Swings!!

I LOVE swings and have wanted a swing set for the past year being in our new home. I finally talked Dallas into getting one. (He wasn't as excited about the idea... Soon enough he'll see why it was such a good idea!) He and I (mostly him) set it up on Saturday. It took all afternoon to get it put together and we finally got it standing late that night. So, after letting the kids swing in the dark that night, they finally got to enjoy the swings in daylight on Sunday afternoon...

Easter

Easter seems to have already come... but it is still a week away. It's late in April this year, so we have enjoyed the candy and fun all month long. Here is a start to the excitement, an Easter egg hunt at our friends home (the Hebdon's)...

I wish this was in focus! My cute girl. Love her. 

Sledding!

Our kids played out in the yard with our sleds during Christmas break. And then it snowed and snowed and snowed. Typically, in Indiana, the snow will melt a week later and then snow again maybe the week after that. I didn't think much of the sleds until later in January when I realized the snow wasn't going to melt. It was too cold to go sledding until now, so this morning I went out and dug around our yard looking for those sleds with no luck at all. There is a ton of snow out there!!

Well luckily our friends let us borrow their sleds, we got out of the house today and had some fun... And its a good thing because its supposed to warm up this week(!) So the snow will most likely be gone soon enough. I'm looking forward to the 50° forecast for Thursday! But I had to admit, even though I hate the cold, its been nice having a white pretty winter instead of a gray boring one (:

Sledding

I'm posting photos way out of order... but that's okay. This was the last day of winter break and the last day of this snow :) We went sledding just in time! 

First time sledding for Daphne! It may not look like she was super thrilled about this, but she LOVED it :)

The hill was small enough that we didn't get tired going up and down over and over, and it was big enough to have some fun! The kids have been wanting to go back ever since, but we haven't had enough snow :(


Sledding 2013 from Jessica Bateman on Vimeo.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving this year with some of our close friends here in Indiana. The food was great and it was a beautiful day. The kids even got to eat outside since it was so nice, yeay :) Here are some photos of the kids, and only the kids since I usually forget to snap some of the adults as well. Something I need to remember on days like this. 

Daphne with Maggie and Reid...

The older kids said their own prayer together... well they each said their own prayer and took turns. They've done this before, so I thought it was cute that they remembered and did it again :) 

Makiah and Evan with Brielle, Madden and Madden's cousin...

Thanksgiving has got to be my favorite holiday. I love the food and being with friends or family. It isn't as rushed and crazy like some of the other holiday's can get.

Halloween

This is great. Not only am I getting my blog updated... but I am organizing photos, editing and getting to see pictures that I haven't really looked at yet :)

I posted these photos on Halloween, but here are our Trunk or Treat photos...

Daphne was a fairy for the studio photos and for a Halloween party, but it was just too cold on Halloween so she got to be a bunny too :)

We also went Trick or Treating around our neighborhood... but this was the fun part since our neighborhood isn't that into Halloween.

Maybe next time you'll get to see some Thanksgiving or Christmas photos....

Saturday mornings...

One of the big reasons I don't get to sleep in. Somehow Dallas sleeps right through it all.

Just one photo... please?

On holidays I try to get a group picture of the kids. On Mother's day I would have liked to get a photo with my kids but it didn't happen. So on Father's day we attempted to get some group shots. As usual, it was a pain.

This test shot was probably my favorite... A little out of focus, but cute. I should stick with candid shots.

This is how photos typically go, 

"Evan put your hand down... Look at the camera..."

"Daphne!! Look at mommy!!

Kiah, look at the camera."

Another test shot :)

"Evan, look at the camera...

Makiah, smile!

Daphne!! Look at daddy!!"

Ok... we're done now. 

For now on, I'll have our sweet neighbor take the photos. She did a good job!

And this is why I love lifestyle photography. Candid shots. Next Father's day I'll have to take some fun pictures of the kids playing with dad rather then forcing them to smile :)