This is my daughter Chelsea and I.
I asked French Husband to take some photos of us, since I have very few of us together. That is the problem, I have, being the one who is usually behind the camera.
Our family rarely takes photos without making a face. Chelsea is the Queen of making faces. French Husband actually told me at her birth, "... Corey, Loops (his endearing name for me), from know on, um, er, um... could you NOT make faces when you talk from now on? Especially, when talking to Chelsea. In France we don't make faces when we talk, and I want our daughter to er, um, not to make faces when she talks." I shrugged my shoulders, wrinkled my forehead, squinted and said, "I'll try."
As you can see I failed, I failed badly.
As I have said to French Husband many of times, "Sorry Honey, you married the
wrong person, making faces is a strong genetic code in the Amaro blood
line."
Rarely is there a photo where someone in our family is not making a face.
Chelsea inherited making faces from me.
You probably won't believe this but, her height, that came from me too.
...and even though, in this photo I look like I have the strong genetic trait, of my Portuguese family, of having a bust line of a double DD or more, it is no true.
Though Chelsea did inherit that D-stuff from my side of the family.
D-stuff, height, and faces. She got that from me, and...
Her long, brown, curly hair too... though I am naturally blond.
Yes indeed we are so much alike, I wonder where French Husband fits in at all?
Luckily, she did not get my nose... so I know French Husband was a part of this creation.
French Husband said, "Okay this is it. One last try. Please can you two please smile an American smile, please."
Oh well we tried... and I am happy with the results.
this was delightful - and I can just imagine the faces French Husband was making ;) Even when she is making faces, Chelsea is lovely!
Posted by: pauline | 02 June 2009 at 01:00 PM
Your story brought back memories of my daughter when she was little if she saw a mirror she was making faces!! She loved when I held her and we made faces together.
Thanks for bringing back a wonderful memory.
Enjoyed "the faces" of two beautiful women!!!
Posted by: Vicki | 02 June 2009 at 01:07 PM
Wonderful fun and BEAUTIFUL photos.. Thank you for putting a BIG American smile on my face every morning.
Posted by: [email protected] | 02 June 2009 at 01:16 PM
Yep, two peas in a pod!
Posted by: Billie | 02 June 2009 at 01:22 PM
beautiful captures of the two of you. loved each and every one :)
Posted by: erin | 02 June 2009 at 02:09 PM
Great photos. Chelsea got her height from your side of the family? Hmmmmm
She is a lot like you, except that you are a natural blinde!!!! :)
Posted by: Sheala | 02 June 2009 at 02:13 PM
Cute, fun photos! Chelsea is beautiful, just like her mama!
Doesn't look to me like all that pizza did anything to your chin!
Have a wonderful day,
Jill
Posted by: Jill Flory | 02 June 2009 at 02:33 PM
Great photos! You are both gorgeous and it looks like you had the best time getting your pictures taken...:) Silke
Posted by: Silke | 02 June 2009 at 02:34 PM
Like mother, like daughter...stunningly beautiful!!!
Posted by: anna | 02 June 2009 at 02:38 PM
Is Chelsea crazy tall or are you just crazy........not tall? Cute pic's, makes me want to take some with my daughter too.
Posted by: Jeanette M. | 02 June 2009 at 02:39 PM
Mother and daughter pics. Nothing more beautiful.
Posted by: Betty M | 02 June 2009 at 02:46 PM
Beautiful..the both of you!
Posted by: becky up the hill | 02 June 2009 at 03:16 PM
daughters are a wonderful thing... I have 3... but only one that makes goofy faces when photo taking and otherwise...
a great photo shoot... French Husband did very good!
Posted by: Dixie | 02 June 2009 at 03:17 PM
Such a fun photo shoot!!! Thank you! Are you going to make another movie?
Posted by: Marcie | 02 June 2009 at 03:18 PM
You two are each adorable in your own right, but together - priceless! How much fun was that?? Is that a pig hanging on the cabinet behind you? Love that!
Posted by: Candy | 02 June 2009 at 03:27 PM
Chelsea has grown into a beautiful young lady.....and mom still looks great. Did you say "naturally blond" ??? Uhummm....should I pass around your school picture?
Posted by: Ed in Willows | 02 June 2009 at 03:39 PM
Too cute!
You two are adorable together, silly faces and all!
Posted by: Beverly | 02 June 2009 at 03:41 PM
chelsea is so pretty :)
Posted by: cindy | 02 June 2009 at 03:48 PM
If only my darling child would allow me to take photos of us together.... these photos look like they will bring many happy memories in the future....
