Saturday, November 26, 2011

Two more sweet families!

Wasn't it a beautiful fall day yesterday?  You know what i like to do when the sun comes out.  Take photos of the wonderful people in my life.

One of my besties, Marisa wanted just 'one' Christmas card photo.  Fortunately her family did know which 'one' would be the 'one' she wanted, so we took many....to get just the 'one'. :-)  Hopefully she likes one!

Afterwards i was able to have fun with the McInelly family.  Talk about sweet....this family will give you a cavity, that is how sweet they are.  I met Joe way back when we were in elementary school, because my best friend lived right behind him.  While we didn't actually play together, we were with each quite a bit because my friend's brother was one of his best buds growing up.  I had the fortune of running into Joe at our church preschool.  His oldest son Joey is the same age our Bella and they happened to be in class together.  What a small world it is.....and i am so blessed that it is. :-)

Checking the lighting and look what i get from the Peanut Gallery!



Marisa, Jonathan, Judd and Anna
It gorgeous but it was windy and cold.....brrr.....


What a nice looking bunch!
Marisa's Mom and Dad were visiting from Spokane and we snuck them in for a few as well.


I LOVE this!

She loves her Daddy!

Jonathan, your Mom will be so happy you smiled.

Gorgeous...flawless....amazing Anna.



Grace's bestie Anna


Poor Anna....look what she has to put up with! :-)


Oh Maxine...you look fabulous!


LOVE you so much Marisa.  Don't know how i could do life with out you!  xoxo

Joe, Erica, Kellen and Joey

Two gorgeous parents = two gorgeous babies!


Such handsome brothers!








This little guy loves his Mamma something fierce!






Couldn't leave out the next few photos.  It was right at the end of the session and i had already told
the boys we were done about 10 times before that.  I love them because this is real life right here. 
Too stinkin' cute!






Bye-bye McInelly family.....i had fun!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Blessed Thanksgiving!

Today we slept in for the first time in i don't know how long.  I've Jeff has not had a weekend off since October 29th.  National Guard duties and school are keeping him way too busy.
We followed in the footsteps of last year's tradition and kept our Thanksgiving festivities, small and simple.  Okay, the food was not small or simple, but it was just our little family of five, enjoying each other in our jammies ALL DAY long....even ate in those jammies too! :-)   I miss being with family, but there is something i love about not having to rush to be anywhere or having to try and keep the house tidy until guests arrive.  And while our day was very relaxed, we did have a little adventure thrown in.   When i was pulling the last of the food out of the oven, the lights started to flicker for a few moments and then poof.....no power at 4:15 pm.  And friends, it's dark at 4:15!  I found a few candles, and even though they were not the long elegant ones, they were perfect and reflected just enough light for us to devour our food.  Don't feel too sorry for us, it was fun and very short lived, as the power came back on about an hour later.

Lastly, feeling very blessed in so many ways.  Our God is amazing.  He's given me so much.  Family, friends, provisions, but most of all His love for me.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;  His love endures forever!  Psalm 107:1

Happy Blessed Thanksgiving loved ones!


Lily made this at school and i love it but what i love most is,
we don't have a dog named Rose.
Wish you could have seen the smirk on her face when i read it out loud.
She's a hoot!

My new favorite green bean casserole!  Not sure how you make yours, but i always did it with canned green beans.
Not this year!  Sampled this at Trader Joe's and i am converted.
'My' simple version:  Sauteed beans in olive oil and garlic until tender.  Added soup and 1/2 C water and half a can of fried
onion pieces and then 1 C of Swiss cheese.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  Soooooo yummy!

Felt a little creative this morning.

Early Christmas gift from Jeff's Mom.  Her silver....as in the real stuff!  This photo does not do it justice.  It's amazing!
Thought, what the heck, lets use it today!

Then decided after almost 18 1/2 years of marriage to use our china as well.  And as foo-foo as i am friends, i don't
know how to set a formal table.  Yes, i know you are shocked!  Fortunately, Jeff has a book from West Point
on etiquette and i did 'my' version for a child friendly table.

We were married in 1993...hence the gold....hence the reason why i don't use it, even though i LOVED it at the time. :-)
Future brides....go very traditional or don't register for any at all.  Just my two cents.

Dinner in the dark!

Yup....i love all three of these little turkeys!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

2 families today....double the fun!

Can you believe the marvelous day we had?  Even though it was cold, it was a glorious day to witness God's creation and take photos of beautiful families.

I know the Denton family because Jennifer's Mom and i worked together at the bank, way back when Jen was just a little girl.  Now look at her!  All grown up, looks exactly the same... father time has been kind to this youngin' and she has an adorable little family too boot.  Thank you Facebook for helping us reconnect!

Marne's family, one of the ladies i run with, is my sweet second family that i had the opportunity to photograph today.  These people make me feel short! :-)  Everyone is at least or over 6 feet tall except for the two littles...okay, Elly may not be 6 feet tall but it sure feels like it!  I am so used to shooting my subjects at eye level or below me, that it was strange to always have to look up. :-) 

Feeling very blessed to know both of these wonderful families!
Enjoy!

Jillian and Cameron.....watch out...you are about to witness sheer cuteness!











Daddy Craig throws her up and does a full rotation in the air before landing safely back in his arms!

Pretty Mamma!



Everyone is always happy when i am done! :-)



Handsome James

Gorgeous Elly

Their Buddy and mine too...Jonathan

Sweet Megan

Beautiful Marne and her man Drew



Bye-bye.....