SNOW Days!

Last week we had a nice snow- the kind where they called for an inch... or maybe 1-3 inches, so you assumed it would be nothing. Then it kept snowing, and snowing. And snowing. We ended up with 6+ inches of powder that was perfect to play in. Anna Kate would have stayed in it all day, wet or dry, cold or warm, but Madison was only good for about 30 minutes to an hour. Here are some pictures of my girls playing in the snow!

Anna Kate was immediately bubbling with excitement when I told her to go look out the window!

Madison kept running to each window saying "whoaaaaa".

She wouldn't smile, but how cute is this girl!

They dove right in... literally.

My snow loving girl!

Whoops. We lost Madison.

New hat. There she is! She was only happy if she was swinging (left) or sledding (right).

This happened a few times successfully!

Home popped popcorn and a movie time!

Anna Kate wanted a turn at pulling Madison. They didn't make it far.

Snow cream, good to the last drop!

Day two, so cute!

Madison was starting to get the hang of getting ready, going out, and enjoying! She would even put on her mittens while I was working to get everyone ready.

Let's take some pictures by the logs, they'll be so cute!

Ummmm

Nope. Those are the best two I got of them together...

Camera Practice

For Christmas, Mark bought me a new camera lens for my DSLR. I had done some reading that proper lenses are helpful in taking good pictures, and it is so true! Many of the things I had been trying to do with the lens that came with the camera body were SO much easier to accomplish with the new lens. Here are some successful shots of the girls I was able to take over the past few weeks.

This first set was on a morning where Madison and I were home for about an hour to eat lunch and play before picking up Anna Kate from preschool. It was much easier to take photos of her in the high chair (immobilized) while she was eating (happy), but I did get some cute ones in her room too.

Nothing like a raspberry on your finger to elicit some real smiles! Working on my depth of field here, so not all photos are perfectly in focus where I would have liked.

I mean, how cute is she! If there wasn't a giant pink bib in this one, I might would frame it ;)

My precious!

Reading by the window is her favorite, which makes for good light, but I am still learning how to use it properly.

Look at those tiny chubby baby cheeks!

I liked how this one you can see the toys she is lining up on the windowsill.

The real Madison for sure. Focus should be slightly higher.

Next is a set of Anna Kate. I watched a free DSLR class while she played and Madison napped and she listened to some of the tips and wanted her photo taken with her ponies. She is just as hard to get good photos of as Madison as she won't look at the camera for more than 30 seconds and loves to move around. Here are some of the better shots.

This one is probably my favorite of this group- messy hair and all! It's a real smile, not crazy, and she looks like the sweet 4 year old girl she is (for only a few more weeks!).

I kept accidentally putting my focus on the pony, but these are also cute! I was also obviously playing with the amount of light I let in.

One of the tips was to have your subject face the light source, so we moved over to the window, but it is hard for a kid to understand smiling at the window!

My cute girl!

December Phone Photos!

With so many posts in December, it is surprising I can make a post out of my phone photos... but alas, there are a few gems of daily life that must be shared!

December started with a lot of illness in our house. Madison had fevers and a runny nose, but it was mostly teething (so we thought). Here, Anna Kate had started a small cough in the morning and was acting pitiful, so I put her in the bathroom with the shower running. I literally went and put Madison to bed (5 min, max) and she was asleep in the bathroom... poor girl. When we finally went to the doctor Anna Kate had pnemonia and Madison had an ear infection. Antibiotics for all!

 

This kid was none the worse for the wear, obviously.

We did have some very sweet snuggle parties on the couch.

We took some time to paint some ornaments for our grandparents.

Madison played her little heart out while we were stuck at home for days on end.

We got a little snow, and both girls enjoyed playing and sledding a little while.

My cutie in Mommy's old shirt/dress :)

Madison found a tiny backpack and insisted on wearing it everywhere one day and she immediately looked 5.

We went to the car wash...

And we watched Anna Kate in her Christmas program! She sang! And smiled! Until she got upset.

Anna Kate was a big helper and helped me send out Christmas cards.

Just a snow queen and her two reindeer. Ignore my smile, and check out Madison's cheese face, ha!

Posing at the gym and with Camille!

We decorated cookies!

Ironically, neither girl liked gingerbread with icing. But without was okay..

Always stealing Momma's smoothies!

Our favorite Christmas pup!

Anna Kate helped Madison put on dress up, and requested a photo. Madison immediately ran over and said "cheeeeeese". She also requested the dress up dress again right after nap too.

Lots of treats were baked and taste-tested!

This kid is a mess, y'all.

Anna Kate and her ponies... these things go everywhere.