Beautifully set tables with a bit of bokeh ready for loved ones to gather ’round.
Hubby preparing Christmas dinner while wearing his presents.
Grandma Mestanza proudly posing with her almost-as-tall-as-her grandchildren
Little Lion Man giggling on his granny’s knee.
One tired little boy tucking into Grandpa to sleep.
Cousins cuddling.
Sisters striking a pose.
Happy children loving most of their presents…
and exclaiming, “This was the best Christmas ever!”
By the third day of school Allana was tired of matching her sister. “Why does Emmalynn have to match me? I don’t want anyone to match me.”
“Well,” I began to explain, “in a school of 500 students all wearing uniforms, you’re bound to match someone.”
Thankfully, with a little help from Lands End, my girls selected different school bags, which I think show off each girl’s unique style and taste beautifully.
At least, that’s one way Allana won’t match anyone.
Because my Allana likes to be unique.
When Tara over at Sticky Fingers announced last week’s Gallery theme, I had the perfect plan.
I asked my fabulous photographer friend, Kelly, if I could borrow her mustache prop. She happily obliged, however, Liam didn’t. My little mustache model would not cooperate and preferred eating the prop. I need to leave the photography props to the professionals.
It appeared that I would miss another fun Gallery theme.
But sometimes things work-out best when you don’t try so hard to make them happen, as a kid’s bath time would demonstrate. A regular bath time routine provided some spontaneous and beautifully brilliant bubble beards and mustaches.
But then I was too late with my mustache masterpiece. The Gallery’s Mustache theme linky closed. Oh well. Better luck next time with My Backyard.
Since I had forgotten to stick the memory card in my camera, I decided to snap a few photos with my Droid while waiting in line for the trolley at Iron Girl. When I snapped this photo, I didn’t realize this would be the line we would wait in for over an hour.
In the background you can see the Clearwater Memorial Causeway, the first bridge of three we ran over during the race. Although it’s difficult to judge the height of the causeway, it’s high enough for large boats to pass under it. Years ago, the Clearwater Memorial Causeway was once a draw bridge.
I also didn’t realize my camera was set to “black and white” until someone offered to take this photo of my friends and me.
While trying to find the “normal” setting, I learned my camera has all sorts of cool effects, such as sepia and negative, and settings as well like, landscape and sport. See, you really do learn something new every day.
My daughters always roll with laughter whenever they hear me say the following narrative to these photos.
“Hey Baby! Check out the gun show going on over here.
BOOM!
BOOM!
Firepower!”
-The Thinker, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Stay tuned for more beautiful baby pictures of Liam taken by the talented, Kelly Noel minus my corny childish comments. Well I can’t guarantee that, but the baby pictures are certainly beautiful!
Auntie Simone bought you a pretty pink princess ballerina dress with matching slippers for your birthday and it was your favorite present. In your new dress, you showed us your best poses and ballet positions.
But all that ballet and birthday party fun must have tuckered you out because you found a comfy spot to rest your sweet little ballerina face.
