Christmas Card Picture Set Up

So I decided to take some pictures of the kids for our Christmas Cards this year. I had taken pictures of Leann's kids the previous day and just left the living room all set up to do my kids today. Here is what my living room looks like when I have a newborn session or a kid session with backdrops.

It's so much harder to take photos of my kids.

Bryson is always super easy. He always has been since day one, even at his monthly pictures and then yearly pictures he would smile on cue and we were in and out of the studio in under an hour tops.

Carter on the other hand is awful. His smile is fake and I can't seem to hold his attention very long. I very seldom get a great photo of him. I do have to say he has gotten just a tad bit better as he gets older.

Chase just doesn't want to sit still "PERIOD"!!!

A lot of you have seen these pictures already since I have already sent out Christmas Cards. Technically it's January 15th but like I said earlier I am backdating all these posts and writing them like they happened on that day. Sneaky I know!!

Anyway one special person who hasn't gotten this card yet is my BFF Lindsey Lou. Lindsey I planned on sending your card to you with the shirts for the girls but then realized your birthday was coming up and I was headed to Korea. Well, Korea was great but I didn't really see anything that I knew you would like or that might be your style so I am trying to find something for you here, though at the moment my favorite gift shop is closed. They have a huge shipment coming in from China and I am wondering if there might be something for you in that shipment so hopefully your gift will be headed to you soon and the girls shirts still fit them.

America

Happy 234 years!!

Happy Easter

Yesterday was the Easter egg hunt at Joe's squadron. It was actually really good. I was expecting a total failure from the lack of organization from the Christmas event but I was surprised.

Carter of course was not able to do a lot of things like the potato sack race,

duck walk and even the jumpy castles. He did get to start a minute early on the Easter egg hunt with the 0-3 year olds. After all he is only working with one good arm.

Chase did so well. He walked around and picked up eggs.

I think he had a blast.

Afterwards we came home and colored eggs. Actually the big boys colored eggs.

Chase sat down, dumped the orange all over his legs then took his egg and started taking it apart. That pretty much sums up his first egg coloring.

We had a great Easter this morning. The boys went through their Easter baskets; Chase choked on an M&M, that was scary; Joe made a wonderful breakfast and then we spent the afternoon/evening with the Salas family. It was a wonderful day.

Valentine's Day

Bryson had to make a Valentine's Box for school this year. I was happy that he was going to be able to participate in this. All of the other schools he has attended never do a Valentine's box but Buena Vista Elementary does and I can remember making one has a child.

Bryson said he wanted to make a Robot, we found some boxes, aluminum paper, bolts, toilet paper and paper towel rolls and glue. We had a lot of fun on this project.

The boys made cupcakes with Grammie this morning and had a blast while doing it.

Grammie made the cupcakes, sprinkles and supervised.

Bryson did the icing

Carter placed the heart flags.

I took the boys to see Avatar today. I didn't realize it was almost 3 hours but we all thought it was pretty good. Bryson and Carter were really good and Chase was....well, a typical 9 month old. He did as good as to be expected.

Happy New Year: Part 1 of 4

A year in Pictures.

January 1, 2009

Joe leaves us for a 6 month deployment. He had already been gone for three months by this point.

February:

We are able to Skype Joe. We are all so excited.

Bryson is awarded his second award of the year.

We are 8 months pregnant with boy number 3.

March:

My sister gets married. Joe and I celebrate another year of marriage.

I took the boys to a Monster Truck Show.

April:

Chase is born. We miss his daddy terribly and are so sad he isn't here to share this moment.

Mimi comes out to visit and help with the boys. She is only able to stay a week, but we are so thankful.

Bryson gets his third award of the year, I turn 30, and we find out we are moving to JAPAN.

May:

Carter turns 4. We have a small cake for him. He says he wants to wait until daddy comes home to have a party.

I am coaching the boys T-ball team. The boys are doing so well.

Happy New Year: Part 2 of 4

June:

Bryson gets his fourth and last award of the school year.

Joe awards me with a new computer. I fall head over hills!!

Carter has a head scan.

We fly home to visit family. Chasers goes on his first plane ride and meets grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and great friends.

On the plane

I meet my nephew Daniel for the first time. Cheryl and Luis' son.

Bryson loses his third tooth.

Chase meets Papa, my dad.

My brother, Uncle Jimmy

Joseph's mother, Grammie

Joseph's father, Pop Pop

My Grandparents: Gigi and Poppy

Cheryl's Husband Uncle Luis

Joe's sister Aunt Cheryl

My sister, Aunt Sha Sha

We meet my nephew Beau for the first time. Jimmy and Amanda's son.

My niece Sarah, Cheryl and Luis' daughter

My brother Uncle George

My best friend Lindsey Lou. Who was about to deliver her second daughter Grace.

Another great friend of mine Steno. She is going to have a baby in July.

Our first shipment to Japan goes out.