Dance!

We went to the ward Christmas party last night. It was a fun one, and very well organized. Natalia is the child I am going to loose someday...because she just runs away. She has no fear of loosing me, she just runs, and occasionally looks back just to show me her smile! How considerate.

They do a slide show of all the families in the ward. But...this year it was almost like Jeri Tidwell Photography portfolio. He he he . I had images for our family, two clients, and of course Christie's family. I submitted Wyatt's Jedi picture, he was so proud! =)

The children were called to go up to the stage to sing, and Wyatt ran away very excited. Natalia was heartbroken, and ran after him....saying "kids going?". Lincoln went to go get her, so I just sat back and relaxed. Wyatt was a mess up there. Every child just stood calmly. Wyatt yelled, waved, and danced. They hadn't even started singing yet. All of a sudden, I see Natalia ON THE STAGE! Lincoln put her up there! I was mortified. My two year old daughter was on the stage. Lincoln just looks back at me and smiles.....Adrie and I call that smile of his "the sheepish grin." She was happy as a clam up there. When the music began, Natalia started to SHUFFLE!

Shuffle A forward brush followed by a back brush to the front, side or back, executed rapidly in a 16th note rhythm and counted "a 1".

Even though I was still so embarrassed....I WAS BEAMING. My little girl is a born performer. She even put her hands on her hips. The shuffling stopped, and there were turns and such. Wyatt was still crazy, but he sang most of the words, in between hugging his sister. I think I better send the primary chorister flowers. =)

Turducken

This year for Thanksgiving Lincoln and our friend Andrew decided we were going to have Turducken. For those of you that don't know what that is.......it's a turkey, and inside of that is duck meat, a layer of stuffing, and then chicken. Sounds weird doesn't it. I was against it at the start, and even more so when I saw the price. I can't even say how much this hunk of meat cost, without stammering.

I was wrong. It was good. There I said it.

We had the Baca's and the Wall's over. It was such a nice day. The kids had their own table set up in the front room, and the adults were in the kitchen. Along with the turducken we had sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, raspberry jello salad, homemade rolls, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, cranberry-sierra mist, pumpkin pie, and oreo cheesecake. Yum!


Turducken and dumplings the next day was good too!

Fall pictures

Funnies

We were telling Wyatt the Christmas plans for this year. (We are flying to Utah, to see my family. Then driving to Arizona, to see Lincoln's family. Then driving to California, to Grandpa Tidwells' 80th birthday party. Then back to Arizona, to fly out of Vegas.) He said "That means Grandpa Tidwell gets to choose anything he wants for his birthday dinner, right?" I nodded. "I hope he doesn't pick anything spicy," He said.

Talia is a tape recorder. (That is what we used to call my baby brother that repeated everything we said. I should probably come up with a name that is more fitting for this day and age. =) She says anything and everything, but so silly. You can't help but laugh when your around her. This is a perfect example....sorry it takes place in the potty room.... Everytime she goes potty, she repeats everything I have EVER said to her while teaching her the ropes. She sits down, says "hold shirt....don't pee shirt.....don't pee floor (points to the floor)....don't fall in....done.....I so proud of you (or good try)......I so proud of you mommy...dora panties....wash hands...potty treat.....chocolate bar."

She also has the BEST memory. I am able to remember where anything is.... If Lincoln misplaces something he never actually looks for it, he just asks me where it is. I usually know, and he always says "I LOVE YOU!" Well, the other day I was looking for the honey to make sandwiches. I couldn't find it. I knew we were almost out...so I thought Lincoln threw it out. I told the kids they would have to have jelly, and Natalia said "honey in fridge." It was in there....Lincoln had put there. (who wants cold honey?) If I lose something....now I ask Natalia where it is......and she has known quite a few times!! Maybe it's a "woman thing".

The Out takes

We went to Brookestone gardens this evening to take family pictures. I am showing some of the out takes because they are so funny! We did get a good one for the Christmas card though. =)



It was too cold by the end of the shoot. The kids' noses started to turn red.

I got a new camera. I am in love!!! It is a canon 5d, and I got a new 85 mm lens. I love the combination of the two. Now to get a new computer!!! =)


I had a session last Saturday that was just plain hard. It was for family photos, and the 18 month old wanted NOTHING to do with it. We did a reshoot on Wednesday......can I just say.. MAGIC! We were able to go to my client's in-laws home, and it was on a gorgeous 3 acre lot. I feel a little guilty (okay, not really) but my favorite image was not one of the family photos. The little 5 yr old's Grandpa came outside and started pushing her in the swing. We were still waiting for her Dad, so I started snapping! I love this image! LOVE IT! There is so much emotion in this image...it really speaks to me. I hope they like it! (Click on the picture to see it bigger,.....so you can see his "grandpa hands".)




Another fav.



Here is the 18 month old. I like how tiny she looks here.