12-29, Mom and Dad's Portraits

You know what happens when I get photography equipment for Christmas?  My burning desire to try it out almost immediately prevails.  The bonus?  Immediate subjects!  Notice I didn't say immediate 'thrilled' subjects or immediate 'willing' subjects.....no, just immediate subjects.  I don't know how many times I need to tell everyone that someday they'll be thankful for all (and I do mean a lot of ALL) these photos I've taken over the years.  Twenty minutes into the session, dad was already trying to convince me that 'smiling is bad for you.....because my face hurts.'  This from a fellow Marine (dually noting that once a Marine, always a Marine.....).  No, sitting for photos can't be that painful!  So here they are, my 2013 round of Mom and Dad portraits.  Thank you, Sven, for your hours on the phone with your new best friend from my always favorite photo store in NYC (B & H for those of you in the need to know category).  Thanks for 'pulling the trigger' and purchasing me what I've been wanting to purchase for myself all year.  (By the way, honey, you know now that mom and dad are gone you are my next in-line for practice sessions.....right?!).  Mom and Dad may not be thrilled that I've devoted an entire post to their portrait session, but I think they look good!  (Plus, that's always the risk you take when I'm in control of the pics....ha ha ha).

"See, this is how you do it...."  LOL.....

Since this will be my final post of 2013, I'd like to wish everyone a very happy new year.  May 2014 bring you much love and laughter!

12-29, Christmas Time (Part 2)

It is 7 AM the Sunday after Christmas.  I'm a little more awake than I was at 3 AM.  Thad and Kelly departed Friday.  Sven drove Mom and Dad to the airport (in 1.5" of snow) earlier this morning for their 0555 flight.  I had every intention of staying up and having a few hours of quiet time once they left.  Alas, my desire for a warm bed was stronger than my desire to update the blog!  Now I'm up and ready for the task, but the cries of "Mom!  Mooooommmm!" on the monitor and the pitter-patter of little feet will soon hold my attention.  I'm pretty sure Nikolas will be out for the count.  It's been a busy week.  Sven's eyes are glued to last night's game (I can't believe HE didn't go back to bed after his airport run), I hear the neighbor's snow shovel clanking against the driveway and the sound of the snow plow speeding up the hill.  ('Where was this snow Christmas Eve?', I can't help but wonder.)   We all kept resounding, "I can't believe the holidays are already over."  In a few days, 2013 will be but a memory.  So, with this all being said, I'm going to relive our wonderful holiday one more time through the photos that I took.  (At least you all don't have to hear the grunts and sarcastic remarks offered every time I got my camera out.  LOL.....).  

A little Grandpa loving.

Sven's happy to see any snow, but he always wishes it were more.

Everyone hard at work getting the snow off the driveway before we drive on it and create a downhill ice rink.

Checkers with Grandpa.

Emalie loves her Grandpa!  She tried so hard to say "Grandpa".  She's getting closer but not quite there yet.

Geez, you would have thought I was asking them to give me $1,000 rather than just sit for my photo!  Ha!

All.......

....eyes......

.......are.......

........on........

.... the reading of The Night Before Christmas.

The tree Christmas morning with all the gifts that had been hidden away.

Emalie loves her cappuccino maker from Santa.....

.......and her silly (but warm!) hat from us.

Nikolas will be ready to hit the courts with this basketball from Uncle Thad and Aunt Kelly.

Emalie's ready for a spin in her new car (if she drives like she plays then she's going to need that helmet!!).  

Nikolas is looking for the cat-- the poor Nerf gun target (regardless of how many times we tell him not to!). 

Smiles all around on Christmas morning.

Nikolas loves these kinds of books.

He'll already filling his head with all sorts of facts, surrounded by piles of gifts, boxes and wrapping paper.

Now Emalie can play anywhere with her take-along toy motorhome (just like Grandma and Grandpa's!).

We're so glad Grandma and Grandpa (and Thad and Kelly) joined us for this special holiday!

