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. 

V-day

We've had a crazy winter. Endless snow and temps below zero. At times there were wind chill warnings of -40°. Evan hadn't had a full week of school since before Christmas, there has been holidays, two hour delays or school cancellations each week. On days when it feels "warmer" than usual I realize how crazy cold its been when I see that "warmer" is actually 15°.

Anyway, because of this cold we thrive on fun days and things to look forward to. Valentines day was yesterday, it was relieving to have a simple holiday to enjoy.

Our kids woke up to treats and little gifts. Dallas loves getting stuff for the kids on holidays like this, so we might have gone a little over board, but that's ok. The kids had fun at school passing out Valentines, the girls and I had lunch with friends, decorated cupcakes and then the kids went to a date night babysitting group while Dallas and I went to dinner. Dallas got me a Wii sports game that has volleyball on it so I was extra happy (:

So yes. Fun day, we needed it for sure.

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....

Happy Halloween!

I love getting photos done... it's exhausting, but they are so fun to look at!

It was very nice not worrying about taking photos of my kids this year! Thanks Kim!

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 :)

Easter 2012

On Saturday we were invited to an Easter egg hunt with friends. We had a great time and it was such a pretty morning... no rain this year!

 On Sunday we had our own egg hunt and the kids were excited that the Easter Bunny left them some fun toys (a T-ball set and a bubble blower!). That evening after church we had a few families that we are friends with come over for dinner. It was SO nice. I love that we were able to spend Easter with such great people, it really made the day so much better than it would've been. Holidays are always hard when I know that family out west are all getting together... and we are here alone. Having good friends to spend Easter with definitely made up for that!

Here is my attempt at getting a photo with the three kiddos. Daphne sure looked cute that day :) The photo is as good as it gets though. 

Christmas 2011

We had a fun Christmas here at home. We spent time with each other and friends and had a great time. I think my favorite part of the holidays is the food :) Seriously, we had a lot of yummy food this year. I am already excited for next Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years :) 

The kids are getting older and they understand more about the birth of Christ and the real reason for the season. It was fun to learn with them throughout the month. They loved talking about the nativity and learning more about their savior. They also LOVED singing Christmas songs and listening to Christmas music (another favorite part of Christmas for me). 

This year the kids shopped for each other.  It was fun for them to pick out a gift for each other and focus more on serving rather than getting. They were excited for the other to open the gift they bought one another (though Makiah needs to learn how to keep a secret!). 

A calendar is what Evan wanted for Christmas, and he told me this the night before. Lucky for him I had already made him one :) He LOVES it. Silly boy. I actually overheard him telling Makiah the other day that he wants a 2013 calendar for his birthday :)

Makiah "didn't get what she wanted." Though she got a lot of things that she LOVES. Apparently when she asks for something specific, she expects it. But she is on her way to learning that we don't always get exactly what we ask for. She is definitely grateful for what she has though :) She had a fun Christmas!