Family Pictures Through the Years

We have had family photos taken every fall, starting in 2009 when I was pregnant with Connor. These photos are something I cherish. Although I love taking photos of my kids and our adventures, the one thing I struggle with is getting in the actual photos. So it's nice to have a set of family photos done every year where we are all in the frame. It's also pretty much the only day of the year that I force my kids to wear what I say. Otherwise, that's not a fight I think is worth fighting. Anyway, here is a shot from every year leading up to this year. 

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Also, a few things about the photos.  The first two years were taken while we were living in Scotland. I am pregnant in three of the years (2009, 2011, 2018) of photos. In 2015, I decided to have our family pictures taken right after Callum was born. Like he was six days old. It was a stupid decision on my part for so many reasons. I did it so I could send out a family photo with him in it. But no one is feeling their finest at six days postpartum. Not to mention, it was freezing outside. And Callum literally screamed through the entire session. There are only pictures of him with his mouth closed because he had to stop to breathe sometimes. Pretty much every year, I walk away from our photo session feeling like we are a circus and there is no way a decent family photo was captured. But, if somehow by magic, there are always good ones. So the yearly family photo tradition will continue on, whether my kids like it or not!

You can also find me on:

bloglovin // instagram // pinterest

Our not so annual romp in the almond blossoms

First, let's just clear the air...I said romp in my title...hahaha! Wait. Am I the only one who's mind went there? Oops. 

Anyway, a few years ago I was all, "I'm going to take pictures of my growing children in the almond blossoms every year." Folks, I haven't taken pictures in the almond blossoms since 2015. I actually tried once last year, but it was an epic failure. Callum fell asleep and one of the children wasn't happy with the dirt on their feet. The almond blossoms are only around two, maybe three, weeks. One would think that is plenty of time to get it done. But life people, life. 

We did it this year. (pats self on back) And I'm pretty dang pleased with how they turned out. Not to mention, this is like the prettiest three weeks of the whole entire stinking year where we live. Three weeks. We get three weeks of beauty. Such a thing to brag about ;)

You can also find me on:

bloglovin // instagram // pinterest 

Our 2017 Family Photos & Christmas Card

The one big thing to me about family photos are the actual family photos. I just can't seem to get all of us in the frame otherwise. Tripod and timers don't work well for us and it doesn't seem often that I remember to have someone snap a photo of the five of us together when we are somewhere. Plus, I feel like I do a good job at getting pictures of the kids on an all the freaking time basis. So really, the pressure is on for a good photo with all of us in it. 

You can't tell by these pictures, but Callum was literally running away from us 90% of the time we were trying to take pictures. On the drive to our photos, I told Ian I knew this year was going to be a hard one photo wise. Last year Callum wasn't walking, this year he is constantly running. And pictures with toddlers are NEVER easy. Let's just say, he didn't underperform. But, our amazing photographer, Leah Galloway, over performed and got so many amazing pictures of the five of us. I was seriously blown away. I already got a bunch of them printed out and in frames in our house. 

Going hand in hand with family photos are christmas cards. For years now, I've been a sucker for the review type card. This year was no different. I am a bit of a card snob and went with Minted for a second year in a row. I got an amazing deal (several stacked discounts for the win) and love their quality. Not to mention, they took a couple days getting them printed, so overnighted them to me at no extra cost...in fact, they informed me of this, I didn't ask for it. Talk about amazing customer service! 

Speaking of christmas cards, I have gotten loads in the mail. A few people have mentioned feeling awkward asking for my address, but it has made me feel so excited over how many people have gone out of their way this year to participate in my christmas card challenge. And the cards this year haven't disappointed. From the scalloped edges, to the foil overlays. From the beautiful handmade, to the funny photo. I've loved them all. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to each of you that have sent me a card. It has filled my mailbox and card wall with love this year...but the challenge isn't over until the end of December, so no winner will yet be declared. So for you procrastinators out there, there's still time! 

You can also find me on:

bloglovin // instagram // pinterest 

2016 Family Pictures

Every year I sort of freak out over family pictures. Don't get me wrong, I love that we do them. They mean so much to me. I love looking back on them. But they literally cause me so much stress and anxiety. I know, I know, first world problems. I stress about getting them back in time for Christmas cards. I stress about us looking like a circus act while we are getting the pictures taken...though I have to admit, my kids were surprisingly cooperative this year. I stress about what we are going to wear. Which, funny story about that. 

