Well, here they are finally. I devoted the morning to editing and choosing the photos to use for our Christmas card and to give to the grandparents for Christmas. They aren't the greatest, but the nice thing about being your own photographer is that you know you really captured your kids. Flaws and all. I'm getting over the "perfect" picture desires I had and realize that they may not be the "perfect" pictures, but they are OUR perfect pictures and they will be photos we look back at and remember when . . . Not that I'm ready to rush those days. I love every minute of these days of having preschoolers. I realize we are getting closer and closer to the days that life is going to change drastically as Walker starts Kindergarten in September and will be exposed to a whole new world of people, places and opportunity. And we may get sucked into the whole world of elementary sports. Not soccer, NOT soccer, please! Everytime I drive past a youth soccer field I cringe at the thought of getting up at the crack of dawn to watch a bunch of aimless children run after an elusive ball. I just can't do it. I CAN'T I tell ya!
I guess I'm getting a little ahead of myself though.
Merry Christmas! Hope your new year goes slow - just like I want mine!
Friday, December 5, 2008
At the Barn
I'm Told Momma!
Maggie had enough. After 5 frames she says she is "told" and wants to be done taking pictures at Papa's "bawn".
Let's go kids.
Willie James
I saw the outfit in the Children's Place ads. I bought the outfit and I wore it on my baby. And he looks just as adorable as I thought he would. I didn't even buy it on sale either **GASP**!! At first I regretted it - especially since I'm seeing now that the pieces are already like 60% off - but after seeing him dressed up like this, I don't regret it for a moment. The frugal monster that lurks inside me was beaten down by the proud Momma that adores her little guy. UGH - I could just eat him up! And he looks so pathetic because I am forcing him to wear plaid pants, with a cable knit cardigan and matching bowtie and cap! I think he sees that the next 5 years will render him powerless over his clothing and he will die of embarrassment when I pull this photograph out to show his future wife! Don't worry - I'm saving the outfit for his sons!
Hat in hand
Can't you just hear a delightful british accent of a little boy, "Please, sir, may I have another?"
My angels
This would have been a cute picture if Walker had been cooperating. And if I didn't have to mask out the reflection of other people in the fireplace doors. Quite a poinsettia tree, huh?
Walker
This is my first born. He is amazing. He's funny and he is just about the sweetest thing I've ever met. He's also rambunctious, rowdy and a little on the crazy side, but we sure do love him a lot.
I believe in Angels
This is my sweet Maggie May. We have a special affinity for angels in our family - my Grammie called us her angel babies and now she is our angel watching us from above. This is my attempt at a "tribute" shot for Grammie since we used her house for our photo shoot this day and all but a few of her angel babies had their portraits done. She would have gotten such joy out of these angel babies of ours. I know she is.
When I was pregnant with Maggie May, I had a dream that was so vivid and real that it had me shaking when I woke up. I dreamed that I was in the hospital and I had the baby. I was holding this pink bundle in my arms, and I looked up and said, "Grammie, do you want to hold Maggie?" and she was there with me, smelling of Chantilly and pink lipstick and she said to me, "Oh, Angel, she is just beautiful!" and I woke up and from that moment on I knew I was going to have a girl and I would name her after my Grammie & her mother (Grammie Foster) - Margaret May. Laugh at me if you will, but I swear that when I woke up I could smell her in the room with me.
Shirt tails
So when did they stop making those dress shirt onesies - you know the kind that's a dress shirt with onesie snaps at the crotch. i can't tell you how many times we tucked this guys shirt tails in. He's still pretty adorable though, right?
Walker looks surprised
We took this picture ourselves with my new remote. It works wonderful - now if I could just remember to HIDE the stinkin' think when I am taking the picture! How obvious could I be? And poor Walker - he is in the "I can't smile a real smile to save my life" phase of childhood. I thought this wouldn't come for another 2 or 3 years. I am dreading school photos!
Me and my angels
This is probably my most favorite picture of the bunch. I look decent, the children are all looking at the camera AND smiling . It is rare.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Old Fashioned Christmas
We spent the Thanksgiving holiday with my family this year. We had a great turkey day - all the good food I love and the cousins all got to play together in Nana's new basement playroom. My mom outdid herself setting the playroom up with the help of my sisters. It was all repainted with themes on different walls, Walker got a barn scene - there's a library, a firehouse and even a puppet theater! The kids had a blast riding their scooters and playing with all the fun toys.
Friday, Walker and Chris got to go to hunting camp with Pop. They were so excited. They called us from camp to tell us that Pop had gotten them their very own TV for their room. Chris's best comment about camp . . . "You don't even have to change your underwear if you don't want to!" In addition to going to camp, they also helped pick out Nana's Christmas trees! They each picked one. Luckily, Nana has a big enough house to accommodate both of them. They were both very proud to have the trees they picked in Nana's house.
Saturday after we got the trees wrestled into the house, we headed out to do some Christmas portraits. First up was Chris and Olivia - we headed to the barn to take some "old fashioned" portraits. Both of them were so cute posing for me. Olivia gave me some great expressions! I'm glad they had fun because once we started on the inside portraits, Olivia wasn't as happy. I think she was tired of having Aunt Jen take her picture.
In addition to doing Chris and Olivia, I did my Aunt Sharon and her girls and my Aunt Lisa's boys portraits. I hope they like them. It was very difficult to wrangle all those kids into position. None of them wanted to stay posed as we had put them. And then getting Baby Brett to laugh - now I know why photographers pay for assistants that are not family : )
My favorites of the bunch are posted. I love these ones I took of Chris and Olivia in the barn door. I tried it with my kids but Maggie kept frowning and saying she was cold. Didn't make the best pictures. Of course I edited everyone else's photos first, so I'll post pics of my family later.
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are looking forward to Christmas. I know we are!
Merry Christmas
This is one of my favorite of the bunch I did at the barn with Katie's children. This is so Christopher and Olivia is so animated.
