easter

Em and I got away for a quick weekend to visit Gammie & Poppa in Florida for Easter (coinciding for most of her spring break from school).  We had a great time, and the Easter Bunny managed to find us all the way in Stuart.   Here is little miss Easter Princess proudly displaying her goodies:

love: a play in ten acts

 

it's the most, wonderfully hectic time of year

9 adults, 3 dogs and 2 kids = I didn't get a lot of pictures.  But we had a wonderful time together.  There's even a cute video at the bottom. :)


Merry Merry!! 

deck the halls

I was absolutely bound and determined to enjoy the entire month of December this year.  That meant, having all the 'big' things done early - tree, Xmas cards, etc.  The tree is decked - went with a 'white christmas' theme this year.  Our holiday cards are designed, printed and ready to go out tomorrow.  If you want a little hint for those, take a peek at the new banner up above!  :)  I have one more photography shoot at the end of the month, but my other job culminates this weekend with the big event I've been planning for 6 months.  I've really enjoyed having my party planner hat on again, but all good things must come to an end. After Saturday, I'll be able to really kick my feet up with a glass of hot apple cider, and really concentrate on the season.


We cut down our own tree this year - highly recommend it.  We got lucky and found it on a warm, sunny day.  I have a cute video on my phone I'll have to post - but emma did the sawing herself (with some help, of course) :)

Listened to Rachel Platten's album while decorating the tree.  I'm obsessed with this album - I promise you, you'll hear it soon and will love it.

I have a few plans for the new year - not so much resolutions as much 'goals' I want to strive for.  One, is to keep up with my 5am boot camp (yay me!)  Two is to stop neglecting this poor, pitiful blog, and actually recruit some real followers.  Three is to take my photography business up to the next level.  I mean, really, really go for it.  Don't know exactly what that will look like, but be prepared to be bombarded.  :)

Off to get mkae some placecards.  Happy Tuesday!
♥,
E

happy halloween!

Emma was a bride this year.  I count my blessings that she never wavered.  We got the costume in September and I feared she would change her mind at the last minute, but she was SO excited to be going as a bride that it never happened.

We got into the Halloween spirit this year.  We even made a scarecrow for our front 'yard'.  Dressed him, stuffed him and picked out a head for him at the local farm.  And then we watched him get snowed on Saturday night, ha! I was going to be a Snowboarder (hey, I already have the outfit!) but at the last minute I ran out of time.  Besides, it's hard to juggle a snowboard and a camera.  :)

It was a dark and cold Halloween night.  She insisted on wearing the costume without any jacket, but by the last house, she told me she couldn't ring the bell - her fingers were frozen.

Roger dressed up as a ghoul/hooligan.  He managed to scare quite a few neighbors (and probably a few kids too).  Here he is with Poppa, before the evening started.

 

 

 

  

Of course my little hoarder had to count her stash.  :)

decisions, decisions

Holiday-card-decision-time is one of my favorite struggles of the year.  I LOVE a great holiday card.  I have a little collection that I've saved in a box of my favorites over the years.  I love peeking at them from time to time.  Because communication is so electronic these days, it seems that holiday cards are the last remaining pure experience of postal mail.  From beginning to end, it's an experience. It hits your senses.  It's visceral. 

You get the card in the mail (what a surprise!), you read the name (it's for you! how is your name written? who is it from?), you feel the envelope in your hands (is it heavy? soft? textured? thick? large?), you notice the stamp and maybe the date or the mailing location, you open the envelope (are you a purist and go from the top? or practical and open from the side?), you read the card, touch the paper, open it or turn it over, you experience the sentiments and you (if you're like me) probably hang it somewhere for others to see.  Like I said, from beginning to end, it's an experience.  And.....if you're like me.....you appreciate the little details like great photos (natch), an interesting paper texture, a 3D design, amazing handwriting, a special pen used or even a whimsical stamp. I cherish them as little works of art.

Because of this special process, I love making ours as unique and as visceral as I can.  It may be lost on some people, but that's ok.  I do it because *I* enjoy it.  I know most people like pictures, especially with little ones who grow leaps and bounds every year.  It's fun to try and incorporate a little bit of a story of what we've done that year. If anything, I can put these in her baby book.   Generally speaking, I always lean towards more contemporary designs, but I still love a good vintage feel to the photos.  I'm such a walking contradiction.  :)

So help me decide....what do you think?

Ornament cards?

simple but high impact?

holiday newsletter?

vintage spread 1?

vintage spread 2?

PS - Any blogger users notice the GREAT changes they've made to the formatting of posts?  Hooorray! I can finally post images in the order and size I want, rather than having to cut & paste all the time.  It was about time, folks.  :)

Easterrific!

We had a great weekend. Rounding out our spring break week with dying eggs and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. Emma had a blast hunting for eggs, and was especially tickled at the Easter Bunny's generosity this year. It's not every year that she'll wake up to find a dollhouse waiting for her, but she has had this on her "list" for ages. Easter Sunday couldn't have been more beautiful and we spent it outside the whole day. Between the sunshine, the chocolate marshmallows, and rolling down the grassy hill for an hour, the little one was tuckered out. She was in bed, asleep by 7:15. I couldn't have asked for a better day!

we love Love.

In preparation for Valentines Day, her teachers at preschool asked the kids to list one thing they love. They posted the list outside the classroom for all the parents to read. Lots of love on that list - I love my brother, I love my mom & dad, I love my bed, etc. Emma's answer? "I love the whole, wide, everything".

We love Love!

Happy 4th!

We celebrated with the good stuff :)

don't be fooled...

.....it's not all Fa-la-la-la-la-ing around here.

(I had to add, that this Santa was the *creepiest* Santa we've ever met. The dude had nasty long, yellow fingernails and absolutely ZERO personality. I think he was on drugs. So yah, Emma hit it straight on the money with a nice boot in the crotch. That's my girl!) :)

O, Tanenbaum

boo

Happy Halloween!!

It will be an interesting day for sure. 2 of us already have sinus infections, and the 3rd (me) is fighting it tooth and nail. We've tried to take it easy this week, stay close to home and get lots of rest. But there's no rest for the weary! So much to do! House projects are in full swing and today we have to paint the entire upstairs (well, Roger will do the hard labor and Emma and I will supervise and keep ourselves busy). Then we have a neighborhood Halloween happy hour, followed by trick-or-treating with Morgan & Tommy!

Emma can't wait for that part. We've been practicing our trick or treat and she is VERY excited about wearing her costume. Luckily, Parker is just as enthusiastic - he'll make a great Hansl. :)

Happy Halloween from Hansl & Gretl!