It's SANTA!

This morning our neighborhood had it's annual Christmas Breakfast. Since this is our 1st year in the new hood, we were excited to go! Everyone brought breakfast foods. I signed up for doughnuts. Helpful tip... Harris Teeter clearances their doughnuts out around 7pm so we went last night and got 3 dozen for $9. Score one for mom. I cut them in halves and we were good to go! We went for quantity instead of quality since some of our previous neighborhood meals have been lacking. At Easter, if you weren't in the first half of the line you were left eating garnish. Thankfully, most people thought like me and there must have been hundreds of doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, eggs, casseroles, and muffins! More than enough... even for 2nds!

The kids were dressed in their Christmas duds and we strolled down the street!

The kids ate their weight in doughnuts (even Parker... we let him cheat the wheat restriction and he's doing fine) and then played with all of the other neighborhood kids on the hill. Parker rolled down the hill a few times and through a mud puddle, thus the muddy pants in the next few pictures.

Santa arrived on a firetruck and Parker surprised us by actually being excited!

We were certain that Parker would be afraid of Santa as he has been in the past years but he actually got giddy! Santa handed out candy canes and then went to his chair. We starting talking to Parker about how he had to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas so when it was his turn he stood 3 feet from Santa and yelled "A Thomas Play Set! Thank you!"

We convinced him that it only worked if you sat on Santa's lap and surprisingly he obliged!

Note the muddy pants.

The next strand of pictures are my favorite! Every kid needs a set of these. It's the "You are CREEPY and I will NOT sit on your lap Santa shots....

Avery recovered with a candy cane that her face really enjoyed:

 

We had a wonderful breakfast with Santa! It got us in such a Christmas spirit that this evening we put on our Christmas PJs, made some peppermint coffee and drove around looking at lights and inflatables. Ho Ho Ho! 2 1/2 weeks until Christmas!!!!

Fall Photos Flash Back

Almost loosing my pictures in the great computer crash of 2012 has seriously got me emotional. My tech savvy hubby spent hours in his office trying to retrieve them. By the time I went to bed, I felt ill that I had lost SO many photos of the kids and hundreds of dollars in applique designs. Thankfully, this morning, I awoke to a very proud hubby who had YouTubed videos and retrieved 52,000 files from my fried computer!!!!! They were all promptly backed up and will continue to be daily from here on out! Lesson learned!

Immediately after thinking I'd lost all my pictures, I pulled out my CDs of professional photos and started uploading them to shutterfly in case I loose the disk. That way I have the ability to print them, put them in books or even blow them up on an afghan if I ever desire to have an afghan of my face. You never know.... I just may.

In the process of uploading last year's fall session I came across these jewels. Our photo session for this year's fall pictures which I plan to use as our Christmas card picture is November 2nd. I can't believe how much has changed since then! Avery looks totally different and Parker still enjoys having his picture taken about this much:

Avery actually looks like a chunky baby here. My guess is that she weighs the same now as she did then... she's just leaner! I think the spit up running down the dress is classic. You should also know she's sitting in a huge blow out poop.... I can't say I miss the spit up and constant blow out poop phase. A is still so much of a baby to me despite being 17 months now. She's still about this size, she can just run, climb and jump now!

 If you've read the blog while, you probably know I'm forever trying to get a great picture of all 4 of us... A huge blow up on a big canvas worthy shot! Our photographer, Alicia Sutton with Alicia Sutton Photography, has tried everything short of doing back flips to make it happen for us but usually someone just isn't cooperating. Can you tell who that was this time?

Oh Parkerman, is it really THAT hard to smile for 10 minutes? But how cute does Avery look in her daddy's lap!?!?!

We did come out with a few cute ones I'm not sure I've shared before and if I have, it's been a while.

We may not be able to get a fantastic whole family shot but we usually get fantastic daddy/son, mommy/daughter shots! I treasure these!

And I leave you with one to make you giggle.... How do I top this?!

This year, I've decided we're going for some candids at our photoshoot. We'll try a pose or 2 as a group but realistically, we're a roll in the leaves, chase each other around kind of family at this stage of life. What should I expect with a 3 year old and 1 year old, right?! And lastly... how is it already the holidays?!?! Wasn't it JUST Christmas like 4 months ago?

Fall Photoshoot

Today I attempted a fall photoshoot with Parker. It was not quite as successful as I was hoping. First, it's winter... not fall. It looks like fall... but don't be fooled... it was probably child abuse that I didn't have Parker in a hat and parka. (sorry buddy!) Second, he was WAY more interested in playing on the swing set but that was just not the look I was going for. Third, I stepped in dog poop in my nice black flats. Bummer. I guess that's what I get for just doing the pics in the backyard instead of some nice photo-worthy site.

That was all kinda negative... hold tight for the exciting part of my day.

Here are the best of the shots I got. Regardless... he's so stinkin' cute they could be blurry and dark and they'd still be adorable!

Parker and I had the pleasure of playing with Miss Lily today so she got in on the photoshoot too. Unlike Parker, she was well behaved and I got lots of good ones of her! Here's my favorite of her.

How cute is she? OMG I want one. WAIT... I'm getting one! AHHH..... are you catching on?
We're having a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!! We found out this week and I'm seriously through the moon! My mind is racing with all things pink that it literally hurts. Today I made a trip (alone!) to Hobby Lobby and managed to only spend $30 which I believe is a record. I purchased material to cover her car seat. No, she cannot have a normal Chicco. It must be boutique looking and lovely. Just because I can. It's going to be A-DOR-ABLE! I also got infant headbands and a bow making instructional manual. If you know me well enough, you know my little girl WILL wear a bow EVERYDAY. Maybe even to bed.... and if she refuses to.... I will hot glue it to her head. Well not really but this is a battle I WILL choose and I WILL win. Period.

Lastly, I jammed out to some Christmas music today in the car. LOVED it! I'm ready. Bring on the holidays... the weather sure has caught the hint! BRR!