Christmas 2011 Part 2

So what would Christmas be like if we did not make sugar cookies with icing. My Mimi, my mom's mom, used to make a table full of cookies every year for each family. How I loved getting that tin of cookies in the mail. Some were crushed, not having fared well with the long journey from Pittsburgh, but they still tasted amazing. My favorites were the sugar cookies. I finally found a recipe that reminded me of Mimi's and my mom and sisters agree. BellaRose has also really enjoyed this tradition of helping me bake them as well as serve them to Santa. 

Santa loves them too!

Of course you need to see some photos of the dogs. Rainy is 12 and looking so old but still the same old Rain dog. Atticus is eternal.

Christmas Part 1

I finally started taking photos of my family again! Well more then I usually do as of late. I decided that I am going to have to post in segments since I did take so many. BellaRose and Hollings have taken to playing in Little's crib, A LOT. I don't really mind it until everything that was outside of the crib goes in it, then I mind. I am trying to let go of my neat freak ways but it is difficult. Hollings got a wooden mailbox for Christmas with cute little wooden postcards and that quickly became one of BellaRose's favorite toys. Rosey is a bit of a pack rat and likes to stuff things in things. It drives me mad. I kept asking her to only put the postcards in it. Worth thought that was a battle I should not choose. I mean what is the use of a fun wooden mailbox with three slots if you can't see what fits in it. I get it! I release it. Anyway that got a little off the subject. The subject is these girls in all their CRAZY cuteness. Enjoy!

We went to Biltmore Estate to see Santa before one of my photo sessions there on Sunday. BellaRose dictated a letter to me that she wanted to write for Santa. She asked how his summer was, if he had a Grandma, and how in the world he does it all. Then she politely asked for a sleeping bag. It was so sweet. He answered all her questions; he had a great summer, he does have a Grandma, and when the star of Bethlehem goes over the North Pole Santa claps his hands and slows down time. Hollings opted out of this how discussion. She wasn't having anything to do with sitting on a strange man's lap, not that I blame her, and BellaRose chose to sit beside him, I am fine with that! Merry Christmas!

Christmas time

Wow, already over a month since I have posted pictures of these sweet children! Hard to believe. Each day keeps slipping by faster then the day before. It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and especially this time of year. How do you embrace the season? What do you do to hold onto each and everyday, and most importantly enjoy your children? So these photos are taken after our recent adventure to the High Country to collect our tree. I love this family event so much and I think that BellaRose is starting to enjoy it as well. She picked out her own tree as well as helping me with the big one!

fall

Life is full and busy and fun and tough and if you blink then Roctober is over and the trees are bare.

  These are really the last photos I took of my family because any time since then that I have lifted a camera it has been to photograph other people's families.  Which is awesome, but naturally the documentation of my family slips to the wayside.  I came back to these pictures often because they are important for one, and they are just full of fall!  Where my beach pictures feel like you are at the beach, these fall pictures make you feel like leaves are crunching beneath your fit and your not quite sure if you are hot in your fleece or not.  That is fall.  Warmth on your back, but the breeze picks up and you are reaching for more clothing.  This Roctober was awesome, filled with fall festivals, birthday candles, pumpkins, candy, hayrides, bounce houses, Christmas tree farms, Beech Mountain, photography, friends, and family.  

Met up with friends at their family's Christmas tree farm and had an amazing fall day with a little work mixed in there.  You can see those pictures HERE.

 We love going to the High Country, this picture is right after the viaduct on the parkway. 

 

 

 

Yes I also realize now, after having it pointed out, that Rainy is relieving herself.  I will leave the picture.

 

 

 

BellaRose took this picture of us.

 

 

 

 

Attempts at the family picture:

 

 

 

 Worth pointed out this tree, looks like a little preggy tree.

 

 

 

Worth proved to be an awesome assistant during a photo shoot.

Our dogs

I look forward to sharing the rest of the pictures from this past weekend spent in Banner Elk/Beech Mountain.  We had a wonderfully relaxing weekend hanging out with friends and enjoying all the fall colors.

  I adore the picture of BellaRose and Atticus.  She calls him buddy and loves him so much.  I am sure you can see that in the picture.  

Poor ol' Rain Dog.  You would think that at her age Worth would stop posing her, but no such luck!  She will be 12 in November!  Hard to believe.

I am so thankful our girls know our dogs.  Even though they drive us crazy (the dogs, and well sometimes the girls) we are so thankful for Rainy and Atticus!