Favorite Pictures of My Kids

After months of searching, I finally found the CD with these adorable pictures on it. These were taken last October, a few weeks before Halloween. My kids were total angels, for a change, when we did this shoot. It was a spur of the moment kind of thing, so that probably explains their cooperation. I have a thing for old fashioned pictures. So, I talked Jodi into taking my kids pictures all dressed up as vagabonds. I love the results. We were fortunate to get these pictures when we did. The city paved the dirt road shown in some of these pictures shortly after. I don't ever grow tired of looking at these. Tallon looks so much the man, Cali looks so sweet and Braxon is just so chubby! I have a ton of these photos, but here are just a few of my favorite.

Family Pictures (Finally!)

Yes, there is a reason we don't get family pictures that often. Mom is up at the crack of dawn, getting 5 sets of clothes laid out, milk mustaches left over from breakfast washed off, and 4 heads of hair done. (Yes, Todd can do his own hair. I know you're surprised.) Ten minutes before the photographer shows up (Jodi, Todd's sister), it starts to rain. Not just a sprinkle, a downpour. So, we are improvising with a few pictures on the porch. The kids are already bored. Not a good sign. The rain stops for a fraction of a second, so we run down the hill to our neighbors back yard that is full of mature trees to take cover under in case the rain starts up again. We snap a few pics, and duck for the trees. About an hour and a couple hundred photos later, we take our muddy feet, limp hair and bad tempers back to the house. Oh, but that is only the good part. The best part is knowing there are only ten out of the hundreds of photos taken that doesn't show someone closing their eyes, picking their nose, crying or scowling. Aah, yes. Picture day.

Calista's First Dance Concert

I have the most beautiful Little Orphan Annie in the whole wide world! Cali danced with 11 other little Annie's in her first on stage production of "Tomorrow" in May this year. Cali has taken to dance like a fish to water. She is excited about everything dance! From the leotard and skirt for practice (pink, of course), to the cherry red concert costume (squeals of delight!), to finding out she gets to wear make up on concert night (eyes wide with awe and disbelief). Cali taps on the entry way tile every chance she gets and when she suddenly can't find her taps anywhere (check mom's shelf in the closet under her PJ's), she's prancing around in ballet slippers that are already too small. Yes, dance is pricey,but the chance to see my darling little girl light up with sheer pleasure...priceless.

A Day at the Temple

After nearly nine years of being married, I managed to squeeze (literally) back into my wedding gown and surprise Todd with pictures at the Logan Temple, something he has always wanted. We were very fortunate to reach our goal in 2001 and be sealed for time and all eternity the year after being married. Unfortunately, I was unable to fit in my dress for pictures at the time, due to the fact that I had just given birth to our first son, Tallon, only two months earlier. And, yes, it has taken me nine years to get that blasted zipper up without busting the seams. Todd's birthday was as good a day as any to get pictures taken, especially since there was no guarantee that I would be able to wear this rib vice for long. Needless to say, this was one of the better birthday presents I'd thought of.