New Photos of the Kiddos

I took the kids out to Picture People this morning for updated photos. We ended up having two sitting because when they showed me the first set of photos there wasn't a single one I liked. Not a single one. I was so disappointed. They immediately got us back for a re-shoot with a different photographer and the results were night and day from the first set.

These are the ones I was especially taken with:

Family Portraits

This past Sunday we went to Flash Portraits and had family portraits taken. This one photo session has been a long time coming and way past due. We've been having annual family photos taken every year since Kelton was born and yet last year time got away from us and we never had them done.

As you will see - we had wanted to go for our usual, and classic, look of jeans and turtlenecks. I know it drives my sister crazy but we like the look - it's timeless and it's nice to look back and not be distracted by the clothes. It's our version of black and white, I guess. :) This year, however, you will notice that little Miss I Am Who I Am shook things up. She was going to wear a dress and that was that. I have to say, she does look adorable. :)

(note to my sister: I hope someday she doesn't look back and say "Geez Mom! What were you thinking when you had me wear THAT?" like I tend to do when I look back at some of the *ahem* "outfits" we wore in family pictures. But if she does - I'm sending her to you for an explanation. :) )

And now - for your viewing pleasure:





(click on the last two to get a closer look)

Ho Ho Ho

A little early, you say? Well yes, that may very well be however that did not stop me from scheduling an appointment for the kids to visit Santa. Now that Kelton is in school, the only time to get them in for Santa pictures would be with the throngs of people also only available when school is not in session...and I don't so much enjoy standing in line, or waiting an hour past an appointment time, with rowdy, Christmas-crazed children. Not to mention that I had no idea how Kaylen would react.

Let's wander back through her Santa experiences, shall we?

Her first year, she was 9 months old. The look on her face is "what the heck?" from when Dakota plopped her on Santa's lap and bolted from the photo. Seconds later she erupted into screams so loud that people stopped their shopping to stare. They took a second photo but clearly it wasn't the one they sent. :)

Her second year, she was 21 months old. This pictures says it all. Not a fan of the guy in red.

Her third year, she was two and a half. We were filling out the forms and the kids were coloring with their cousins while we waited. Suddenly, Santa walked into the room. Kaylen let out a scream and started crying hysterically. The team was great and worked Santa into the photo without Kaylen even knowing he was there. You should have seen her face when they handed us the photo. Priceless.

So - this year I wasn't sure what to expect. When I mentioned it a few weeks ago she bit her lip, her eyes filled up and she said she didn't want to see him. I was calm and acted like it didn't matter to me but told her that this year she was older and she probably would be much more brave than ever before. We dropped it and never spoke of it again until yesterday when I made the appointment for today. She was completely fine with it.

This morning she came up with her gift request: a pink and purple scooter.

This afternoon we went to the Picture People and here is what we walked out with:

(Look closely at Kelton's top teeth. That one is so loose!!)

Love this one! Are they good actors or what? :)

Awwww! Sweet!!

Portrait Wednesday

I took Kaylen to The Picture People today because just this morning I received in my email an awesome coupon - buy 1 get 2 free. (Check out their website if free picture excite you as much as they do me). Kaylen has been wanting her photo taken for weeks now but has really doubled her efforts in the past couple of days when she came across a fancy Christmas dress that her cousin handed down. She has worn this dress almost constantly since pulling it from her fall/winter clothing bin and claims it to be her "wedding dress" and those shoes? You guessed it "wedding shoes". Who is she marrying? Oh it depends on the time of day. If Kelton is around, it's him but if not any old doll will do. I was given two medium sized scarecrows this week and they do seem to be a favored "wedding person". I wasn't crazy about the fancy dress poses that we got but Kaylen loved the one below and begged to have it for her room. What could I do? :)

The other outfit was my choice and I love, love, love the photos. The sweater is something I bought when she was about 6 months old and I've waited all this time for her to grow into it. I wish she would wear jeans and sweaters at other times besides pictures but at least I have the pictures. Isn't she just adorable???

Photos of the Girl

I took the kids to the Picture People today. Kelton opted not to be in any photos which was ok because a couple days ago I realized it's been a year since I had any photos taken of Kaylen by herself. Oops! Anyway - between the coupons and a really, really great deal on framed and matted photos, I got 4 poses, two 11x14 frames and two mats to go in the frame for $19.45!!! Yay me!

The manager, who just happened to be our photographer, asked me to sign a couple model release forms. She is planning to put up a new wall display and wants to include several of the shots she took of Kaylen. The manager also told me that she is planning to forward the photos and release forms to the head office for possible inclusion in the next book or advertisement. Now I know national attention is long shot but I am pretty excited about the prospect of seeing Kaylen on the wall of our Picture People. You can bet I'll take my camera and get a few shots of it for her keepsake box. :)

Very fun!

My Beautiful Boy

As promised, here are the photos of Kelton that were taken earlier this week. Aren't they amazing? I love, love, love them!!
















(PS - if you havne't read todays saga, then keep reading. You are in for a treat! :) )

My Big Boy

The kids and I headed out to the mall this morning for Kelton's 5 year old/kindergarten photo and I have to say - I really think I have one of the cutest little boys alive. I'm not biased or anything either. *big grin*

I can pick up the photos Thursday after 5 and you can be sure that I will be scanning them in as soon as I walk through the door. They are so, so cute!!! He really looks like a big kid. Amazing. The photo studio I took him to puts them on-line and I have been to their site a few times just to stare at them. *happy sigh*

In other news, we are heading up to the Seattle area this weekend to see my family. It's the first time we will have been back since we left the day after my mom's funeral. I definitely feel the stress of it all. I plan to stop by the cemetery on the way back down to visit the grave. The marker was placed a few weeks back - I have a feeling it's going to be very surreal.

My brother and Cara just moved into a gigantic house with 5 bedrooms so we are lucky enough to be able to stay with them. I'm looking forward to seeing the new place and hanging out with my family. It's going to be a busy weekend (which ones aren't for us?) but I am so glad to be going back up. Saturday is the three month anniversary of my mom's passing and in those three months I have had more than a few moments of breaking down and losing it along with a couple panic attacks and a new, incredibly heightened sense of fear of not being around for my own babies until they are old enough to be in the world without me (is there ever really an age for that? I don't think so.). Losing my mom has really changed the way I view life - and how I view my children and my dreams for them. It's something I never would have seen coming.

And on *that* cheery note; let me again just say how adorable my son is. I can't wait to share the portraits with you.