Fall 2016 school pictures

Oh school pictures.  I swear.  They are the best and the worst.

Well, really the worst.  Why?  My kids do not ever get dressed up.  Like seriously.  I want to chalk it up to the fact that they are just "daycare kids", but that would be putting all those other daycare mommas into the stereotype that they don't dress their kids up ever.  And I know that's not true - because I have lots of working mom friends that do.  So I guess it's just me and Jimmy.  Because we really don't care.  And to be honest, I would really rather have my kiddos be comfy.  Especially at school when they are learning and playing all day.

So we likely did this to ourselves - because trying to get them to put on normal clothes and God forbid *PANTS* is maybe the worst thing ever.  Like wrestling greasy pigs.  But the pigs are yelling and screaming in your face acting like they are in pain.  Yes, that kind of describes telling our kids they need to get dressed up.

When picture day fell on Tuesday, November 1....I was even MORE excited because it was the day after a holiday where they were going to be up late and full of sugar.  So fun.  I was guessing their pictures would turn out horrible.  So I shot one of the three of them (after lots of bribing) before I went to work and figured that would be the best we'd get. 

Then of course, I get their proofs and I want to laugh and cry at the same time.  Because they are so hilarious and make me smile.  And cry because WHY DO THEY CHARGE YOU SO MUCH MONEY FOR THEM!?!?  Especially when you have 2 kids!!??  #profithungry 

But, of course, I had to buy.  And Jimmy got angry - but they are so funny and cute.  Here they are!

Who can resist the cheesy/forced smile!?  At least he listens to them, right?

I do like that they have the year - they will want to look back on these someday right?  (or not..)

And Ms Maddie.  This girl will NOT let you touch her hair most days.  Or put in a pony tail or attempt to style.  So this is the best we were going to get.  I love her.

Sassy PANTS!

The hands together and crossed feet.  Kill me of cuteness.

And then two sibling pictures that look pretty much identical.  But I'll take them.

Especially when these two go on and on to us about how they are "best friends".  And I want to eat them because I love them so much and love that they love each other.  Only wishing Mikey was able to participate - but I guess we might have them all there next fall (?).  We will see.  I really like our in-home lady way too much though to move him at one year old....so for now, the couch pictures will do.

School pictures: 2016

Instead of a Five on Friday - how about five school pictures of my babes?

We got these back (finally) this week and while they are not just amazing, I thought they were pretty cute.  We even got both of their class pictures too- which is fun to have as a keepsake to look back at the friends they were in daycare/preschool with!

My favorite things about them:

- Maddie looks so sweet and innocent - DO NOT let her fool you.  Ha.  But she is very sweet!

- Charlie's goofy teeth smile

- Charlie's hands on his pictures - he was hilarious and showed me 12 times after school on picture day how they wanted him to place his hands - hilarious

- The picture of the two of them of course...because I mean they really look like they like each other, right?

I am struggling if I want to get someone to take some pictures of us while we are still just a family of four (I better make that decision fast, right?) because I really do need some new-ish pics of the kids and got maternity pics with both of my kiddos.  Mainly I just want two good pictures of our kiddos with their real smiles (and not so much forced if possible) and one good picture of our family of 4 for memory purposes - because as we all know, once this babe comes, all new pictures!!  Wahoo!!!

Happy Friday!!  I have been busy organizing this afternoon and getting my paint on in the baby's room for the dresser.  Love checking stuff off the list!  Have a great weekend!

Family pictures - Fall 2015

This fall was crazy at our house (which, I'm guessing if I say it like 15,000 times you might get it, right?).  Believe it or not, we were able to squeeze in some quick family pictures in a nearby field area with my friend, Sarah!!   

It was fun to coordinate our outfits, but what wasn't fun?  Trying to get my kids to cooperate and SMILE!!  You would think they are just the most unhappy kids ever - haha.  But with some work, she did get some great ones - which I told her, all I need is one of our family and one great one of our each of our kids (so I can update their pictures in our house).

She more than delivered!!!!  I love the results and such great light.  It was quick and easy and, while Jimmy would kill me if I said "fun", I'm going to say it was GOOD!

These kiddos - just the best and their personalities crack me up.

Thanks again so much Sarah for some great shots to update pictures in our house and use for our Christmas card!!  It's amazing how much Maddie has changed from just this June when my good friend, Ali, took her one year pictures in Wichita!!

School pictures

We had success with school pictures this spring!!  And guess what?  I purchased the "day care" package...and didn't feel ripped off.  Mainly because I feel like they got a few good pictures of my kiddos AND I was feeling some mom guilt since Maddie didn't get as many professional photo shoots documenting her first year of life as Charlie did (see his 9 month pics here - they are some of my favorite!).

So these represent Maddie's 9 month "professional pictures" because, the are from professionals.

