Christmas Morning

Photos from our annual Christmas breakfast..enjoy!

O Christmas tree~

B excited to be with his cousins

Last Christmas before baby Lee comes!!!

Such a cutie!!!

First Christmas.

French toast...

YUM!!!

Infomercials 

Learning from the best

Little Miss Giada!

Merry Christmas! 

Merry Christmas!!! {Family Christmas Card Photos}

This year's Christmas photo shoots :) And a few tips/ideas from our experience when taking family Christmas card photos:

+ props. It's an easy photo shoot when you have props (SNOW!!!) for kids (and adults...as you can see here)...it doesn't matter where they look or what they do...they'll look super cute!!! Only downfall...I now have a bunch of white confetti on my front porch...

+ clothes. Bundle them up in colors/layers/textures...it helps make the image pop~

+ aperture. I'm always tempted to have it wide open...especially when my 35mm can go down to f/1.4. I needed the kids in focus...but still wanted the snow to look like it was coming at me (blurred). This was shot at f/3.2, 1/60 s, ISO 100.

+ location. This photo was taken at the base of Chino Hills State Park. I recommend it--though the sun sets early...you can still find lovely lighting!!! I love coming here...it was one of my first discoveries a couple years back. You know you love taking pictures when you drive around aimlessly looking for a good photo location :) 

+ level. Have parents get on their child's level...i love the picture of Team Lee (top right)...it's just cute!!! 

+ accessorize. Scarf & mittens, of course!

+ nap. Make sure the kids take a nap!!! ^ did not take my own advice...
+ colors. It doesn't always have to be so matchy-matchy~ Though this color scheme was not planned...I  just made sure everyone had a different shade on...sometimes it just works. (And don't buy new threads/outfit/anything for the hubby...he's just not as into as you are ^_*)
+ expectations. I kept telling Lynn {of L&M}..."just one good one." Be realistic...a photoshoot with a cranky toddler & uncooperative infant will not generate dozens of beautiful photos. We had 2 decent pictures...one I used for our Christmas card...the other on Facebook!



FROM OUR FAMILIES TO YOUR...
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Trailer Trip from November

Better late than never...here are some pictures from our most recent trailer trip during Thanksgiving!

Trailering has become our new Thanksgiving tradition!!! Our dad is a camping enthusiast and recently upgraded his RV so that the kids could enjoy their stay in the 2.5 bedroom (not really a room...but more like sleeping space/pop-out tent) trailer. We don't go very far...it's been 'destination: Temecula' two years in a row. Nonetheless...fun fun fun!!! The girls are getting the hang of this camping thing...E enjoys making a 'things to take' list days before we actually go. Some key items have been Marshmallow for s'mores and her new bike. D gets excited over the fact that we'll be sleeping together in one vehicle! As for my kids (B and A)....still have no clue as to what is really going on....but I could tell he enjoyed it much more than last year's trip (2010's trailer trip)! 

Onto the pictures!!!

Here's a peek at one of the rooms...it's story time for D~

We've discovered that there's not much to do at the trailer site itself...time to get creative!!~ Ping pong!

Intense match going on here

Winner is???

A's first trip! We actually don't spend the night...can't imagine the kind of sleep I'd get (or won't get!) if B & A had to sleep there~

In a world of her own....love~

Our dad told kids that there was a park nearby...it was just an open space covered with dirt!!! They kept asking where the playground was~ 

It's nice to be outside--quality family time! Though there is a TV in the trailer...this site had horrible reception (which kept us off our phones). ^_*

D's world~

Wondering why there is an apostrophe...chicken's...

Love | Hate

Until next year...

Psalm 46...in memory of Sandy Hook

Tears come and go this week....Peace and comfort to the families that are dealing with the tragedy of Sandy Hook Elementary. 

This is my most recent picture of B jumping in his crib...screaming and laughing because he's a kid--getting a kick out of the simplest things in life~ This, I will cherish. Children are a gift from the Lord...it's painful to read the news today about the kind of pain and agony these children went through at Sandy Hook Elementary. I can't imagine the irreversible pain of losing my own son. Praying for all the mommies and daddies who lost their little one...

There's a lot to be said about what happened on 12.14.12...but I'll share one thing: Psalm 46...the God of Jacob is our refuge strong and sure!

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change

and the mountains slip into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam

Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

The holy dwelling places of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;

God will help her when morning dawns.

The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;

He raised His voice, the earth melted.

The LORD of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Come, behold the works of the LORD,

Who has wrought desolations in the earth.

He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;

He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;

He burns the chariots with fire.

"Cease striving and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth"

The LORD of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

hello~

hello? anyone here?

It's been a long time since anything's been posted here...but I hope to make a come back. Life is crazy. Madness at times. But 'much madness is divinest sense'... :)

It amazes me how much sacrifice it takes to raise kids.

I wish I could stay up to edit photos....to write a long "come-back"post...and to share pictures from the last year...But I'll resist in order to get ready for the next feed/diaper change. I'll leave you with one photo & one theme I live by these days:

Photo: ...hands are full
(actually these are not my hands. I took this photo for a friend about a year ago...how do you moms do it with twins?)

Theme: Surrender
(...my soul rests in the Lord and I am filled with joy!)

see you soon!