Family Pictures

It is that time of year again when everyone gets ready to send out Christmas cards and usually a family picture.
I must say that I prefer to take pictures towards the end of summer when our faces are a little sunkissed and it isn't torture sitting outside during a photo shoot.
Too bad we missed that prime time this year.
Do you despise family pictures as much as we do here?
I think I hate coming up with what to wear the most.
This year I was trying not to be so matchy with the outfits and I failed miserably. Next year I am going to have to just have everyone pick what they want to wear on their own and we will be guaranteed randomness!!
I really wanted our family pics this year to reflect what we have called  home for the past 5 years. In the end the one we picked was exactly what I was looking for.
Here are a couple pictures from our attempt at family pictures.
Oh the joys!!

If we could only get everyone to look at the camera at the same time. Emory is always too interested in Keion, usually a good thing but in this case it is not! Way to go Kylan, at least you were ready.

This picture is hysterical. It is like the junior high boyfriend/girlfriend pose but with mom and son...awkward!

Happy for the moment. But is wasn't always smiles.

This pose just wasn't working for us long legged folks.

See they are running out of smiles. I love that they both look so put out.

FLYING!

Another "happy" pose. Keion isn't so bad but Emory looks like a schoolmarm.

There is the happy girl.

And our happy boy.






 

The best part of family pictures? When they are over!

Keion Turns 16!

Keion turned the BIG 16 on Halloween. To be honest it was a little anti-climactic. He decided to forgo a birthday party and opted instead to have a going away party before we move. There is so much going on around Halloween that it makes it difficult to have a party where all of his friends could come. I think the paty this summer is going to work out better. Fortunately Kylan's mom and brother flew in the following weekend and we celebrated. We always hide Keion's presents and give him clues where to find them. This year we didn't even do that but made him close his eyes and guess what the gifts were when we handed them to him. It was actually really fun. Last minute before Keion came home on Halloween I hurried and made him a birthday sign. It was tacky compared to all those crafty ones I see people do but it was better than nothing and Keion liked it. If I spent 3 days or 3 minutes on it, it was all the same to him! Keion is getting so old and it is weird to think that he will be living at home only for a couple more years. I guess we need to make the best of it.
Emory had so much fun watching her big brother celebrate.

Keion was ordained a Priest at church.

At the end of the day we took the family to a cider mill in Lapeer, MI. It was ok but the donuts did not stack up to the ones at Spicers Orchard. Those donuts are the best!!

Halloween 2012

We were happy that Keion was such a sport and willing to dress up with Emory. Kylan and I are not such willing participants so we are using Keion as long as we can! Here are some pictures of "Ronald McDonald" and the "Hamburglar"! (Keion also dressed up with some friends to go to a party but didn't want to use the same costume as many of his friends had already seen it).

Emory would have kept that hat and mask on all night!
 

What were you for Halloween? Share any good ideas for future use! By the way, my brother in-law has some friends that dressed up as the "Family Circus". The mom was the ring leader, dad the muscle man, and the baby was an elephant with a ball sewed to the bottom of the foot (balancing elephant!). It was AWESOME. Maybe I can have him send me a pic and post. Such a wonderful idea.