And guess what?  It was a whole lot cheaper AND a whole lot easier because we just got them dressed, sent them to school and crossed our fingers that they would turn out good.

And as you can see below, at least 5 for them did. 

The others - well, yeah, let's just say I'm glad that I only had to pick 5 images to get the digital versions of.  The others were pretty hilarious though.

The somewhat successful sibling picture!!! (this one was gifted to some deserving grandma's for Mother's Day)

Sweet Maddie!  She actually wore a little hair bow AND I'm loving that you can see her curls starting around her ears.  It was super humid yesterday in KC and her hair was curling like crazy!!!

I love this one!  Sweet smile!

And then Charlie - he looks so old in these pictures.

And was in desperate need of a hair cut he got the weekend following them.  If I was on top of everything in life, I would have gotten him that haircut before the pictures, but that's how I've been rolling these days, and I'm fine with it!

So serious with the hair swoop.....

Not the same as a full out photo shoot - but not as stressful or expensive - so I'll take it!!

The almost 2 year/family/maternity pictures

 

 

SO remember WAY back in August when Charlie was supposed to get his one year pictures taken with Amanda and then he fell flat on his face on the driveway and we had to reschedule.  Then she broke her arm?  Oh yeah, you probably don't because it was so long ago!

 

Well here we were in spring of 2014 with an almost 2 year old, a baby on the way and lots of time that had passed since we last had any pictures taken.  I emailed Amanda and decided it was time to see if we could cash in our last session in the package. 

You know, the almost 2 year/family/maternity session? Yeah, that's the one!

 

We headed out to Lake Lenexa on a windy day with a crazy toddler in hand.

 

He was obsessed with the playground and running away from all of us.  So I was SO pleasantly surprised when she sent me the pictures.  You would have never known.  She got some fabulous shots and some fabulous Charlie smiles and personality.  Just perfect! 

 

Here are some of my favorites!

 

 

Cannot wait to hang some of these of just me and my baby girl in her nursery!  And I already have some of the others hanging in our house. 

Love love love.  Charlie's curly hair and all.

 

Thank you again, so much Amanda!

 

Charlie's one year...errr thirteen month pictures

One upon a time (and really this does feel like FOREVER ago), we were lucky enough to have our pictures taken by the super talented Allison Corrin.  While this was not the original plan, it worked out quite nice.  

So what was the original plan?  Well - I actually planned somewhat ahead (for once) and scheduled Charlie's one year photo shoot for the weekend following his birthday.  They were set to be Saturday morning.  We were still living with my parents and it was going to be great because I had that to focus on and not moving quite yet.  Mr. Charlie had other plans.

The Friday night before his originally scheduled photo shoot with the wonderful Amanda Malone...we were outside at my parents house and he was having fun running up and down my parents grass and driveway.  We were waiting for Ali and Lora to arrive to play with Henry.  Welp - they arrived all right.  Charlie was so dang excited about it he started sprinting towards them and while going down the decline of the driveway too fast literally fell FLAT on his forehead.  Like it literally bounced off the driveway.  Ouch.  And embarrassing {for me, not him}.  

Poor guy had a good cry and then seemed to be just fine.  Our one year pictures?  Yeah - those were not going to happen the next day.  I called Amanda to tell her we needed to postpone and she said she understood and to let her know when I wanted to reschedule and she'd fit us in.  

So on went the weekend and I emailed her about rescheduling mid-week the following week.  And guess what?  She broke her arm in the mean time and can't take pictures.  OMG!!  NO!!  I was so upset.

In come Allison!  She and I were high school classmates and I admired her work that she posted on instagram, facebook and her blog of her sweet family and thought that this was just the opportunity.  She was so sweet to fit us in as fast as she could and we went on a Wednesday morning before work and school and got some great light, some great weather and some AWESOME shots!  

In the end, it worked out great - but that teaches me to plan anything a month in advance I guess!!  Charlie will have something else to say about that.  

Without further adieu, I give you Charlie's 13 month pictures, because yes my friends, he was over 13 months by the time this debacle of unfortunate turned fortunate events worked out.  But guess what - no one will ever know except you and me!  And I seriously love them so much - I'm happy we waited a bit.  Thank you thank you, Allison!  Now I need to decide which ones to hang up on the walls at our new house!!!

The colors in this picture are amazing!!!

I love this one!

This one is PERFECT!!  Charlie is obsessed with bubbles...

My little mover walking through the wet grass.

I guess he thinks I'm funny?!

I just love my huge grass stains in the one on the left - but seriously, anything to get them to laugh!

As you can tell - Charlie was just thrilled to be shirtless. 

But then the cake arrived

and he was VERY happy.

And just like that - he was off. 

Thank you again Allison!!!  I love every single one of them and you captured our family so well!