I found the dress I wanted to wear from Old Navy...it is the dress I am wearing in the pictures. I ordered it, along with a couple options for Isla. The package was arriving a week before pictures. Plenty of time. I knew the day it was out for delivery. It never arrived. I tracked it and it said it had been denied. Then I looked at the address and realized I send it to the WRONG ADDRESS. Long story short, I ended up stalking a postman and begging him to give me the package. He seemed to look at me like I was crazy...which, I probably did look a little crazy, three kids strapped in the back of my car, me desperately begging the guy for my package...but he ended up giving it to me. And the dress is so cute, right? But back to pictures. 

I actually booked us to do them earlier in the season this year so we wouldn't be freezing our butts off and so I wouldn't be stressed about getting them back in time for Christmas cards. Which, our cards have already been ordered and are on their way to me. I get really excited about Christmas cards. Maybe oddly too excited. But, that's why I do the Christmas card challenge. So yeah. But, I digress again. Now for some of my favorites from our family photos this year. 

I didn't include the exact picture I used on our family card because, in some odd way, I wanted it to be a surprise when people get it. Because, you know, everyone gets so excited to get our card in the mail and see our photo. Please sense the sarcasm. I don't take myself and my Christmas card THAT serious. 

You can also find me on:

bloglovin // instagram // pinterest

One Year

It's amazing what a difference a year makes. Sometimes it seems like not that much changes in a year. But other times, incredible things happen. These family pictures were taken a year apart. Well, a year and two weeks, if you want to be technical. When I booked our family pictures last year (which I do months in advance), I remember hoping that we could use those pictures to announce we were adding to our family. I hoped the same thing the year before. But, it didn't happen.

I think for anyone, walking through a time in your life when you aren't getting something you really want is hard. Be it a friendship, a marriage, stability, a job, a child, etc. it's hard. And though I don't carry that pain with me anymore, when I look back at pictures and think of the pain, I remember it and remember how very real it was.

It's hard to me to express how blessed I feel to have Callum in our family without feeling the need to add an asterisk to it. When I talked about it while pregnant, I had people respond to me that ALL babies are a blessing. I am certainly not saying they aren't. Trust me, I don't love Callum any more than I love Connor and Isla. But, I do think there is something so incredibly beautiful and joyful about the rainbow that comes after the storm. So really, Callum is my rainbow. That's a really great way to put it.

I still need to get around going through our family pictures from December. I went through them enough to throw together an extremely late Christmas card/birth announcement. But I still need to go through them and print some for our house and share them here…and talk more about how incredibly stressful it is to do family pictures six days after having a baby. But they turned out beautifully and for that I am thankful.

You can also find me on:

bloglovin // instagram // pinterest 

Almond Blossoms 2015

When the almond trees are in bloom is the one time of year one might call living in the central valley of California beautiful. For those three weeks (maybe a little longer, but it sure is over quick), it sure is pretty. And given that I don't have allergies, I don't loathe it like the 90% of other people here.

A couple years ago, I said I wanted to make a tradition of taking pictures in the almond blossoms. I managed that year. And then I missed out on last year because the rain knocked out all the blossoms before I got the chance to get us out there. I was afraid that would happen again this year, but we caught them.

I have my own family "selfie" setup, with a tripod and wireless remote. The kids love the remote and it is how I can bribe them to cooperate. Of course, then we also end up with a bunch of pictures of say my butt as I climb off the ground…the delete button is my friend!

^^ This kid loves to ham it up for the camera. 90% of the pictures I take of him are of him goofing off and spinning around. 

These kids of mine love the outdoors. I actually told them we were going to play in the orchard, rather than take pictures, because I knew if I mentioned pictures, they would protest. I would love to live in the middle of an orchard one day, where the kids could just run wild and free…but who knows if that will ever happen. In the mean time, they can just frolic through other people's orchards…which, side note, Ian worked at the fruit stand attached to this orchard when he was growing up.

You can also find me on:

bloglovin // instagram // pinterest