And the sweetest gift of all:  Nikolas gave Emalie his guitar.  She loves her new 'strum-strum-strum'.

Emalie being spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa.  BOTH kids were spoiled by everyone!

The picture that speaks for itself.  LOL.....don't you just love those expressions?!

The boys hard at work prepping for Christmas dinner.  (Thad peeling potatoes?  I'm impressed!)

Christmas dinner with the family.

Grandma reading Emalie one of her new books for bedtime Christmas night.

Soaking up the Vitamin D on the back deck the day after Christmas.  Not bad for being in Colorado, right?!

I lost count at how many puzzles we put together with dad's help.  4?  5?  That's hard core!

Nikolas really has a knack for putting puzzles together.

Soaking up every snuggle with Grandma while she can.

And that's it folks, for the "House of Ham Part Deux" (thanks for that, Kelly!).  We cherished the time we spent with loved ones and thought of those loved ones far away or no longer with us.  We hope you enjoyed the holidays and had more smiles than stress.  I know my family rolls their eyes every time I get my camera out, but I guarantee that one day these photos will be cherished for the memories that they hold.  And for those of you who sent us gifts, thank you so much for thinking of us and for your generosity.  We love and miss you all!

One last HAPPY HOLIDAYS for the season, and now on to wishing everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

12-18, Christmas Time (Part 1)

I'm not sure how to tackle this post(s) because I know there will be lots and lots of pictures.  So, I guess I'll just start:

I think this Christmas tree may be the best one we've had yet.  It was sitting in a corner of the lot (I know, not on a snowy hillside in the mountains, but you work with what you've got!) all by itself, leaning against a fence, branches all turned upwards.  We brought it home, thawed it out and it opened up into the most beautiful tree.  I'm usually ready to get the tree down and out of the house after the holidays, I think I'll be sad when it's time to take this one out the door (if it fits out the door, that is!). 

Aren't these the cutest little elves you've ever seen?!

"And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but......" Grandma and Grandpa!  A little persuasion and we were able to get mom and dad to come 'home for the holidays'.  The countdown with Emalie began a week out:  "Bama and Bama come home?"....."Yes, in 7 (6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...) days!"  Once they arrived, "Bama and Bama come home!!"  It's so fun to see them interact with the grandkids.  It also makes it evident how quickly time passes because it seems like it was not all that long ago when we were all making those googly, giddy, adoring eyes at little Nikolas.  

Our only planned outdoor excursion was to Old Town Parker for a carriage ride and visit to Santa.  Mom didn't completely freak out (not completely...) at the idea of hanging out in 20 degree weather.  Even better-- it started to snow...just a dusting, but snow nonetheless.  LOL....  Nik was too cool to be seen being hauled around town by horses, but Emalie couldn't take her eyes off the draft horses. (What's cuter than a toddler waving at a horse?!) 

The only picture we have of Nikolas and Santa....we don't have.  When he was 10 months old we had his picture taken with Santa in Missoula.  We were quite dismayed that the photographer lost the prints.  (And me, observing photographer etiquette, didn't snap any pictures over his shoulders.)  That was the closest Nikolas ever got to Santa again.  The jolly old fellow scared the heck out of him for the remainder of his 'little years'.  It filled a place in my parent heart to see Emalie walk right up to Santa and climb on his lap.  I'm pretty sure Santa had no clue what she was saying (or she what he was asking), but I'm also pretty sure that's part of the job description!  Yes, Emalie loved Santa and talked the rest of the night about sitting on Santa's lap.  My, how much she's changed in a year!

On our way home from town we took a detour through the neighborhood to take in some of the light displays.  Sven loves this one-- a pilot lives here and lights up his yard like runways at the airport!

This house is just a few streets over from us.  They decorate like this every year.  They even park a car up at the beginning of the driveway and 'Santa' sits in the driver seat.  Now that's the spirit!