Photo Shoot with Tatum!

Another catch up post... Back in November we had a mini photo session with Tatum from Tatum Kathleen Photography. She came and took pictures for us when Chris came home and she is wonderful about supporting military families. When there was a great deal on TroopSwap I signed right up for a session so we could have some Christmas card photos! We had a fun little shoot!

A few from our Photo Shoot...

Since it is the last day of the year, I always scramble to make sure I have everything posted to include in 2011's blog book. I hadn't posted these photos because we used some on our Christmas card, so here they are. I unfortunately don't have all of them because they are all on my desktop at home, but here are a few that Charlotte and I did back in November in the backyard!

Christmas!

There was still no snow on Christmas. Luckily Santa still came! We had to wake Charlotte up at about 8:30 to come downstairs to see what Santa brought her!
Grandma and Grandpa came over first thing in the morning to watch Charlotte open her presents. Chris found it hilarious that Grandma wore her fur coat. He had to try it on. Once he did then he realized why she has it!
Santa filled our stocking with lots of good treats!
He ate his cookies and the reindeer ate most of their carrot we left. He even left Charlotte a note!
Finally the princess made her arrival. She was very sleepy.
I think Daddy was more excited than she was, especially since he was gone last year for Christmas!

Sleepy Charlotte slowly opened some presents.

We opened our stockings then took a break for breakfast.

Charlotte decided that she really enjoys white chocolate. She won't touch regular chocolate, and I prefer white, so of course so does she! She loved eating almost my whole bar...
Santa left some Cinderella dress up shoes and Charlotte loved them. But when I tried to take a picture of them she turned around and told me "You see my bum?!". Lovely.
When we really started opening presents Daddy helped Charlotte read the tags. Santa made it easy though and all of Charlotte's presents were wrapped in Snoopy paper! Charlotte's favorite!
It took a very long time to open presents. We opened, then played, then rested... and repeat.
Grandpa and Baylie napped in between all the excitement!
After about 3 hours of opening (she was very very slow) we had to encourage her to finish opening so we could be done. She then started to play. She got a doctors kit and made sure to check everyone to see if they were healthy!


After some more white chocolate we headed upstairs for a nap!
We got a few Christmas pictures once everyone was dressed.



It was such a nice family Christmas. Hard to believe it is already over!

Candlepin Bowling!

Today for our 5th anniversary we took Charlotte bowling. I (think) I have been Candlepin bowling once before, but a long time ago and they only have it on the East Coast. It has smaller bowling balls and straight pins, so it was perfect for Charlotte! She was so excited to wear special bowling shoes and roll the ball down the lane. Sorry for the bum shot of Chris and Charlotte, but it cracks me up! (And speaking of bums, I took Charlotte to the bathroom with me tonight and she exclaimed "you have a big bum Mama". Thanks Charlotte. Oh the joys...)The ball only rolled behind her once!
She was very proud of herself, and when the ball missed the pin she joyfully exclaimed "I missed!". What a good sport!
She did some counting of the balls too...
She sometimes interrupted mine and Chris' turns, or threw more than three balls at a time, but that was ok!

She did a great job delivering the balls to Chris and I, and she loved pressing the reset button!
Her bowling stance was cracking me up!

Chris tried to show her a different way of rolling the ball that could have been easier...
She preferred her own way, and then would stand back and watch as it slowly made its way to the pins!


We played for a half hour and then when our time ran out we decided to go get lunch. I think Charlotte was starting to get tired!
She continued to play while we packed up.
She tried new methods too!
We had so much fun and wish we had candlepin bowling in San Diego!