Bring It On!

That's (had to be) my motto lately, as I sit here in the wee hours, yawning and working. The good news is that my Christmas shopping is now 95% done, thanks to venturing out on the dreaded Black Friday with my sister-in-law. Can I just tell you that the line at 5:15am at Kohls was a complete one and a half times around the store?!!! This was us: walk in....see HUGE line...walk out.

Ooh...first of all, check out the Elf link off to the top right here. I was up working this past week, and laughed for a good 5 minutes straight after making that at 2am. My daughter's hips were just cracking me up!

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE Holiday cards? I love making them, sending them, receiving them, just love them. I'm feeling some pressure this year, since I had so many compliments on last year's card. Not sure I can live up, but I did manage to tackle my kids last weekend to attempt their photos. I got fantastic ones of each of them solo, but I just don't have the energy (or desire) to attempt one of them together. I'm MUCH more patient with everyone else's kids, my own get the brunt of my impatience, poor things. I'll post my own card here once I send them out (and oh yeah, order them). And I may pick a couple of my favorites and post them after the Holidays as well! I already know who's winning so far (initials PB!!).

These could be my easiest clients ever, and this is the second year I've taken their photos. I don't think they are capable of photographing poorly, I really don't. And if anyone wants to know how to dress their kiddos for photos...check this out! This is sheer perfection, look at that alternating brown and pink color scheme working! Love.



Also, SUPER easy clients, made my day when they came! And look at the outfits, loving that! I'm always up for some winter hats and scarves! In fact, that's what my own kids are sporting in our Christmas card this year!



And this is purely for comic relief. I chopped my daughter's hair to a bob today, so her bangs can have a fighting chance at catching up to the rest. And as I'm snapping a picture of it, she jams the ol' finger up there.

Arrggghhhhhhh

Okay, got that out, I feel better! Things have been crazy busy, to say the least. If I didn't have 2 kids, I probably wouldn't be up late every night working...but you know how it is, packing lunches for school, cold season is here, etc etc etc. Can you BELIEVE it's Thanksgiving this week?

I have to share this one snapshot...this is my son and his "real-life hero", who is the captain of the high school soccer team that my husband coaches. He just worships this kid, and he couldn't have picked a nicer kid to worship. They won the Division 1 State Championships last week, after a totally Undefeated season, and this was following the Big Game. Congratulations North!



These are my highly cooperative nieces, love them!







I want her hair. Sigh.


This kid just CRACKS me up in this picture! I feel like he might be trying to sell me a car with the pose, and the jacket!!!




This was just one from a family session today, I have lots to edit, but this one popped out at me as I was separating the keepers and the non-keepers. I wish I had a photo of my daughter and I having a good time like this, I love it. Self-timer????

Bring on the Holidays...

Halloween's over, and I'm one of those that "jump the gun" with Christmas, you know the ones that other people complain about! I LOVE Christmas, and start listening to the music on November 1. My shopping is 90% done (because it has to be with this being my busy season), but no...we don't decorate until December, and we don't get our tree until a week or so after that. But my thoughts are this: If it puts me in a good, relaxed mood...bring on the Holiday music!

Okay, first photo is my son on Halloween. You can't tell me he's not the coolest looking vampire! Love that kid! Don't ask about Miss Thang (aka Snow White), she was anti-camera that day. We're putting her costume back on for some pictures, (today, hopefully).



Probably one of the more photogenic kids I've taken pictures of in a while!


I LOVE this shot! They just look so comfortable and relaxed with each other. And it was a self-inspired pose, they made it up!


Love the content look here too, as if it wasn't at all forced (ahem...and it was...well, a little). :)






For those that have been to my house, I have a photo of my son and husband like this on our front wall. This was an attempt to sort of recreate it...except not with my husband...or with my child! I think we did pretty well!!




Edited to add: "Snow White" didn't do too badly today! This was my favorite, even though it didn't show her costume too well.