Family Christmas photos

I had a goal this year to send out Christmas cards with a family photo on them. Well, in a previous post I had shared photos that my friend Stepheni of Mason Jar Photography had taken of just Owen and I because Derek was still working. I knew we needed to get on the ball to order Christmas cards and get them sent out so, today I had my sister grab my little point and shoot Nikon and walk with us down to the river. Josh ended up taking a few really good photos of us while Danielle made Owen smile for him. Here are the best ones from our little session.

I love this with Owen just running around us...

This was an accidental photo... Owen ran out of the shot, but it's great of me and Derek

I ended up choosing this photo for our cards... Owen's face is just too cute!

A Happy Thanksgiving!

Derek and I hosted Thanksgiving this year. Mostly in part because we have the biggest house... although we didn't have to make a ton of stuff which made it a lot easier. Derek and Josh had a "turkey cook-off" and we had two BBQ's going all day today! My mom, Danielle, Josh, Derek's mom, my Uncle Bill, my Aunt Lana and her mom Anne and brother Art all came to dinner. I was fortunate enough to not have to cook a lot...I only made a green bean casserole and some red velvet cake balls (those were AMAZING!) My mom brought mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls, and 4 pumpkin pies! My sister made some yams and also some pigs in a blanket for appetizers. Grandma Anne brought some tasty homemade bread and Derek's mom brought her yummy cheese cake and a fruit salad. We had quite the spread! We left the house a mess and I woke up to a clean kitchen thanks to Derek... I love him so much! He's not the usual "cleaner" but he sure was at 4 am this morning! I hope everyone had as much fun as we did... I'm so thankful for all of the blessings the Lord has given me!!!

The table set up (yes Owen's at his little table already eating haha!)

The appetizers and pies YUM!

Josh carving his turkey... Derek's is to the right of him (Derek's won in my opinion!)

My creative side

I have been wanting to do an "art" project for Owen's room for some time now. I decided to go ahead and buy the letters of his name and some cute sports balls to put on them. I had some extra paint from when I painted his dresser... so it worked out perfectly! Here's a couple photos of the new stuff!

I think it turned out pretty good...

He started jumping on his bed...

He's such a ham!

I also got this cute sign that I hung above his closet... it matches everything so perfectly!

Just crazy Owen... jumping on his bed.

Camo Cutie

I love these overalls on Owen! They're so cute... especially when paired with his little romeos and a John Deere sweatshirt! He calls them "shisherman pants" haha! I had to take a couple photos of him in them... although he as excited about photo time as I was.

The sweetest thing...

I was just browsing around on the website that hosted some of my old photo slideshows for mypsace and I came across this photo...

I had forgotten that this photo was ever taken, and when I saw it I about cried. I was bored that afternoon and was trying to take pictures of me and Owen together. He and I didn't have a ton because I was always in control of the camera. So, I decided to do some self portraits... and this one came about. Owen was just about 6 months old here and had a little "chunk" on him, so cute!!! I just love how we are embracing each other... both our eyes are closed and Owen's little dimpled hand is on my cheek... oh, I hope I never forget this photo again! (especially when he's acting "2" ;])

Halloween Photos... FINALLY!

On Halloween my camera was busted... so I had to rely on my mom to take some photos of Owen in his costume. She just got them to me today, but better late than never... thank you so much Mom!!! He was dressed as a Fisherman... or as he'd say, "a shisherman". So that night we took him to Derek's parent's house so his mom could see him and she could show him off to the neighbors. That was about all the trick or treating he did besides a trip around the YMCA that morning. He did have a hat (that he wouldn't wear) and a fishing pole that was MIA at this point cause he was eating some dinner... So here are some photos!

He was really tired...

he also had a hard time cooperating for this impromtu photo shoot ;]

I look horrible trying to get him to look at Grammy... ugh!

The new haircut

So, I did it... I chopped my hair! It has been bugging me so much... I had my friend Sheree even out the length a few weeks ago and that didn't help. I have been feeling as if I've had a "mom hairstyle" and I didn't want to wait it out anymore. So I wen to see my friend Dannielle at "A Head of Times" on South Hill. She did such an awesome job! I love that I can tell her an idea of what I have and she goes with it... this is an amazing cut. Thank you so much Dannielle!!!!!