Family Pictures

Christmas 2006

We celebrated Christmas on the 23rd with Dustin's parents. Taylor wore a cute winter sweatsuit!! We ate great food...ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserolle and dessert! Then we had fun opening gifts. Taylor got a Raggedy Ann doll from Grandma & Grandpa. It's one of my favorite Christmas gifts this year, and it's not even for me.



Justin, Lindsay & Britten came in on Christmas Eve. Dustin, Staci and I picked them up from the airport and headed to Slaton for the Lewis Family Christmas. It was so fun to have all 3 of us sisters together!!! And of course, it was SO good to see Britten!

Britten riding on Pop Pop's shoulders.

Staci was playing with Britten at the water fountain. Britten was laughing so hard. These pictures are so cute, but they do no justice to the adorable laugh that we heard!

There were 3 categories for gifts...serious gifts, gag gifts, and baby gifts. Britten chose to play with this sign...

Avery and I tried to get a picture together with our little munchkins, but as you can see, when one wasn't crying, the other one was. Oh, well...they're still cute!

Thatcher sound asleep
Britten and my cousin Kelcee


On Christmas Day, we went over to my mom's (aka Gammy's) house. Good food and good fun! Britten really opened up this day and made us all laugh when she said "cookie" and with her fake laugh. This little girl is a hoot!

Britten and Gammy opening a present together

Taylor was sure happy! She loves Gammy's house! Her onsie says "Santa's favorite baby" It was a gift from Grandma & Grandpa

Justin and Britten looking at her Bible that Gammy gave her.

What a cutie!

Christmas Break

Today is the first day of Dustin's Christmas Break!! He has 5 days in a row with no practices! We are so excited. So, on the first morning of his break, what did he do? SLEPT!!!! He and Taylor have been sleeping in the bed since about 6:30 this morning. I couldn't resist taking a picture. They just look so cute! I'm up cooking and wrapping presents. I LOVE this time of year! Merry Christmas to everyone. May your holidays be blessed!!!

Decision 2006

Nope, this is not a political post. So, all of you political/history nerds like my husband, don't get your hopes up!! This is about our big family decision this year. I've decided to stay at home!!! My last day at work is tomorrow. Starting in January, I will be keeping kiddos from my home and running my photography business. I'm keeping two girls that are sisters (16 months and 3 1/2 yrs old). I'm also keeping my cousin Thatcher. He is 12 days younger than Taylor. I will be extra busy, but it will be so fun and so worth it. I'm not cut out to be a career mommy...I'm meant to be a stay-at-home mommy. My neighbor also stays at home with their 17 month old boy and keeps a 20 month old girl. I really enjoy hanging out with her, and know we will probably be spending lots of time together, especially outside when the weather gets better.
Of course I can't post without a picture. Here's a couple from a week or two ago...

2 Months Old

Taylor was 2 months old on Saturday, the 16th. I can't believe how time has flown by! We went to the doctor today, and she weighed in at 11 lbs 8 oz and was 23 inches long! She's in the 75th percentile in both weight and height. She's such a great baby. She eats 5 ounces at every feeding and sleeps through the night. I love it when she cooes and giggles at us. Here are some pictures of her in her Christmas dress. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

The Bowman's and The Brown's

Wow, what a day! I had two really fun shoots, both at Tech. Dustin and I know the Bowman's from church...they're such sweet friends of ours! They have the cutest, most squeezable little boy, Charlie. He has the prettiest blue eyes!!! Taylor was helping me edit these pictures, and she was actually drooling over those baby blues! Carley, look out...Taylor's coming after Charlie! Bowman's, we are so blessed to know you guys. Thanks for letting me photograph your beautiful family. Click here to see all the pictures.

Okay, so I have to explain this picture. Apparently, Andy has a friend that always puts his child in very precarious places for a picture to show off to his friends. So, Andy just had to have this picture of Charlie. He looks SO TINY!

Next, it was the Brown's. My mom works with Tracee's mom at the scrapbook store. Tracee is pregnant with their second...a little boy. She's got five weeks to go. She looks great, doesn't she! Their daugther Tatum just turned two in November and is FULL of energy. She is so smart and quite a little ham. I love the blonde hair with brown eyes...she's a beauty. Hopefully we got a good family shot for their Christmas cards! For all their pictures, click here.

Christmas Party

We have an annual Christmas party with three other very fun families each year. We call it the Christmas Story party b/c we exchange "the lamp leg" from the Christmas Story movie. We draw for it each year. Whoever wins it has to display it through Christmas that year, then has to put it up the day after Thanksgiving the next year and display it until the party. We also all have to sing something, either as a couple or individual and someone always puts on some sort of funny performance (Kenneth, we know it's usually you, but Dave and Cami are sure competing for the spotlight!). We all laugh way too hard and eat way too much! Here are the highlights from this years party...

Terri strumming the guitar b/c Dave forgot the keyboard...gosh Dave!!

Can we say "ham's"??!! Cami and Dave singing "Baby it's cold outside." Ya'll are so meant to be together!!!

The clown's of the group!! Kenneth and his daughter Kimberly (the hand's) are hilarious. This was too much!

Cory compete's for the clown of the group. He and Terri singing "Grandma got run over by a reindeer."

Sweet little Riley. I know she's wondering who all these crazy people are!!

Mikaela dancing to our singing. What a cutie!!

Grandma's doing what they do best...putting those babies to sleep!!

Our little drama queen all sacked out!

Dave showing off his socks that he won in the Chinese gift exchange. Looking good!!

Lynette wanted to win "the leg" so bad this year, and they did. Can you tell she is excited?! I didn't get a picture of "the leg" this year, but below is our group picture from last year.



I look forward to this party every year. I can't wait until next year...I'm determined to win the leg!!!!