Christmas at the Doyles

Before......

During.....

After.....

A new look.....

So do you get tired of the same old thing as often as I do? I think I was ok with the boring blue for so long because it was such a rare occasion for me to post:) Well, I am trying to be better and look at that I have posted pics from both thanksgivings and it's not even Christmas yet! Enjoy the new look!

More to be thankful for......

My husband's family is so wonderful- it was really nice to spend the holiday with them! C* and T* really enjoyed playing together, K* adored C* and S*'s gerbils, the older boys threw the football around, Aunt C* and J* helped in the kitchen(I've said it before....but seriously- every family needs an Aunt C*), Uncle J* and Aunt K* along with their beautiful children J* and L* are were just as sweet as always, Nan and Papa are always so giving, C* is so thoughtful, Uncle M* is always so playful and his nieces and nephews adore him, and K* and D* are always gracious hosts- opening their home and serving a phenomenal meal to SOO many! I love that B* and I are both from large loving families! The holidays just wouldn't be the same without family:) So- I guess that I can just thank God to have been placed not in just one wonderful family.....but two:)

Things I'm thankful for.....

1. Parents- without them where would I be?

2. Wide angle lens- to handle my large family:)

3. Siblings- because you always have a shoulder(or 6) to lean on when you need a friend!

4. Children- they just make you smile!

YES!

I was hoping to post pics from Halloween before Thanksgiving and I DID IT!!!!

The D* Clan

Our ex-neighbors......The Four Seasons helped to celebrate the holiday with us! Meet- Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter!

The evening started with our Jack-O-Lantern Pizza......


We also had the privilege of displaying our beautifully hand carved creations on the front porch...


Although as you can see our wonderful friends "The Four Seasons" had to show us up by bringing along their creations(which inspired a few trick-or-treaters to ask if the one pumpkin had a little to much to drink the night before!)-


After dinner we headed out to beg for candy and of course I wanted a picture and C* was a little less than cooperative....actually I was a little worried that my threats of bodily harm(aka a spanking) would lead to neighbors calling DCFS.....but luckily that wasn't the case:)

While the kiddos were out getting goodies I decided to copy my genius sister's designs and made extra spooky treats waiting for their return!


I think their own bags of goodies trumped mine!

I had a session at the house the day before and more the next morning so I left my studio in place and snapped some pics of everyone in costume. Here are the kids and I in our tie-dyed t-shirts that we made at Aunt L's house- aren't they soo cute?


Our dear friends, K. and K. K. stopped by for pics (we have been getting group shots of the kiddos together since the older two were small)!


The penguin and bumblebee-


The witch with her meerkat-


And well- I couldn't help but include sweet Minnie Mouse(she's a neighbor and client and when she stopped by to trick-or-treat I couldn't resist getting a quick picture)!

.....onto my new goal- Thanksgiving post before Christmas! Do you think I can do it?

Sick day.....

So we are going on day 3 of being home with sick kids:( K* has had a sore throat since Wed and a fever since Wed night.....C* has a sinus infection which includes a constant green nose which is torturous to clean(for both of us)! I enjoyed sleeping in until 8am this morning which is soo much better than the 5:30am or earlier that C* has been doing! Of course that means I didn't make it to the gym but I am going to hop on the dusty elliptical that has taken up residence in my bedroom(saying it still works)!

Anyway- K* has begun and completed a chapter book this morning and C* went weewee on the potty so now the two of them are enjoying a little Zelda on the Wii!

Pray that they are better soon- we are all getting a little cabin fever!

Apple picking.....

We took the kids to the apple orchard on Sunday and had a fabulous time! We sampled a variety of types but the Cortland won with a 3 out 4 vote.......C* preferred the Golden Delicious because they are yellow like Bumblebee(the transformer)! The apples were perfectly juicy and refreshing in the hot afternoon sun:)

Isn't my family so cute? Every time I look at pictures of my husband and children- it makes me smile....I truly have been blessed and the thing that I am most thankful that God has given me is my family:)

Family Session-

I have a few sessions coming up in a new location so I forced the fam to come with me for practice session:) It's not easy taking family pics with the tripod and remote but they aren't terrible!