Photo sessions

After my photography class a few weeks ago I've tried to be a little more creative and try some new things with my camera. One of them is the apeture setting but it isn't working quite the way I'd like it too. Looks like I've still got a lot of work ahead of me. Here are a two of the most recent photo shoots I had with the kiddos. The girls the other night
Addisyn Joy

Kylynn Joy

The kiddos, Easton has no clue

Addisyn

all set for her church Christmas program

Posing like her sister taught her

Kylynn
dressed up for her Christmas program at church

Kylynn Joy

My silly girls and their poses

My beautiful girls

I thought I'd give it a try

I was checking my email the other day and a got a newsletter from TipToes in Holland. One of the ideas was from a blog that I checked out. It was a finger print snowman. Well, I can't find the exact post, it looks like it was from last year but I did find another post they have with another idea very similar to this one. Anyway, we aren't quite done yet but here's the beginning of the project. I have to bring home an orange marker to make the noses for our snowmen. What you need: white acrylic paint (I used tempra, it seemed to work fine) glass ornaments, they said to use light blue, but I couldn't find any, sponge brushes and optional is fake snow. Since I couldn't find the blue ornaments I thought the fake snow would look cool. I did, however, buy the frosted glass ornaments so we'll see how it looks.

I painted the kids hands and then they are supposed to grab the ornament from the bottom.

Sorry about the photographs, the girls were the ones that took the pictures. Except for the one below, I was playing peek-a-boo with himI even painted Easton's hand. He wasn't too sure of the paint on his hand and he squeezed his hand together before I could put the ornament on his hand. I think it still turned out okay. I'll post pictures after I get them finished so you can see the finished product.

As you can see he was pretty interested in the ornament. Overall we had fun doing this and the girls liked having their hand painted.

Dear Santa,

The girls sat down last night and wrote their letters to Santa. I found it very funny what Kylynn asked for. I guess we'll have to wait and see what arrives on Christmas morning for them.

He's back!

George is back at the Vugteveen home and the kids are loving it. It helped to have Aunt Kari around this weekend to give George some fun. George made a snowman for the kids Friday night and Saturday night he decided to jump into my JOY hanging on the wall. Kylynn said he was hanging on to the J and Y so that he wouldn't fall. It sure is fun to watch them light up over the little things. I've been told that I need to do some fun things with George this year. There are ideas on Pinterest for me to do for George, someone was supposed to make me a list. Better email me one! Oh the adventures George will be going on. I'll try to document them for you. The tree is up and lit but not decorated yet. So George is hanging out there tonight. We'll see if the girls find him in the morning.

The Great Tree Hunt 2011

We're off to find the perfect tree

Easton and Aunt Kari

Our family

The girls watching as dad cuts the tree down

Me and Bubba

Me and my girls

can't forget the famous Bosch Tree Farm sign picture

checking out a baby chick at the tree farm

The three kiddos, Easton is thrilled
(the girls are holding his hood so he stays by them)

Once again we had my parents and sister along for the ride. I need to make sure I have a photographer so I love it that they join us. It is always an adventure. We were planning on going on Saturday but then it was raining so we said we would go today. The girls were not happy that we weren't going to go, they were really looking forward to going to get a tree. Well then at 4 o'clock the sun came out so we all talked J into going. Since it had been raining we all wore our boots or rain boots. Addisyn didn't want to wear hers cause they were boring, I hate to see what she think isn't boring. Anyway, so because the ground was muddy I told J to grab a tarp or some garbage bags for when he cut the tree down. Well, he didn't listen so instead he balanced himself so he didn't have to put his knees down and cut it down in less than a minute. We found the tree, cut it down and were back home within an hour and 15 minutes. We know what we want and we get it and get it done quick. I love the smell of pine as I am sitting here typing this. The lights look great, not decorated yet though. Maybe tomorrow night.

And it all begins...

Our Holiday season started last Saturday with the Scholma Christmas party. This way we could include more of Jason's cousins from out of town who were around for Thanksgiving. It was nice to see the cousins we haven't seen in awhile and spend some time with the entire family. We had pizza and lots of salads, apps and other goodies. The kids have a blast because we meet at a local church in the gym. Uncle Brandon introduced them to dodge ball, hence the messy, sweaty hair on the girls in the later pictures of this post. Oh well, what can you do, they were having fun. Had to start the night off with a family picture though. I realized I hadn't had a family picture taken since Labor Day weekend. I think it turned out okay, kids were all looking. Our Family
Getting ready to attack...

And they are off...

pummeling Jason with the balls

Naomi and Kylynn

Addi and her new Baby Alive

(no mess baby alive, the best baby alive)

Kylynn and her new doll "Lauren"

Easton enjoying opening his first Christmas present

Addisyn and Old Papa

Addisyn, Cambrey, Kylynn, and Alivia

(playing with the dolls)

Old Papa and Kylynn

Cambrey and Addisyn

got him something little to open up at the

party to play with, it was a hit

Easton's new toy - he loves it!

Old Papa, Jason, and Easton
(the only way easton will take a pic with old papa)

All of the Great Grandkids - Easton is not too happy as you can see

Better late than never...

This years Thanksgiving Weekend was filled with tons of family time. I was so thankful to have the long 5 day weekend to be with my kiddos and the family. After everything we've been through this year with losing some of our dear loved ones I cherish this time together and everything about it. The big excitement of the weekend was finding out what Jason's brother Brandon and his wife Jana are going to have. They are expecting a baby BOY in April! Can't wait for another little nephew and a buddy for Easton. Jana and Addisyn
Addisyn, Grandma Vugteveen, Easton, Kylynn and Grandpa Vugteveen

Me and my buddy

me, my sister, and my dad

Easton loved the desserts

Addisyn did too

my cousin Gary, Easton and Jason

We had a great weekend, I got lots of shopping done too. I'm almost done Christmas shopping. Easton learned how to go down the steps and we celebrated Christmas with Jason's Grandpa and the whole Scholma family. I'll post that soon, I promise. Life has been a little busy for me lately. I'll be ready for Christmas break when it gets here. I have my final celebration run for Girls on Track next Saturday and then I'll be done with Girls on Track. That will be a relief. I enjoyed spending time with the girls and running with them but it just was a lot to be away from my own kiddos.
One more exciting thing in my life, I signed up for the Bayshore Half Marathon in TC Memorial Day Weekend! So I'll be a running girl all winter. Looking forward to some nice runs in the snow with my friend Julie from church. Just have to get some cold weather gear. Have a great weekend! I'll be doing some more Christmas shopping and we will be getting our Christmas tree as well.