Holiday Card Pics Times TWO

It's that time of year again...one of my favorites, but also a super stressful time.  Most of the stress is brought on my own self mind you, but still.

One of the things that we do every year and it is one of my faves is Holiday Cards. I LOVE getting holiday cards from our family and friends and I LOVE sending ours out.  One of these days I am sure I will LOVE taking the pictures for the holiday cards-I am just not there yet maybe once we are past the toddler/preschooler stage.

While I was out shopping with Miss Jodi on BF I found the girls' outfits. Other than tutu skirts they were not what I had planned, but I LOVE them! I love the non-traditional colors {it kind of goes along with our non-traditional Christmas of 2010} and I just think they look darling. Of course the girls were thrilled because the outfits have BLING...the more something sparkles, the more our girls love it!

So we pretty much knew that the only opportunity we would have to get them done was the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  Nothing went according to plan...nothing, well except that the picture this year would be of just the girls since we alternate between the girls and the family pic!

I knew I wanted to do them outside so we decided the Shops at Legacy would be a good spot.  I didn't have any shoes for Landry and the girls needed their haircut which meant that the pics wouldn't happen til after LP's nap. Well....as luck would have it, she didn't fall right to sleep so we ended up having to wake her up especially since it starts getting dark early.  That was problem number 2...number 1 was that I couldn't find the shoes I wanted for Landry in her size so I had to just go with a pair that weren't my first choice.

The next obstacle was the way the sun was facing, the wind, and the fact that the girls were cold.  We didn't last long...I knew pretty much once we got out there that we would need to find another time to take their pictures.

Here are just a few of the out-takes from our first outing:

After the first go 'round wasn't successful, that meant a second round was necessary. So I decided I needed to get them done ASAP...and Friday was the next and last available opportunity. This time I was solo and bribed the girls to cooperate. I also told them that this was it and if I didn't get a good pic, then I would just send out a not-so-good one.  Ashton was mortified at the thought of that so she made sure she cooperated!

Round two was MUCH better...still not exactly what I would have liked, but much improved. Here are some of the out-takes from our second photo shoot at a different location:

That cactus in the background...

...is what caused these next few pix. Yep, I continued to snap away for a brief moment.

At this stage of having a two year old, I realize I have to take what I can get and try not to stress over the perfect shot and smiles I can't get. I love that we have these memories because one day it will be so easy to take their pictures. But for now, it makes me smile to see these pictures and to see their personalities. I love that we have these two perfect little girls and I love that they belong to us! I will take the stress that comes with the holiday cards any day-it is always worth it in the end!