Posted by: Courtney | 02 June 2009 at 04:03 PM
Darling pictures! I have to say, as a long time face maker, it works better when you're young. (I'm 56 and the charm seems to have worn off somewhere along the way.)
Posted by: Natalie Thiele | 02 June 2009 at 04:18 PM
We do the same thing too- we just have to make faces :)
I keep looking for a serious one of me to put on my blog but I'm always half hiding behind a prop or making a face! Maybe I should just put one like that.
Andrea
Posted by: andrea | 02 June 2009 at 04:34 PM
How fun! My family always was told to not make faces when being photographed. Now I wish we had, as candid fun shots show the real people. Your little girl certainly is beautiful-just like her Mom!
Posted by: martina | 02 June 2009 at 04:41 PM
What fun! Chelsea and Corey are both lovely. I have a son that can't make a serious face when taking his picture. I am not sure where he got it.
Posted by: marilyn | 02 June 2009 at 04:42 PM
This is so cute!!! We do the same - faces that is - and even plan for a "regular" picture and then the "faces" one. I used to be embarassed by seeing how I actually look making all of those ridiculous faces, but now, in the middle of my life, it really doesn't matter and is even a great deal of fun, especially when everyone else looks just as silly.
Posted by: Mary Marsell-Farrell | 02 June 2009 at 04:46 PM
Only one word... G L O R I O U S !!!!!
Posted by: Ulla | 02 June 2009 at 04:50 PM
What a beautiful mother and daughter series of photos! I am glad Chelsea inherited your face-making gene! =)
Posted by: Beachy | 02 June 2009 at 04:56 PM
don't know about the naturally blond claim . . . but can certainly see you in your beautiful (and extra smart) daughter, Corey . . . good job by French Husband (I'm still waiting for the full frontal photo of him so I can decide about hair length . . .) OOXX, Renee
Posted by: Renee McLeod | 02 June 2009 at 05:20 PM
Just beautiful! You guys look so great!
No wonder FH is so crazy about you Corey!
Posted by: Alena | 02 June 2009 at 05:46 PM
You girls are too funny!!! I am still smiling...
Isabel
Posted by: Isabel ~ Maison Douce | 02 June 2009 at 06:00 PM
Ok Corey.. if you put your glasses on Chelsea and and lightened her hair, take her dark hair on you...you would look like the other one!! So fun and so Beautiful in every single way!
There is nothing more precious than a daughter, and a son....and well ok maybe a French husband and ok maybe an American husband that thinks he's a French husband!
Isn't life FUN??
XOX's
Thanks for sharing always~
Posted by: FrenchBlue | 02 June 2009 at 06:12 PM
That was so cute! Love ALL the faces, and the two of you goofing around together. And patient FH dutifully documenting it all. thanks.
Posted by: Rebecca in the Pacific Northwest | 02 June 2009 at 06:35 PM
you two are beautiful, "funny faces" and all!!!
Posted by: shannon in oregon | 02 June 2009 at 07:18 PM
How adorable you both are! Making faces runs in my family, too - you and French Husband have two beautiful children!
Posted by: Claudia | 02 June 2009 at 07:27 PM
she's a beauty! you will be very happy in the future to see pictures of yourself in the best pose. believe me. i found out how to give my most favorable side or smile and now i like my pictures. try it
Posted by: constance lefevre forehand | 02 June 2009 at 07:35 PM
So pretty, both of you!
Posted by: Kel | 02 June 2009 at 08:04 PM
You have gorgeous kids, Corey. It looks like you're having loads of fun with your daughter.
Posted by: Kim | 02 June 2009 at 09:10 PM
The american smile pic is definately my favorite!!
Posted by: Stacey | 02 June 2009 at 09:40 PM
Corey the photos are great! I cannot understand how people can be expected to not make faces when they talk - how do you understand what people are saying when they aren't making faces or at least how they are saying it! I love the faces!!
Posted by: Di | 02 June 2009 at 10:39 PM
You two ROCK! What absolute FUN. So nice to have her home for a while, isn't it? Thanks for sharing a little of the fun with us.
Posted by: Denise Leavens | 02 June 2009 at 11:15 PM
I remember you in school being the best dancer, layers of talent and so much fun. I am trying to conjure up the blond image of you as a young girl.....Pinocchio would even have to blush at that one.
xo, M
Posted by: Mardog | 03 June 2009 at 02:02 AM
how gorgeously gorgeous...nice to see you in front of the camera....love, love....
