Christmas Time!

It's Christmas! This year our family did something different. We hauled ALL our food and presents on a 3hr. drive to Broken Bow, OK were we stayed in a cabin. Actually, the cabins were in Hotchatown Ok, but the "main" (I use that term VERY loosely) town is Broken Bow. Mainly because of the state park that's in Broken Bow. The biggest thing in Broken Bow is a Walmart and its NOT a supper Walmart. I really don't know what else they have.

Last January I went on a girls trip with some girl friends to this place called Hidden Hills Cabins in Broken Bow. When I came back, I told my mom all about it and since then, we have been planning a family Christmas trip. It was wonderful. They had our cabin decorated with a Christmas Tree and Christmas place-mats and coffee mugs! SO CUTE! Our cabin had 4 bedrooms with KING size beds, 4 bathrooms, kitchen, dining area and a living room with a flat screen. One of the bedrooms had a flat screen too. There were a total of 17 people that drove up, so my grandparents rented a cabin down the road for themselves and other family members. But our cabin was the main one where we did Christmas and had our meals.

We left on Friday, Christmas eve, and came back on Monday. I think I could have stayed an extra couple of days. We had such a relaxing time! We went hiking in the state park, watched movies, hung out in the hot tub, played games, and ate, ate and ate.

There was a fully stocked kitchen and Laundry room

Maddie helped put Candy Canes on our tree. She didn't move from that spot she was standing.


This was our room.

Our bathroom.


There was also a wrap around porch and Hot tub. This was the view we had from the back.

A better view.

Our Cabin was Called Gallo Del Cielo. (Rooster of the sky?)

She picked out the cookies she wanted Santa to have.

Then wrote him a letterAll we had was a sharpie and an index card.

Maddie has been doing through this "I don't want to take pictures" phase. I hope she outgrows it soon.

Showing off what Santa brought her. A new baby doll, clothes for her, puzzles, Thomas the train tracks, and an air plane?

Breakfast!

Thursday night, Maddie, my mom and I made Christmas cookies to take to Broken Bow for for Santa.

Sweet Kisses!

Happy New Year!

Winter in the Park #2.

I think we are starting a tradition of Winter in the Park at 6 Flags. We went last year, and again this year. Maddie was able to ride more rides, and there were a few she was able to ride by herself, which made me kinda nervous, but she LOVED it. She is kind of a thrill seeker when it comes to riding rides and I have thoughts were I see her jumping out of air planes or from some absurdly high altitude with a bungy cord attached to her anckles. But, on the flip side, she is SUPER cautious, she never climbed or got into things she shouldn't when she was an infant and If someone takes something from her, she wont grab it back, instead, she would just pout about it. So, hopefully those two traits coming together will lead to safe thrill seeking activities like your simple every-day roller coaster. Oh, what will the future hold for me?

So, a few weeks ago, December 5th actually, Brian's birthday, we went to 6 Flags. We had a great time, but it was SO COLD! I think the high was low 40's at like noon. So, around 3:00, the temp. had already dropped drastically. Maddie was able to do just about all the rides in their Kid area, and Brian and I were able to ride some too. Here are some photos of the day.

Halloween

Wow, were have I been? I completely forgot to blog about and post photos of Halloween! Maybe because in the past couple of weeks, Ive been kinda busy. In between coming back from our trip, catching up with preschool duties, editing a wedding, shooting a birthday party and editing those, not to mention watching after a cRaZy little girl, I completely forgot.
Halloween was fun. Maddie was way more into it this year then last. She knew what candy was and knew that, to get said candy, she had to cary her bucket all by herself (until it got to heavy of course.) She was so good about saying "thank you" It was so cute! I have been trying to get her to say "Trick or Treat" when the neighbors opened their doors, so when they did, I whispered in her ear "what do you say?" hopping she would say "trick-or-treat", but instead she would say "thank you"! How sweet is that? I'm glad she knows her manners.

checking out the awesome goodies from the night.

This was the previous week at Trunk or Treat at church. We had JUST flown in and this was Maddie seeing daddy for the first time in 3 days. I thought it was a sweet picture.

Florida

Thursday morning Maddie and I went to preschool and Brian headed off to work as usual. The unusual thing that day, was that at 12:00, Brian came home early, and when Maddie and I came home at 2:30, I took a shower, got our bags and Brian and I said our very sad good-buys, and drove to the air port.

About a month ago, I was requested to photograph a wedding in Destin, Florida. I was excited about the opportunity of expanding my portfolio to destination weddings and also for the mini-vacation Brian and I would be able to have. My feelings about this trip varied. At first I was excited, then nervous about leaving Maddie, then excited again, then about a day before we were supposed to leave, I was just plain sad. I had left Maddie over-night before, but Brian had always been with her, and it was never for longer then 2 days. And we have never been gone as far as Florida before. This was the first time both of us would be away from her, not that my parents aren't capable, Its just different.

We miss Maddie, but we know she's having a great time. We have had a great time too. We hung out on the beach, rode a tandum bike for the first time, and let me tell you, it was as rediculous as it looks. We couldn't stop laughing at ourselves. Then more hanging out on the beach. Not to mention the whole reason we were out there of course. The rehearsal, wedding and reception went great, it was all very beautiful!

Pumpkin Patch

These are the times when I like being a photographer the most. When I get to take Maddie out for a photo shoot myself. Even though out of 100 photos, I probably only get about 5 that are printable, and about 2 that she's actually looking at the camera, it still makes for an enjoyable experience.

For this lovelly October afternoon, the Pumpkin Patch we went to is just down the street from where we live at a little church. They do a pumpkin patch and Fall Festival every year, and that's where two years ago, I took Maddie to her first pumpkin patch and took some photos. And let me tell you, it was much easer to get her to cooperate when she was 7 months old as opposed to 2 1/2. But, this year, she did get to pick out her own pumpkin which was fun for her.

Here is Maddie at 7 months old:




Here is Maddie at 2 years and 7 months:

She does this nose squint thing. It kinda reminds me of some of my old baby pictures.

She wanted to give the pumpkins a kiss. Even though, kinda gross, it was cute at the same time.