Goodbye 2012 -- Hello 2013

In these final hours of 2012 I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. I can't wait to see where 2013 will take me. 

sneak preview | Claire + Chris | weddings

I was going to wait a little bit before posting a teaser from Claire and Chris' winter wedding, but I simply cannot keep this one to myself. (I showed it to half the guests on the back of my camera.)

When everything is right, magic happens. 

Sneak Preview | Claire + Chris | Pre-Wedding Henna Party

I have a confession to make.  I just haven't been able to get into the holidays this year.  I'm not sure why.

Now I'll admit I've been known to grumble about the shopping part.  I can't stand all the traffic and crowds, but I usually enjoy all the other stuff, baking cookies, decorating the tree, building gingerbread houses, Christmas cards, wrapping presents. wearing my jingle bell Converse (Yes, I really own a pair) etc etc.   This year...no tree, no cookies, not even a wreath on the door.   For whatever reason the holiday spirit has taken an extra long time to reach me this year, but here it is Christmas Eve and I want to share with you some holiday cheer.

Enter Ashleigh, George, and Pierce.   They are familiar faces here on my little blog.  It just so happens that Ashleigh is my BFF and I refer to Little Pierce as my BBF (Baby Boyfriend.)   If any family embodies the spirit of season, it's these guys. Ashleigh will be the first one to tell you that Christmas is almost her favorite time of the year. It's second only to Fall, because Fall means Christmas is right around the corner.  She starts listening to Christmas music sometime around July or August.  She excitedly texts me at the sighting of the first snowflake. Missing out on the annual viewing of The Nutcracker, is a deal breaker.  I believe she could give Mrs. Clause a run for her money in terms of holiday spirit.

So when Ashleigh told me she didn't have any pictures for her Christmas cards years,  how could I not help out?  For a moment, I became Bubbles Peppermint, my elf name, and got my Christmas Spirit vicariously through this wonderful family.  :)

We took these earlier this month at a local Christmas tree farm.  Little Pierce had a great time running around decorating the pint-sized trees with peppermint sticks.

Peek-A-Boo

Ashleigh, put together a video of the photos from our session.  Every time I watch it, I get tears in my eyes.  Thankfully, she's given me permission to share it here.

The holidays are meant to be a special time shared with those you love. May you and yours be truly...

Blessed

Best wishes to you this Holiday Season.

obey the rules

You've heard that old adage "Never wake a  sleeping baby."


Well in case you forgot,  Mattie is here to remind you.

Love this little sequence of new dad Chris with his darling daughter Zoey.