Christmas Card Photos

I loved our Christmas card this year.  It was different, that's for sure!  Usually I have to have snow or at least cold, bundled up kind of picture.  But Hawaii.  Hawaii.  Seeing as we won't have the opportunity to have a 'we're in Hawaii' Christmas card like ever again... we HAD to right?

And really the WHOLE REASON why we went (our 20th Anniversary and my gushing love for marriage, Scott, and the start of this little family of four) that's really what I wanted on our card.

So Hawaii it was.  (back here)

But I did buy the sweetest matching dresses for my typical Christmas card.  And I found a way to 'teen up' Anna's (with the fur vest and the sassy ankle boots) and still kept Abigail wittle and sweet.

I'll tell you how this unplanned photo session happened.

How was it unplanned if they were matching and all in their 'costumes' for the session?

Well, around November when I set it all up and figured out all of the clothes and shoes I waited.

For snow of course.

And waited.

Then we went on our annual Christmas Getaway weekend.  (back here)  and I thought as I was packing, "let me just throw those outfits in the car just in case"

As soon as I saw that gorgeous inn I knew that I could do a session there.

After the tea we enjoyed the girls graciously got on their 'costumes' and pranced around outside for me.

And guess what?  The VERY NEXT WEEKEND it snowed at the Lord Jeffery Inn.  I watched it all on instagram and though, oh gosh!  I wish we were there in the snow.

But it didn't really matter because we didn't use the photos anyway.  Because Hawaii.

You know, for a split second I thought "I should save those photos for next year"  but next year it next year and they'll look different.  So I thought I'd share them here in this space.

My precious Christmas girls.

Merry Christmas

December 26th traditionally finds us locked in our house (well, not locked in, but you get the point) After a full holiday season we are happy to spend the day at home. Not looking at the clock. Right now if you walked in the front door you would think that the girls just finished opening up Santa presents half an hour ago. On the day after Christmas I like the toys still all over. I like the piles. I like the bits of wrapping paper that didn't make the recycle bags. I like the boxes strewn about that still need to get broken down. I like the scissors for cutting open new toys. I like the bows in a little pile that my girls insist on saving. I like the Christmas china still out and the leftover cookies sent from family and friends about. It's how we do December 26th. There is always time for organizing new toys, and for tidying up. They'll be a time to dust. But it's not today. My house doesn't look anything like the photos of my "Holiday House Tour" that I posted but it's just as it should be.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happiest New Year! And all of these 'time stopped' days between those two holidays be just what you want them to be.

The little Christmas Card Photo Shoot

Anna left me a note on my pillow the night we had the photo shoot for our Christmas Card.  It said, "the photo shoot was fun".  She writes me notes and puts them on my pillow a lot but there has never been one thanking me for a photo shoot.  Ever.  I knew right away why.  I was so laid back about it.  There was no huffy mommy voice, no yelling, no stress at all.



This year I wasn't really "into it".  I mean last year I had a grand plan.  There was a reindeer in our backyard field. Ok, a reindeer in my head filled with ideas for a grand card.  This year, no grand ideas.

I went online and got Anna the perfect Christmas dress.  I (we) just loved it.  Little girl but growing up kind of dress.  And I knew I wanted Abigail to wear the light blue long, old fashioned coat.  But that's about it.

I found Anna her linen jacket at April Cornell.  She loved the vintage look and I loved the way it looked with her dress.  So the clothes were all set.

I was pretty sure we'd use this location (a little on the side of the road gem) that we found this past fall.  (back here)  And then last minute I grabbed the lantern and candle thinking of a few Bible verses that came to mind about light.

When we got "on location" we found that my plan had to quickly change.  The river had flooded the pretty path.  (right here where the fall kiss picture took place)

And we were running out of time.  I had timed the photos to be taken at dusk.  Not dark but not quite bright daylight due to the lantern light.

So quickly Scott and I sprang into action.  We climbed down hills, jumped over streams, across rocks.  We carried matches to light the candles, lanterns, a tripod, little girls (thanks Scott) and my heals.





Last minute as we were about to leave the house for this little outing I told Scott that we should be in the photo just this year since it was our 20th.  He ran up to change and I changed into my Christmas dress.  I threw my heals into a bag and told Anna at the very last second to "grab the mistletoe that is hanging over mommy and daddy's bed"  She did!



And there we were.



I thought, 'there is no way this photo session is going to work.'  So I laughed at the comedy of it all.  It was so funny.







Especially Scott running to set the timer and get in this photo (and lock lips) just as the camera went click.



Anna held the mistletoe and Abigail gasped with her hands over her cheeks (both undirected)



And that's why I think it was the most fun Christmas Card photo session we've ever done.




Here's how it turned out.







And the most beautiful letter about our card this year was from our 95 year old next door neighbor.



"Dear Tara and Scott, Thanks so much for the charming photos of the girls. Each, in her own way is beautiuful. And with or without candle or lantern, they light up everything around them, including my life. Love and Happy New Year! Addie PS. Congratulations on your 20th."

~the end~

Christmas Kiss ~ 20 years later

There is no one.  No one.  No one I'd rater spend Christmas with.  My husband of twenty Christmases.... oh boy...

It's not our Anniversary yet but on Christmas of 1996 we were married for 4.5 months.  That was our first Christmas.

Now 20 years later it is our 20th.

I heard that saying "It just gets better"  I never understood it.  I get it now.

I'll kiss you under the mistletoe anytime baby, anytime.



PS~ we always wear dress up clothes in the forest near the Connecticut River

Weekend

A mix of photos and images from my phone... it was a wonderful, Christmasy weekend.

Sunrise steps



Her first rehearsal for Christmas Eve Mass



The girls strung popcorn and cranberries for our "Christmas in the Forest" (it was Santa's big surprise last year.  This year we set it up in our family room and we just needed new fresh popcorn garland)



while they watched Christmas movies











On Saturday there was my most adventurous Christmas Card photo session.(this was last years card)   I have a love / hate relationship with my annual card.



And a little antiquing on the the way home



Sunday was church (and our religious ed 'family program'... that we are LOVING this year)



And then Anna helped Abigail practice for the choir



while Scott finished the lights





Sunday afternoon there were bike rides



and learning to ride



We are having the WORST weather here in Connecticut... Sunday was 56 out!!! Horrible! Where's the wind whipping, bite your toes cold... and where's the snow?!?



On Sunday night we decorated our living room tree.













It was magical and lovely





and silly too







Sunday at bedtime I was looking for his little one... and found her dancing to her own song...




This is truly the MOST wonderful time of the year...