Christmas Morning

 I had so much fun getting things together for Christmas morning! Matt helped me rearrange the living room a bit so that we had a bit more room than normal. When we woke up this morning, our living room looked like this.

The tent was full of some of Madeleine's favorite toys and books and a new soft blanket. 

 We also set up our Nativity that my friend Rachel made for us. Madeleine plays with it all year round. She's very particular that Mary holds Baby Jesus.

We didn't take many pictures after she woke up. She was so excited. She isn't into wrapping paper like most toddlers, but once it was off she was would squeal and show us whatever she got.

After that, Matt treated us to bacon, eggs, and potatoes. We even got some orange juice. 

The rest of the day is pretty low key. We are watching Cars 2 and making pizza.

Merry Christmas, and I hope your day is wonderful too. 

Holiday Photos

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. Ours was nice, but did not go according to plan at all. Madeleine got a high fever the whole weekend. I cracked a tooth and Matt got sick and ended up pulling an all nighter at work. So it wasn't really relaxing but we did get a few things done that I had been putting off.

One thing that I was determine to do was take family photos on campus while all the students were still on break. Since everyone is sick, we took photos for about 30 minutes before calling it a day. Thankfully we got a few good ones. Setting up a tripod is not fun.

Madeleine was so miserable. Thankfully I had taken a few of just her a few weeks ago when we were on a family walk before church.

This year I think went way better than last year's photos. I'm trying to save enough money up so that we can have a professional photographer take family photos for us. I like doing them myself, but it takes so much longer and I can't be as picky about the what's in the photo. But some of the candids are hilarious.

Matt and I had a long discussion that about if family photos are worth taking. They are great after the fact but sometimes it's the last thing everyone wants to be doing.  Thankfully, I have low expectations for these family photos, so I don't find them that stressful.

Do you think family photos are worth it? How often do you do them?

Madeleine's First Christmas

Our Christmas Eve started off with an impromptu Christmas cookie party at 2 AM.

Around midnight I woke up and then poked Matt awake.

Madeleine even woke up to join us.

We put on Christmas music and made ribbon and snickerdoodle cookies!

Madeleine quickly figured out the joy of cookie dough.

The next morning we all slept in quite a bit.

When we woke up, Matt wanted to do the same thing we did last year

...eat at Outback for Christmas Eve dinner.

So off we went, but it was closed for lunch so we went across the street to Red Robin.

I've been wanting a hamburger from there for a while.

Madeleine finally learned how to use a straw a few weeks ago,

so we gave her plenty of practice.

And of course we got her a milkshake.

She absolutely loved it.

After that we went and walked around Princeton,

before going to a little holiday party in our complex.

We came home and opened one present each.

Madeleine wasn't too big on the opening present thing.

Matt had to help her quite a bit.

 But she seemed to like what was inside!

Matt read her a book and we just goofed off on our computers and talked to rest of the night.

This morning we woke up at 8:30.

I actually got up early and wanted to open gifts earlier, but Tiny wasn't awake yet.

First of all, we woke up to a white Christmas!

What a great gift. :)

Then we put Madeleine in front of her gifts.

She still had no idea what to do with them but Matt coached her through it.

It was so cute watching her.

She would get completely enthralled in each gift she unwrapped,

so we would have to take it away so that she would open the next gift.

After we were all done with that Matt made us a great breakfast and we all jumped in bed to watch Tangled.

I have no idea what we are doing for the rest of the day,

but the last few days have been great!

We are so grateful for the time we have together as a family to celebrate Christ's birthday.

It's been splendid.

Merry Christmas!

What Not to do for Christmas Photos

Doesn't this photo look great?

I saw her tutorial on pinterest (found here) and immediately thought

"Oh yeah, I can totally take photos by myself."

Famous last words right?

I found my inspiration on pinterest

Made a cute little sign.

Picked a place and outfits.

Now just to get Matt home to take the photos

and we would have Christmas cards out by December 1st.

Hahaha.

If only I knew.

Attempt #1

I made a big point to Matt about how I needed him to get home by 4 so we could get the Christmas photos done.

It was a pretty big deal since he isn't usually done until at least 6,

but since sunset was at 5, we need photos done between 4-5.

Meanwhile, I spent the whole day on finishing touches.

I realized about half way through the day that we were missing a few things,

so I ran to Walmart...two days before Thanksgiving.

What was I thinking??

At 3:45, I'm running through Walmart as everyone points at Madeleine in her big poofy dress.
"Yes, I know my baby doesn't have socks on. She bites them off."
"Yes, she's in a big poofy dress, but sorry, we have to go before we're late for the sun!"

At 4:15, I barely out of the Walmart parking lot thanks to traffic.

Tip #1: Don't go to Walmart before a photo shoot 2 days before Thanksgiving

I pulled into our apartment at 4:30 where Matt had set everything up.

(He didn't even point out that he was the one on time and I was the one late after I harassed him so much.)

I tried a few practice shots.

A practice shot

I was thrilled.

The lighting looked great.

All we had to do was pose.

We got one family photo...

and then my camera battery started flashing!

It was dead.

I just about cried.

I thought I had charged it.

Tip #2: Charge your camera battery

Matt felt pretty bad for me so he said some comforting words and went back to work.

Attempt #2

That Sunday we tried again.

Matt wasn't on a time crunch, so we figured it was a great time to take photos.

We got all dressed up again.

Set everything up and took the practice photo.

This time the shadows were just too sharp.

I was so frustrated.

Tip #3: Check what time the sun goes down the day you take photos.

Matt again said some encouraging words and we went inside.

Attempt #3

Matt came home early again.

This time at 3 giving us plenty of time before sundown.

We went out and set up, but again the shadows looked awful.

I was going to get these pictures one way or another,

so we moved to the trees by our house.

We set the tripod up and started taking photos.

We got a few taken.

But then Madeleine started acting up.

So Matt still being supportive decided to cheer her up.

Tip #4: Supportive husband and chocolate are a must.

We got back to taking photos,

but then I trip over the tripod and landed on my thumb.

Matt immediately thought I broke it,

but I was determined to get at least one photo!!

Tip #5: Don't sprain your thumb taking photos.

Tip #6: Don't trip over the tripod.

So we take a few of Madeleine before walking in the house defeated.

We did end up with this cute Christmas photo,

but by this point the whole experience wasn't something I wanted to remember any of this,

so we ended up doing a completely different photo shoot inside the house.

It was a lot easier and we got to eat cookies.