Count down to goal date

Well my goal date for my baby weight loss is almost here and I can tell you right now I am not going to make it. I have lost almost all the weight I gained with Lizzy (28 of 30lbs) which I am really proud of. Nearly 30lbs in 3 months. However, I really wanted to lose an extra 10 on top of the baby weight for our family pictures on the 30th. That is 12lbs in 2.5 weeks. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I guess I will just have to tell the photographer to take my picture from a flattering angle and do a little photoshop magic, jk. Honestly for not starving myself and not working out consistently I am really proud of what I have accomplished so far. I am still going to try to lose as much as I can until the picture date and my goal is to still lose another 12lbs I will just have to extend my deadline a bit. I guess I already have my cliche' New Year's Resolution. (To lose weight ranks in the top 3 along with quit smoking and get fit).

Can you take our picture please?

Today I made my family get to together to take a picture for our Christmas card. Let me tell you. . .they are not picture people. You are probably thinking how can they not be picture people when I have a camera in their faces all the time. Well, posing for pictures is not easy with a wandering 20 month old, a husband that could care less about pictures, and a baby that doesn't smile unless she wants to. I had my sister-in-law take the pictures, which is nice because she is an inspiring photographer and needs the practice. She tried her best but my family was not cooperating. She took 15 picture of the same pose and I only got one that was usable. I think I take for granted the fact that I am behind the camera most of the time.

Tis the Season

As soon as Dec 1st hits the Christmas Season has officially begun in my mind and therefor there is no apologizing for listening to Christmas songs, wrapping presents, and decorating the tree. Monday was the first real Christmas decorating day where we decorated the house, went Christmas shopping, and then put up the tree. Elizabeth slept for most of the decorating but she really likes laying under the tree and looking up at the lights. Jackson loves Christmas this year. He loves the lights, wrapping presents, and this funny snowman the Stoker's have that bounces up and down and sings. I think Cameron and Marissa are going to throw the snowman in the garbage by the end of the season, but I think if it makes him happy I am happy. I do miss the smell of a real Christmas tree and if I could have one wish it would be for snow on Christmas day, but other than that Christmas in Arizona seems to be off to a good start.

**Look at what a chunk Lizzy has become, haha.

New Friends

Today I met with a new mom in my playgroup and her lovely family. Jessica just moved here from Oregon (a Pacific Northwester, be still my heart) with her husband and beautiful daughter Leila. They were so fun to shoot in their red and black outfits, so photogenic. I know I probably say that a lot but I couldn't believe how great the pictures turned out. I would like to take credit as the photographer but I really think it is the subjects that make the pictures so great. Leila was so energetic and wanted to run, even though she can't walk on her own yet. It makes me so excited for when Lizzy gets a little bigger. Thanks Bunn family, I had a blast.

Dance Machine

We had a great Thanksgiving this year. I dropped the ball and didn't take many pictures (I've been taking so many of other families that I forget to take some of my own, lol), but I got a few of Jackson having fun with his Aunts and Uncle. Brandon's sister, Caitlyn came in town from Utah for the week and his cousin Evan came down to visit too. Plus Grandparents, made 12 people for Thanksgiving dinner. I tried a new stuffing recipe (not so good) but I did make a killer cran-apple pie. We did all the usual Thanksgiving traditions including going to the car show, watching football, girls night out to see Twilight saga, and Caitlyn even cut Jackson's hair for me. It was a great time and I am in such a good mood for the holidays that I can't wait to get the tree up tomorrow.

Samantha and Susan

On Saturday I took some pictures of my friend Susan and her family. Her little girl Samantha is turning 2 this week and she was definitely showing her independence. She had a "I will smile when I want to smile," attitude which I personally think is hilarious. She really loved the "horsies" which helped. Although there were not many smiling pictures she is so beautiful it didn't matter. She gets that gorgeous face from her mother and the pictures are amazing, especially of the two of them together. I love mother daughter photos, it gets me really excited for when Lizzy is a little bigger and the bond that we will share.

More Family Shots

This last Sat I took some more family pictures at the Mesa Arts Center. This place is great for pictures because there is a lot of variety and great colors. Here are some of the shots that I got.

Esther and her family were incredible. I had never actually met her before so it was fun to talk with her and get to know her better. Her son was adorable and their whole family is very photogenic. I loved their connection with each other and how much love they shared.Another family that I took were the Taylor's. Kim and her daughter Kendall are part of a playgroup we belong to and they are so much fun. Kendall is the cutest little girl. She loves to run, swing, dance, jump. . .whatever she can do to get away from her mom, lol. They are the cutest little family, always looking fashionable, and smiling. I loved the fact that Kendall likes to lift her dress up like a princess curtsy, even though Kim hates it.The final family on my list are the Coger family who are also in our play group. Michella and her husband have two beautiful little girls. They looked so great in their red dresses and blond hair. The red photographed so well I didn't want to change any of them to black and white which I tend to like more than color. Michella was such a trooper too with a smile on her face even though she had bruised (or maybe even broken) a rib the night before. Maddison was so funny because every time I see her now she is wearing tap shoes, which was not good in this situation because the cement was really slippery, thankfully only 1 minor spill happened.