Take two...

You may remember that I said I'm obsessed with the "woulda, coulda, shoulda's" for family photos.  Well, this time I actually did a do-over.  We tried to set up these shots in the first session and let's just say that I learned a few things from my mistakes.  The top pic is one of my faves and I love the mischief in A's eyes in the bottom pic.  I'm trying to remember what brought on that expression.  I think it was me telling her NOT to let me catch her smiling.  Ha ha!

And now we return to Christmas card pics...

This was my first pic of H and her missing tooth with my "big girl camera".  She was clearly happy to show it off!

And can you tell that A is actually nervous about standing on the fence?  Jenny is actually kneeling behind her to help her feel secure.  Just one more opportunity to use that clone tool in Photoshop.  Ha!

Surprise!

She doesn't know it yet, but I think this will be her reaction when she learns she doesn't have to take naps on Grammy Days anymore.  Now that she's four, actual sleeping during nap time is hit or miss.  Some days she sings and plays during her rest time and other days she sleeps.  Rest time is short on Grammy Days because they have to get home to pick up H from kindergarten.  If A actually falls asleep, she's a "bear" when she's awakened early.  So for this one day a week, she will get to stay up and have a little extra play time with Grammy and G-Pa!  Happy Birthday A!  This may be your favorite birthday surprise!

Happy Birthday to A!

 Guess who is celebrating her FOUR year old birthday today!  The favorite things might be hard to read on the collage, so here is a single shot.

 Love her!  She is full of sass and vinegar with an abundance of personality...Determined, opinionated...dare I say controlling?  But there is no shortage of FUN or affection when she's around.  I love watching her grow up and change...and I'm super thankful her mommy and daddy are consistent and firm.  Ha ha!  Happy Birthday A!  We LOVE you!

My girls and me...

This year we finally thought to take a mother daughter shot.  I think the last time we did this was when Kara graduated from college (or maybe when Jenny graduated).  That was a WHILE ago and I remember the wind blowing furiously and we all had hair in our faces.  That pic was not exactly a keeper.  Ha ha!  We just need to remember to do this more often. 

Family Christmas Card Session...

 We are always on the lookout for places to shoot that look rural but aren't far away.  A few weeks before Thanksgiving a friend posted some pictures of her grandchildren at this creek and I was surprised to see that it was at our nearby junior college.  We've been to that creek at least 100 times but rarely visit this particular spot.  I don't know that it was the perfect backdrop, but at least you can't see any buildings AND there were no worries about anyone walking behind us.  I noticed a big difference in the Littles ability to cooperate and follow directions this year.  H seemed especially happy to have an opportunity to show us her missing tooth.  Sweet.  I decided to make a canvas of the above photo because it's my favorite so far of all 7 of us.  That said, this is always a challenge for me...being the photographer AND getting in the photos.  I am usually obsessed with all the "woulda, coulda, shouldas"  and wish for a do-over.  Ha ha!

Gingerbread girls...

We had fun a couple days before Christmas making this gingerbread house together.  This kit was actually kind of genius.  It came in a box shaped like a house.  So I just had to mix up royal icing to cover the sides of the box (with all its printing) and the girls had fun attaching the cookie windows, doors and shingles and adding some candy.  They seemed to have a lot of fun and there were no worries about walls not sticking together.  Ha!  When I first posted the pictures, my favorite comment was this:  "It looks like a Fixer-Upper gingerbread house."  If you watch Fixer Upper, you know Joanna Gaines loves simplicity and lots of white.  Of course, this house has no shiplap!  lol