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The word Advent is from the Latin “Adventus,” which means coming.

Preparing for the coming of Christ…

Day 2: We are on our way with our Advent Calendar!  Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas but like most people in America, we follow it in our home starting the first Calendar day of December leading up to Christmas.

You can search Advent Calendars online and find many different options.  It is especially fun with little children to open up a surprise every day until Christmas.  We were given the above Wooden Advent Calendar and every day we can open it up and unwrap a magnetic piece that fits onto our nativity scene.  It was a bigger negotiation for our kids when they were younger on who opens the box and who places it on the board each day.  I recommend also getting some of the cheaper paper ones you can find at stores like World Market so they can have one of their own.  My kids have never opened candy or small presents in their calendar but I know some people do.

We also have (had?) the LEGO City Advent Calendar and that is fun to put a little figure together every day.  I think I was able to get it back in the box for a second year missing a couple of pieces and then I just had to let it go.  We live in a sea of Legos and there was no way I could keep them from playing with the little figures or getting them mixed up with our regular pieces.  Luckily the prices have come down so you don’t have to feel bad if it is a one year calendar.  There are a lot more fun options now too.  The Star Wars Advent Box looks fun for children older than 6 years old.  It is not too late to get one especially if you have 2 children – do it every other day so they each get to open their own.

If you haven’t done one of these before, get the less expensive one from last year – your kids won’t care.

I think I want to get one of the last two for me Kate.  She misses out on a lot because the boys wreck stuff we have been there and done that with the boys.

The nativity one will still be our primary one because it is just easier to keep your head in the right place and a great visual to talk about the true meaning of Christmas.

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

posted in: Musings

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Evan

Evan must have been the first true gift I ever received.  He turned 11 years old yesterday.  I don’t really have words to express my shock over him being so old.  Because this is my first day of 12 Days of Blogging I included a picture of his (technically) 2nd Christmas as a one year old.  What a fun Christmas.  This time of year is always more fun when you have little children and we were happy to finally have one!

As I looked through the digital files of Evan’s first year I remembered how sparse they are.  I am scared to check my back up files because I think I may have lost many files some years ago.  Luckily I had more time back then to well-document his first year with scrapbooks. Digital was still new (2001) and I took most of his pictures with my *real* Canon Rebel.  That leads me to remind you to print some of those digital images you have on your computer every once in awhile so you (and your children) can enjoy them.  It would be a great Christmas gift for someone as well.

For a nice printed album for your family, check out Blurb books.  You can get 25% off with the code: HOLIDAYTHANKS through 12/3 and after that date try the code: LASTCALL20.  They have small square and pocket size photo albums that would make great stocking stuffers.  I am really excited about their Facebook Photo Album and Instagram Album.  Easy to make and you can’t beat the price! 

More old pictures of Evan.  My digital camera was very bad! I wasn’t sure that it would ever be able to replace film.  I quickly learned to love how much I could use it and the instant results I could see.  Happy Birthday, Evan!

posted in: Musings

shop small atlanta photographer

My crazy kids.  Nothing is easy with these three!

I hope your Thanksgiving was as good as mine.  I cooked ALL morning and didn’t have much to show for it.  Luckily my Mom and Aunt do most of the cooking.  Like every other photographer I know, I haven’t cooked for my family at all this month.  It was a nice change of pace for me.  I’ve also been shopping online trying to get some great Black Friday deals.  I’m so glad I can do it all in my pajamas.  It takes everything I have to keep myself from getting out in the frenzy of shoppers in Retail stores and later regretting it!

This is a reminder that tomorrow is Shop Small Saturday.  Remember all the small businesses in your local area as you search for the perfect Christmas gift.  I love Amazon too but it is great to support the people in my very own community.

I offer gift certificates for custom photography sessions through Christmas.  However, for Black Friday through Cyber Monday you can email me and I will create a custom designed card just for you and also frame it so you have a nice tangible gift for your loved one(s) to open at Christmas.  Any Mom would love this and it is also a fun gift for Middle School and High School girls.  They especially love to have Best Friend-Sessions at this age which I will be scheduling in February.  This would be such a unique and unexpected gift that you could also pair with a gift card to a favorite clothing store to pick out something new for their session.  I have lots of ideas…you can go to the “Contact” page and email me for details.

shop small atlanta photographer

 Shop Small Businesses!

Pre-register your Amex card at shopsmall.com and get a $25 statement credit on any participating small business purchase made on Saturday.

 

Have a great Holiday Weekend!

posted in: Products

Easter revisited!  I am still eating chocolate Easter Candy so I might as well post these pictures a little late.  All 3 of my children had Spring Break the week before and we ended up with a great Easter Weekend.  We were a bit lazy on Sunday after church and I can say that I am so glad someone named Bubba won The Masters!

Product Share

And now back to business… Some pictures of Organic Bloom frames.  I get asked about these a lot so I like to share pictures online when I can.  They are much more beautiful in person if you want to stop by and see the quality of them.  I love mixing two frame shapes in wall galleries.  This is the color Espresso (dark brown and very popular).

Don’t forget the rounds or that there are many custom colors to choose from.  Most of the ones here you see do not have a glaze and show more of the wood through the paint for a great distressed look.  The small one on the bottom right shows a glaze in brown which is very gorgeous on the lighter colored frames.

I have some other frame styles I will be offering this year for my more traditional client homes so stay tuned!  My goal is to provide framed portraits for clients when possible so they can easily hang on their walls and enjoy right away.  I can guide you and make it really easy as I know it can be overwhelming with so many choices.

posted in: Products

Hello

and

Goodbye

Little Eva did not stay in her shell and hide this day.  She came out to play and like most all of the 20 month olds I see, ran and ran and ran.  I know toddlers at this age are going to run as far as they can and never look back.  Too many places to go and things to see (and not to mention the energy!).  I had to laugh with her outfit changes when her Mom had to chase her down naked and wrestle to get clothes on her.  What a joy she is!  I bet there is a lot of laughter in her home and, of course, a great workout trying to keep up with her!

I’m especially happy for people when they have little children in their homes at Christmas time.  Everything seems a little more fun and exciting.

Merry Christmas!

posted in: Childhood

Happy Halloween!  This is our annual family picture.  Check out the previous years right here.

It was a typical Halloween for us.  I couldn’t fit going to the pumpkin patch in my busy Fall schedule until all the big ones were gone.  The kids started eating candy before they even went out trick or treating and candy wrappers are all over my house.  This year Kate was Snow White (don’t even think about putting anything on her head or in her hair).  Alex was the Green Lantern and Evan was some character from Star Wars that I have never heard of.  He promised he would rake and bag the leaves in the yard for that costume.  Please note all the leaves in the picture above…

I’m stocked up on Reese’s Cups for the next few months week and will be starting my holiday weight gain.  I hope you all had as much fun as we did tonight.  I know I am so glad I got these Halloween pictures captured and can’t wait to see all of my friends’ pictures of their kids dressed up on Facebook.  I know people that never post will be posting pictures left and right of their special little Goblins.  I love that.

Boo!

posted in: Musings

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