Family Photos!

Excited is not even the word.  Ecstatic.  Possibly.  Very pleased, to say the least!  Last Friday we had family photos taken by Ashley Read Photography.  Our family has known Ashley for over a decade.  It has been a joy to watch her grow and mature into the beautiful young woman that she is today.  Her talent to capture the beauty of people and bring out their personalities in her photography is simply amazing!  We went to Tippecanoe Battlefield in Battleground, IN.  The day was just perfect - not too hot, but the sun was shining.  The ground was dry, the leaves had turned.  We all had a great time.  So, you can see our post on Ashley's blog, and also on my Facebook page, but here are a few of my personal favorites . . . (In addition to the one at the top of the blog, and the updated individual poses of the kids at the right!)

I loved the railroad tracks.  Such a great artistic element!

Mallory's toothless smile will be remembered forever.

Love those colorful trees!

Kind of wish the trees in the background were more colorful, but it's still a great shot!

Kids being goofy . . .of course!

A little more refined . . . and posed!

This was captured at a moment's notice.  And I love it!

My sweet husband - the best Dad I know!

And smiles with Mom! Wish we had more times like this.

More Chicago!

 

I was really glad that we decided to get a hotel room and stay overnight in Chicago.  Because we got to the aquarium so early, and didn't have to wait in line, we saw everything we wanted to by early afternoon.  It was an AMAZINGLY beautiful day in Chicago, so we walked to Navy Pier.  

We walked down the pier, but because it was so early in the season, there wasn't much to do.  The rides weren't open yet, and we really weren't hungry because we ate lunch at the aquarium.  So, we just walked.

We saw some beautiful artwork . . .

Some cool toys . . .

     

and enjoyed the awesome Chicago skyline . . .

both from the outside AND from our hotel room!

After all that walking, we were worn out.  (Well, the old people were anyway!)  Dad took a nap in the hotel room and mom relaxed with a book beside the pool while the kids splashed and played with other children who were enjoying Chicago on a Friday afternoon.  (Mom forgot to take the camera to the pool.)  Then, after cleaning up, we took to the streets of Chicago on an awesome Friday night.  The weather was gorgeous.  And it was fun enjoying a city that has so much to offer.  We went to Rain Forest Cafe for dinner.  The kids LOVED it!

   

The restaurant was decorated so magnificently.

                                                      

The drinks were served in colorful, sparkly glasses.

Even the ceiling was awesome!

After dinner, we walked some more.  We saw: 

the Water Tower . . .

the Apple store (Hayden thinks he needs an iPad!) . . .

the Hershey store (Mallory thinks she needs monster sized chocolate bars!) . . .

And the next morning we saw this very cool two story McDonald's.  

Then we hit the road. ~ driving to Michigan to visit the Asaro family for Easter.  I think I'll put that in another post!  Chicago was awesome!

Day 2

I am determined to make this holiday vacation a fun and memorable one for my kids. Why? Not sure. I just am. I want them to remember that we stayed home, hung out, played all day, had fun. As an adult I have memories of certain times in my life, and it isn't always the big events, many times it's the little things that bring a feeling of nostalgia. So, today, when we awoke to more snow on the ground, I shot a little "Thank you" prayer up to the heavens. You see, this is "Day 2." Day 2 of what? Playing outside in the snow, of course!

I got them all bundled up for the second time, and out they went. To use their imaginations (and energy) to decorate the front yard. Yesterday they played outside for over an hour. It was a wonderful time of bonding for my two little ones. This is something that I crave for them, since they are a brother and sister, rather than two brothers or two sisters. I want them to enjoy each other's company, to be friends, to work together, rely on one another, and all that special 'sibling' stuff. And, most of the time, that's what happens. Until they are both exhausted, hungry and cold. Then they fight over what kind of arms the snowman should have! So, we ended the day yesterday with an armless snowman and the promise of tomorrow. And now it has come.

I couldn't resist this photo. I had bundled the children up and sent them outside, and when I came back to check on them, this is what I found.

Do you think he feels left out?