Posted by: jani | 03 June 2009 at 02:52 AM
Beautiful pictures...I enjoyed it. You all are just beautiful.
hugs and blessings
Tammy
Posted by: Tammy | 03 June 2009 at 03:28 AM
Just GORGEOUS the both of you. xxx
Posted by: Rhonda | 03 June 2009 at 03:47 AM
Your pictures were great! I need to take some of my mom and I.
Posted by: Mindi | 03 June 2009 at 04:24 AM
You two are the funnest and coolest Mom/Daughter combo!!! I too make faces...
Posted by: Hasmade Designs | 03 June 2009 at 04:29 AM
You two are a "DOUBLE D"
Delightful and Darling! Funny faces and all!
Joanny
Posted by: Joanny | 03 June 2009 at 05:00 AM
You are both lovely! And what fun, your smiles made me smile as well :)
Posted by: Beth | 03 June 2009 at 05:18 AM
Great shots! both gorgeous!
Posted by: lynne | 03 June 2009 at 06:18 AM
This made me laugh out loud! Chelsea is gorgeous, as is her mother... and FH is a very lucky man! (:
Posted by: Vicki's Bit-o-Earth | 03 June 2009 at 07:08 AM
Whether it is his style or not, husband/papa was probably laughing his head off! Joie de vivre
Posted by: jend'isère | 03 June 2009 at 08:23 AM
We have the same problem, as family photographer I'm hardly ever in pictures. Sometimes people I show pictures to ask me if I'm sure I really was in that party or not! :D
Loved the pictures, so fun. :) I'm so used to taking the pictures that I don't like being IN them. Really need to remedy that...otherwise people might starting thinking I either don't exist or I exist only like Charlie in Charlie's Angels! :P
Posted by: Alexis Lozano | 03 June 2009 at 08:24 AM
Fabulous pix! Chelsea and you--perfect together!
Posted by: Lizbeth | 03 June 2009 at 09:32 AM
I loved these photos Corey. I swear I saw your daughter eating ice cream in Aix...months ago...When Linda (Frenchless in France) gets back, lets all go have lunch :)
Meredith
Posted by: poppy fields | 03 June 2009 at 09:39 AM
Best photos I ever saw!
Posted by: Gracie | 03 June 2009 at 10:34 AM
Charming charming charming! You and Chelsea and you making faces for the camera are marvelous! She looks like Yann and behaves like you! Wonderful!
Posted by: Shelley Noble | 03 June 2009 at 10:39 AM
You are both so crazy and...beautiful!!!
Marigio xx
Posted by: marigio | 03 June 2009 at 01:47 PM
What a beautiful girl and what a beautiful relationship you have.
Posted by: Cherry | 03 June 2009 at 04:25 PM
Hi, that's the first time I came across your blog, I gotta say, it's adorable!
This post in particular touched me in a special way. I can only hope one day to have a daughter and such a fun relationship with her, just like you seem to have with your Chelsea.
All the best!
Posted by: Lily | 03 June 2009 at 06:37 PM
Love this post Corey! What cuties you two are and so lovely to see how much fun you have with each other.
Posted by: Sally | 03 June 2009 at 09:26 PM
Beautiful Mom and daughter.
Posted by: Donna Baker | 03 June 2009 at 10:20 PM
Corey ....there is nothing more special than mother and daughter. Both are so beautiful!
Posted by: Alice | 04 June 2009 at 02:28 AM
I do love you, my dear familly...
French side, American side...I'd say Heart side ;-)
Posted by: Juliette | 04 June 2009 at 09:36 PM
You look lovely and loving, you too. J' aime la complicite...Your daughter has a very expressive face, but I must single out the lips...I love seeing you happy. A bientot.
Posted by: Irene | 04 June 2009 at 10:32 PM
Dove girls no doubt. You two are beautiful!
Posted by: Jojo | 06 June 2009 at 01:17 AM
you and your daughter are beautiful!
Posted by: heather kathleen | 06 June 2009 at 07:29 PM
Wow ... you guys look like you have an incredible amount of fun together, and that's totally awesome!
Posted by: SweetPeaSurry | 07 June 2009 at 04:10 AM
I enjoy your blog so very much. This is a particularly favorite post. You and Chelsea will cherish these photos for many years to come as such a sweet moment in time.
Posted by: Janet | 09 June 2009 at 12:44 AM