A Warm Winter Frolic

Excitement is mounting. I want to just run around and frolic by the water on this warm, winter day, but I can't. I can't for fear that my younger sisters, or parents, will think me silly. That still does not take the desire away.

I would really like to be climbing one of those trees. I know mommy and daddy told me not to in my good clothes, but that is all I can think about. Ok...it looks like we are about to have our photo made and we will have to smile.....that TREE! It is calling to me!

Look at that goose! Can I go see that goose? It looks so soft and friendly. Oooh...that lady walking has a dog. Can we please go see that dog, Mommy? Can we please go pet it? I am sure that it is friendly. My two sisters are so much fun...they always have adventures for me. 

Those were the thoughts of the three girls of this past Saturday's session. They span from over age 12 all the way down to about 6...and they are full of imagination. The oldest one always runs full out toward me to give me a hug. The other two are trailing behind and just have tons to tell me about. 

I met this little female-domated family at our local reservoir, a large man-made lake near where they live, for our annual photo session. It was a beautifully crisp winter day, with the sun shining bright. It didn't hit me until I arrived that each of our 4 photo sessions, including this year's, was at a park. Each of them have been at a different park, and it is very fun to get photos of the girls playing on their own throughout the session. The following photos show how much personality resounds in this family, and I hope they never lose it.

 

PS-As an added bonus, this couple just celebrated 10 years of marriage recently. Congrats to them and here's to another 10 and more!

Decorating the Tree

When it comes to decorating a tree, Rebecca has it down to a science. From the boxes that are perfectly labeled to the tin holding our tinsel that we reuse every year...this girl knows what she wants.

I like that...I'm able to kind of ask how she wants things...and she knows just how she needs them to be. We have a good time, putting all of the ornaments on the tree. We usually just work together to make sure they're spaced well, and not put too precariously on the branches.

We love traditions. We think they are such an important part of who we are as beings. One of our traditions is to reuse the same tinsel every year. The reason we do this is because my mom and dad always do this. The reason they do it: my dad grew up very poor and could not afford tinsel every year. They would reuse theirs. As a remembrance of those hard times in the past, my parents decided thye wanted to do that each year. It helps them remember not to get to used to the things that they have now. We really like this symbolism and wanted to partake in the special tradition...and we have for 6 years now.

I put together a little video of us putting up the tree and Department 56 villages and decorating everything. Do you have some traditions that you love?