Peace out 2016, you have been good to us and we can't wait to see what 2017 brings!
Hope everyone has a great time celebrating the weekend! Happy New Year! Holiday lunching with my team at work this week talking about holiday cards and if/when they will start send them out {as most are less than a few years out of college}. Funny, for me it has been so long I completely forgot what prompted me to begin mailing them out. As I was hanging up cards today and going through a box of ones I saved, I found all of our past cards! Each one has a story, and it all started back in 2007 when Scott and I were engaged! Not much has changed as all but one card is either us photographing our kids or using a self timer (even back in 2007)! 2007 {our first stab at a self camera timer on our little canon rebel as well as my first try at a circle cutter} 2008 { given our wedding was just 1 month prior to Christmas send a thank you and holiday wish together } 2010 { skipped 2009, but came back with a sweet picture of Kyleigh at just 3 months old } 2011 { this is the year my love for snow pictures began, every year I hope for a snow early enough for our holiday card, but it has not happened since } 2012 { two memories from this card, it is the only one we didn't do our own pictures but used a photographer, and secondly it is also the same day I went to the doctor hours before and found out we were having twins! } 2013 { the boys card debut they were 7 months old and looking adorable in their PJs, this was also the first Christmas in our new home } 2014 { our first trip to the Chicago Beaches and definitley not our last, I also think it was the boys first time in the sand, they loved it } 2015 { another self timer picture with our matching pjs .....we sure were laughing and the outtakes were the best! } 2016 coming soon!
All anniversaries are so important, but this one is monumental ....we are officially married 8 years which is now longer than we dated by 1 year! Scott is so excited for our anniversary tomorrow he made me pull out the wedding video while we sip on wine, what a romantic....can you believe it? OK completely teasing, but if it wasn't for him we would never have our video! The story is we were a bit delayed in getting our video....4 years to be exact....so why not pull out on our 8th year anniversary along with some of our favorite pictures to remember our special day...can't wait to celebrate our happy ever after tomorrow! Want to remember this moment in time, so happy the two of us made time to check out new spots around town including some sweet photographs in celebration of her 6th birthday! I love how we can see her personality shine in each and every shot....silly, shy, strong, sweet, thoughtful, full of excitement and so loving. We can't wait to see what special surprises this year holds for you! xoxo
The Halloween magic is strong in our house this week....the kids get so excited to dress up as their favorite characters and enjoy seeing all of the other costumes during the festivities. While I wish I could still coordinate outfits, I do love how they all have such unique interests and each picked one that reflects their personality perfectly. We started the boys outfit with a white sweatshirt and sweatpants, after a trip to Joanne's with several yards of colorful felt, it was cutting and heat bonding time to bring Marshall from Paw Patrol and Buzz Lightyear to life. Kyleigh was originally planning a chocolate chip cookie shopkin, but a last minute switch to batgirl turned out to be a really cute outfit that we created out of a black leotard. With halloween in 1 day, we have been so lucky to already get good use out of the costumes between dance and school parties. The real fun is the trick-or-treating part and can't wait for some beautiful weather this year! While I usually have every intention of creating a tutorial on my progress, I typically keep cranking along that I forget to take a step back to photograph. This time, I did take a few, doesn't give the entire process, but a quick sneak into some of the details. This is the first time I have used my silhouette for anything other than paper and I absolutely loved it! Also, would love to learn how to sew one of these days, but the heat bond I used was amazing, so glad I did not even attempt a glue gun.
All in all the kids are in LOVE with the costumes and so am I.....Happy Halloween everyone!!! The morning of Kyleigh's birthday, I asked her if she felt any different, and she said...."I think I am taller". How cute is that?!?
In order to celebrate her birthday, we took a mid-day break in the week, Scott and I both took the day off to spend time as much time as possible with Kyleigh on her special day. It started with all 5 of us at the bus stop seeing her off to school. From there, we took the boys went to pick out the perfect cake and then off to party city for balloons. By the time we were complete it was time to pick her up from school {thanks to the kindergarten 1/2 days}! The boys were so excited to give Kyleigh her cards, balloon's and cake that was the first thing we did when she walked in the door. From there we went out to lunch at her favorite Panera and then Kyleigh decided she wanted to go painting again, followed by a bike ride and a home cooked dinner. I hope this year was one to remember and can't wait to see what the #6 holds for you! |