie's. What a tornadolike experience it was the last time. I must start doing yoga or something just to get ready for it!lol

Posted by: Trudy (Bluebird49) at May 16, 2010 7:41 PM

It's also cute that she and Chuck E. are exactly the same size!

Posted by: Anne at May 19, 2010 1:14 AM

Thank God our kids are way past the parties at Chuck's. What bedlam. I was always worried that someone would kidnap a child and no one would know because of all the screaming. And P.S. - thanks for the Sox tip. What a great site!

Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport at May 19, 2010 8:50 AM

I love those pictures! I have them of my kids too. Also, the strip from the booth at the mall of me, DD and my Mom. What's with bad pictures that makes us tear up?

Posted by: CleaStagnitti at May 20, 2010 6:15 AM

LOL. you know my son for a while was doing goofy things when I was taking photos and not smiling, but now either his grandma (my mil) had a word with or, I think it's sibling rivelry, when ever I say "smile" he is only to happy to pose for the camera...mind you he does try to cover his sisters face with his hand or hold up some silly toy. Doh.

Posted by: Orli at May 23, 2010 7:55 AM

No doubt at all that those three came from the same parents! They are all so alike (and mighty cute too.

Posted by: ellen at May 23, 2010 4:26 PM