Family Photos: Happy Birthday Aspen!

The last post from out family photos works out perfectly because today is Aspen's birthday! Out little squishy is 3 years old today. We will probably do a fun little dinner or something tonight and we will have her joint party with Everly next week at Pump it Up! Aspen was a little bit difficult during this photo shoot but she was leaps and bounds better than last year so...progress! We had treats to bribe her with and one of these pictures she actually has it in her hands. Aspen's dress is also Alice and Ames. I think our photographer did a great job getting some super sweet photos of Aspen and I just can't handle that she is 3 years old today. Happy Birthday baby Aspen!

Family Photos: Everly

Besides getting great family photos to use for our Christmas cards, I also try to get pictures of the girls every year sometime around their birthdays to document them at each year. It works out that their birthdays are less than 3 weeks apart (and we are actually doing a joint birthday celebration next week). Everly is so good at photo shoots. She really knows how to turn on the charm and is such a good sport about it all. Of course, it helped that our photographer is really fast as well so she never even gets close to losing her patience. She is also really good about helping us with her sister who has a lot less patience. Everly's dress (and Aspen's) are from a local company called Alice and Ames. While they are a little more expensive, they do have occasional sales throughout the year and they also hold up really well and are perfect for twirling so I think they are worth it. Also, I love being able to support small local businesses.

Family Photos: All of Us

One of the reasons that I take family pictures every year is to make sure we have family pictures to use for Christmas Cards. I try to get them done plenty early so I have lots of time to get my Christmas cards out early. It's not hard for me to order the Christmas cards but I am just a slacker when it comes to addressing, stamping and actually mailing them, so I need all the extra time I can get. I also have a really big print of one of our family pictures from last year above the mantel in the living room so I need to replace that with one of these new ones!

Also, one of Justin and I because we do actually like each other.

Family Photos: Sisters

Last month we headed up to Flagstaff for a quick evening trip to take family photos. We did this last year while up there for one of my sister's soccer game and when Julia Romano Photography posted about a summer special we decided to get our annual family photos in a little early. I loved our pictures from last year (HERE) and so was very excited to update them. While it was still very hot in Phoenix, the weather was absolutely perfect up in Flagstaff. The girls actually did pretty good. Aspen definitely did better than last year. We also made sure we had some snacks to bribe her with. It is kinda crazy to think that Julia got so many good pictures in less than 30 minutes. It was soo fast and we got everything we wanted. There are too many good pictures for one post so I am going to start with pictures of both the girls together and with each of us. Get ready to die.

 

 

probably my favorite of these 3

 

 

Christmas Cards 2016

I used the family pictures we took early fall (here) to make our Christmas card for this year. I am still labeling and sending them out, but I have them all made so that is an accomplishment! I got the majority of the cards at Costco when they were on coupon and upgraded slightly for the cardstock version vs. the photo paper version. You can get like 50 cards for $35. I also used a couple of codes for free cards from Shutterfly just to have some fun ones. Our main cards I actually did a full folding card which I have never done before. It gave me room to write a little family update and include a picture of the pets on the back as well. For my Shutterfly ones I did one simple card with rounded corners and another horizontal folding card. I really like them all but it helps to have such cute kids in all of the pictures! HERE are the cards from last year. I love this time of year and can't wait to start getting Christmas cards from family and friends in the mail.

Front and back of the main card

Basic Shutterfly card with rounded corners

This one is probably my favorite, so if you get it, that means I really like you because I only have 10. Haha!

Family Photos 2016

We got our pictures back from our family photo session a couple of weeks ago up in Flagstaff. I like to take pictures of this time of year because it is around the girl's birthdays and so we get to capture their growth each year. Also, doing pictures this early allows me to knock out my Christmas Cards early each year. I still love our pictures from last year with my friend Jamie. (here). Aspen was actually pretty difficult last year and was about the same this year. I think we still got great pictures but man I hope next year she does better. Everly of course, was a champ. We took these pictures with Julia Romano Photography and it was a great, quick process. I am so glad we decided to take these up in Flagstaff because it was such a nice change of scenery. I have already turned these into a photobook from Shutterfly and can't wait to order our Christmas cards, too. Here are some of my favorites:

Weekend in Review- Flagstaff Trip

This past weekend we went on a quick trip up to Flagstaff. My sister was playing in a tournament up at NAU and so we decided to go up. We went up in 2013 for this same tournament and then we weren't able to go last year so I was really excited to be able to go this year. We decided to go up Saturday afternoon and enjoy a little extra time up north before my sister's game on Sunday afternoon. We also decided to take family pictures while up there just to get a different scenery and since it is right around the girls 2nd and 5th birthdays it worked out great. On Saturday we did a little quick shopping in Flag before beers on the patio at Motherroad with pizza from Pizicletta. Aspen did not sleep well so she had a rough afternoon/night but the weather was amazing. On Sunday morning we took our pictures up at Buffalo Park in Flagstaff with Julia Romano. We just did a quick mini-session but it worked out good because Aspen really wouldn't have lasted any longer. We got a few sneak peaks but I will share more once we get the rest. After pictures we headed to a park for a little playtime where we met my sister and the kids before heading to the game. It was a quick trip but it is so nice up there so it is always worth it. Can't wait for fall in Phoenix to fully arrive!

jumping on the hotel bed and waiting for Grandma

 

Aspen crashed while shopping

Beautiful park in Flagstaff


More Pictures to come soon!





silly Nora

didn't make it awake out of Flagstaff