Christmas Gifts

I only made a few gifts this year...With my business, and photography...there just wasn't a ton of time...but I LOVED everything I made:-)

I made the above scarf, from a Martha pattern, for my mom and Tom's mom (hers is turquoise)...I saw it on this blog first:-)



Sometimes it's hard to think of things to make for men...I mean they are not always into the super handmade...you know? But my brother and my dad are crazy for the VWs...my brother loves his Kharman Ghia, and my dad his VW Bus...I researched the years owned/loved, and made them some awesome appliqued T's...I think they turned out great!



I also made MJ a scarf, and Beth a T, with the VERDE logo on it...but I didn't get pics sorry!

Snow Fun!

Like I said...after Christmas, when my brother's family headed out we made my parents take us to the snow...their cabin ironically is mostly used in the summer, to escape the 100+ degree days...we wanted to show them the joys of snow:-) Like shoveling out the drive...luckily Tom volunteered for that:-) Holden supervised...there was quite a bit of snow up there...and Holden loved it!



We headed out for some snow play, which my family is not accustomed to so we had to get directions from Tom:-)



Holden wasn't too sure about the sledding conditions either was Tom...apparently "serious" sledders spend 90% of the time setting up the run...this was not the case here...the "run" was simply a hill, and I guess it was bumpy and you couldn't get much speed...I don't know ask Tom!



Snowball fights were a lot of fun! Even when you got hit...
Below is a video...while I was shooting my dad fell (again we are not a snow family or my side of the family isn't...Tom is trying to change that!) And while I didn't get it on video this cracks me up:-)

9 weeks...Belly

Well almost 10...Let the belly start growing:-)

08 Christmas Trip

This year which switched our holidays around so we could be on the same schedule as my longest time friend April (I wish she had a blog, it would be so fun to read, but alas no...;-P)
So we headed down to my folks and my brothers family came in as well...here we are the weary travelers at the airport, my mom and dad picked us up with Lucy and Flynn who were dying to see Holden!



We stopped for lunch at El Torrito, three quesadillas for the kids (they come with fries...doesn't that seem just wrong? oh yeah and a chocolate sundae for dessert)
The kiddos enjoyed coloring:-)



Once we were at my folks the fun was started! Grandma made cookies with the kids and let them decorate, there were videos to watch, baths to be taken, beds to be jumped on, mac n cheese to be eaten...you know all the fun grandma's house stuff!



We open our gifts on Christmas Eve after church, so this was one of Holden's gifts, and I think it was one of his favorites! It is out at our house EVERYDAY...and it has been a plane, a house, separate bedrooms for MJ and Holden's babies, you name it they have pretended these maze/structures are it! So fun!



The tree and another highlight...Lu and Flynn's new pup Iris! So cute and such a good dog, made me miss my Mochster SO much...Christmas is hard...


Before everyone headed their own ways we wanted to get everyone in the picture...my grandparents really enjoy their great grand kids, and I enjoy that they know them, I want these times to be remembered:-)
What a fun trip! We ended it with a trip up to my folks cabin in the snow:-) Such fun!

Merry Christmas Eve

Some More Friends had Some More Babies...

I know I am seriously behind...I have a TON to blog about but I REALLY need to finish a website for my brother in law! A deadline approaches so I am sure in a few weeks I will be doing a MAJOR update...so bear with me please!

Anyway, as the title states, some more friends had some more babies...The above onesie was created for a friend from the group of girls who inspired the Dallas trip, another who could not make the trip, who had her second boy:-) I love how the G turned out!



This was made for Amy, another friend from the above mentioned trip...Her son was anxiously awaited for, and we are SO excited for his arrival!




This package was for one of my college roommates who just had a baby girl...when I found out Ashley was having a girl I just had to get this fabric for her...Ashley taught me all about wearing black...surprisingly before I met her I had no black shoes and hardly ever wore the color...now...its a mainstay in my wardrobe:-) She taught me a lot about God too...which is obviously the more important gift:-)

Anyway I love how these all turned out! I hope the recipients all enjoy them!

Some Friends had some Babies:-)

So of course we had to celebrate! The above onesie was made for a friend whom I have never met, but I talk to her almost everyday...remember my trip to Dallas? She is one of those friends...although one who didn't make the trip...ANYWAY, she had her second boy, and now she has a big P and a little p :-) too cute!



Now these were made for our close friends who just had their 3rd boy! The gender was a surprise, so I waited until I knew boy or girl, because I had a totally tricked out girl version of this planned, but alas a boy joined the fam...hehe, I still had fun...The best part was when the daddy said, "That's my Taylor!" So fun to know that it ACTUALLY looks like his guitar, which of course is what I was going for!

Just some fun!

Mr. N turns 2!

Well next month anyway...But since I was at his house taking pictures of his little sis, mom asked if I could take some 2 year shots...of course!



I can't believe he is going to be 2! Which means Holden will be 2 1/2 and not too long he will be 3! He's such a cutie...remember these?



Happy early birthday Mr. N, you are an amazing big brother!

Baby K

This was the baby we were waiting for the family pictures :-) Beautiful baby K...She's so sweet and look at THAT HAIR! Seriously my kids are bald for a year, and she came out with this...LOL

This was a fun shoot...



Such a cutie!





With Big Brother Mr. N

S Family...just a peek

Our good friend's asked me a while back to do family pictures this year...We had to wait for the littlest one to arrive so she could be in the pictures:-) What fun we had :-)
This park is right by our house and it really has some good shot venues...



I love this one:-) And the one below too!



Thanks S family!

Tree Trimming 2008

As I mentioned before Grandmere and Granpere were out to get the biggest tree they could...and they did...part of tradition is a tree trimming party...really its just a dinner, with a fire in the fire place hot cider, etc...some ornaments get put up...but not a whole lot...although the lights do go up and the tree gets secured...don't ask but this year that included some cable...

The above pic is MJ while Tom sat across from her trying to get her to smile, or maybe she was trying REALLY hard not to smile:-)



Here is Tom balanced on the railing...teaching our son about two story railing climbing ;-) oh and putting lights up!



Beth is all about Christmas spirit and cheer and all that, so she is in charge of decorating...my house too:-)



Here Holden and Grandmere are hanging an ornament...



This year we had a special treat because Grandpere pulled out his trombone and he and Grandmere played Christmas Carols for us! I have NEVER seen this trombone...I know it hasn't come out in the 10 years I have been part of his family, so it was really a special treat!



The kids love sitting with Grandmere at the piano:-)



When we were done the Christmas season was in full swing:-)

Family Pictures 2008

Every year we also try to get family pics, you know for Christmas cards, and all that...this year that got away from us, so we took them in the Grands back yard...hmm this year kind of has a running out of time theme!



Of course the P family looks great as ever...MJ was quite cooperative, which is more than I can say for our little guy!



Love that wave!




Us well yeah I declared a do over...you know sometimes I wish someone would nominate me for "What not to Wear" not because I would qualify, but I thought this outfit was cute and flattering...but not so much in how the pics turned out...blech...oh well

And Holden well he was not into having his picture taken and each prop we tried was more interesting than looking anywhere else...oh well at least we had fun tromping around the backyard!