Christmas Program 2010

Here's a glimpse at our little performer's Christmas Program this year.

PeekaBoo Santa!

On Saturday we went to our photographers house for Christmas pictures.  Last year I LOVED our pictures from this session and it was so much fun!  As soon as she announced she was having this photo shoot I knew we had to do it!  This year was a little different. . .instead of Santa coming out to see the kids and have them on his lap, he would be behind the tree "peeking" out at them.  This way she hoped more kids would be happy and smiling since Santa would not be there to scare them.  Sounds great. . .unless you have Sweet Pea! 

Sweet Pea has had pictures done in this studio since before she was born, but needs time to warm up usually.  Unfortunately this shoot did not allow enough time for her to warm up, and I think her assistant also threw Sweet Pea.  So we did our best and this is what we got!  Not bad for a mini session!  And as always lots of fun memories!

Miss Pumpkin  (she had no idea Santa was back there!)

This was the only way I was going to get both girls to have a picture with Santa!  While we were sitting, Santa knocked something down behind us, making a big noise.  Miss Sweet Pea discovered him, but Pumpkin still did not know what it was!

Yes I am a mean mom!  I couldn't resist the screaming baby picture!  I am hiding behind the trunk on the floor and my hands are still around Sweet Pea trying to calm her down.  She again saw Santa as when she arched back she could see him!  The entire time I'm laughing behind the box since the photographer and her assistant are trying so hard to get Sweet Pea to be happy and to smile! 

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family!!!

Pumpkin Party! (from Oct 2010)

When I met my in-laws about 10 years ago, they had a harvest party for their company.  It was a blast- hayride through the orchards, a huge bonfire out back, and time to relax and enjoy friends and family.  Things became busy. . . we had our wedding, kids were born, careers started, and the harvest party was something in the past. Until my father-in-law bought a rusty old tractor for a great deal.  He was teased about the bucket of rust, but slowly he worked over the course of a year to restore his old Farmall crank-start tractor.   Together the idea came up to have a harvest party complete with a hayride and picking pumpkins from the field across the street.

The first group!

Arriving at the "pumpkin patch"

Our perfect plan we derailed a few times- first by the lady who owns the pumpkin patch selling all her pumpkins to a wholesaler, then by the weather (go away rain!), and FINALLY we had the perfect night.  Family and friends came to eat, pick pumpkins, and enjoy each others company.  We planted our own pumpkins in the field so we would be able to still enjoy the experience!  We meet new and old cousins and they all ran around like crazy.  Then the pumpkin carving began. . .some were ambitious, others simple, but everyone had fun.  And the pumpkins turned out great!!!

Wordless Wednesday- This is talent!

What to do with a tractor?. . . .

Over the past year, my father in law has been restoring a classic tractor in his free time. Now that it is done he has been looking for ways to put it to good use! He started with pulling a float in the 100th anniversary parade at CSU Fresno.  I thought it would be fun to take the girls to the parade to see the floats, Papa, and then we would head over to the tailgate where my dad was with his friends. 

Waiting for the parade. . .where is it???

Sweet Pea enjoying her goldfish. . .such a cutie!

Here he comes!!!!  His float was a replica of the water tower at Fresno State.

(my camera froze right when he passed and I packed up and chased him down to get more pictures!!!  I'm sure people thought I was crazy. . .running with one kid on my hip and the other in the stroller and camera in hand!!!)

Finally caught up to him. . .Tractor and trailer!

My dad and the girls at the tailgate!  Go Bulldogs!!!

It was a fun afternoon with the kids and the grandpas!

Whew. . .we did it! (and I finally finished it!)

This blog is three months in the making. . . .yes I need more time in my life!!!!

I don't know about your family, but our family rarely takes a formal family picture.  We have pictures of my entire family from our weddings, but since my sister's wedding 7 years ago we have not had a formal family picture.  AND our family has changed a lot!!!  This past year, we decided that a family picture was something we needed to do and it couldn't wait any longer.  When my sister and her family came to visit we set up an appointment with my photographer to photograph all 17 of us!  Our amazing photographer was  Lynn from Memories Forever Photo Shoot Photography. 

It was August and nearly 100 degrees that day!  (At least it wasn't 110!).  We met at the park in the evening and the photo shoot began!!!  My oldest sister's family went first and I think their picture is adorable!

Then we attempted the impossible. . .the entire family!   Pretty good!

Our little family came next so G could get back to work (he was techically working!)

My parents got their own little picture.  Still laughing and smiling after 40+ years!

My sister and her fam

My brother and M

And LOTS LOTS more fun silly pictures!  Miss Lynn was so good at being patient and capturing our silly family playing and having fun together!  It was fun and playful, without the stress that sometimes accompanies photo shoots with big families!  Not to mention a story that we will never forget about that night. . .quite the event!  (you can ask me later for more details! haha)

Wordless Wednesday!