Christmas Day

This year we were in a different location for the big day... home. Usually we are in the car, traveling to SD. We missed my parents and sisters immensely, although it also made for a relaxing holiday. Surprisingly, Ian opened only two presents on Christmas Day... it was more than enough. He received a collapsible house to play in and a stick pony to ride to his heart's content. We hope your holidays were memorable and filled with joyful times.

Family Photo Opt

Is it true that the more time you spend around somebody, the more you become like them? The scary thing is, Tom and Ian were already dressed alike today and I just decided to join the fun. It reminds me of a Cat in the Hat book. They say horizontal stripes aren't the most flattering, so let's hope that we won't cringe when we glance at these photos later...

Lessons in Brushing

Here is our little Ian, learning one of the necessary disciplines of grooming and personal hygiene. I figured that we might as well start him off on the right foot sooner rather than later, and he seems to enjoy scrubbing those pearly whites. It's a bit of a game, which adds to the appeal. Now maybe we should start saving for braces...

Holiday Family Pictures

Too bad "holiday" and "family pictures" have to be in the same sentence. At least that is my understanding as of this week! Throw a toddler in the mix and you've got a recipe for disaster. Okay, maybe "disaster" is a bit harsh, but when the photographer has exhausted the phrase "Okay, let's try something else," you know he's praying for an extra dose of patience. True, they are probably seasoned with children of all ages, but methinks a 2-year-old just might be one of the most trying ages. My first mistake was pulling out the favored "Mr. Bear" within the first few minutes. Snapping photos was a breeze... until we wanted one without Mr. Bear. Needless to say, the following 50 minutes were a series of whimpers for the bear that had mysteriously disappeared. And it doesn't help when both Tom and I are continually remembering the hourly rate we're paying for Ian to display a laugh or even a desperate little smile that has yet to appear. We have yet to lay our eyes on any of the images resulting from that dismal day, but our hopes are that the memories captured will be priceless.