What I haven't been doing...

I haven't been watching the news. I can't take it since the school shooting on Friday.
I haven't been exercising...much.
I haven't been keeping up with my December Daily album.
I haven't been short with Jake. He can virtually do no wrong since the tragic events of Friday.
I haven't been blogging.

A stomach bug last week and the tragedy on Friday really zapped my Christmas spirit. I've been working hard to get it back. I'm baking. I'm wrapped. I'm not feeling that pressure. I don't want to make what happened about me. I just can't shake the sorrow I feel.  I look at Jake...almost the same age as those children...and I'm overwhelmed with empathy for their parents. God bless them.

I've been doing a lot of this.

We've enjoyed lots of our Christmas traditions including gingerbread houses.

He didn't sit that way the entire time. ;)

Em and I ate lunch and shopped on Main Street.

We had dinner at mom and dad's, took the kids to see a light display, and then spent the night.

We celebrated Dad W's birthday.

We enjoyed Jake's Christmas party again this year. Jake was a shepard again this year.

Buddy, our elf, has been up to his old tricks. He made a snowman for Jake.

He left a message.

He made a mess with a puzzle book dumping pieces from 4 different puzzles all in the same pile! Jake was not happy about cleaning up that mess!

He filled the family room with at least 40 paper airplanes!

He left another message after a tough day.

He made a fort from a cracker box.

Kate and Rick celebrated the end of finals and a great semester!

Em and I took the kids to Main Street this weekend to collect holiday cards and take a horse drawn carriage ride. The funnel cakes were a favorite of the day. Even Ben got a taste.

Yes...he looks like his Daddy, but there are times he looks exactly like my sister did when she was a baby.

I tried a new cookie recipe, and I love it! It's a thin, crunchy cookie. It's filled with chocolate chips and candy cane pieces.

Of course, I've had a few photo shoots, too. :)  I thought about taking the month of December off, but I get too antsy when I do that. A couple of weeks is plenty. I had my last shoot today. Miss Dylan made her debut in the studio. She is 6 days new, full of black hair, and so adorable! I can't wait to share!  My next shoot is the first weekend of January, so that will be a nice little break.

I never shared this shot of Karey and her kids. I want to copy this pose with my kids!

I've had two sweet little guys in the studio recently...Trevor and Kaiden.

Trevor had a great mix of serious, handsome faces and sweet smiles.

This is the third time my buddy, Kaiden, has been in the studio. It's been such fun to watch him grow. We did his first birthday shoot last week and a cake smash. This shot cracked me up.

"Wow...did I do this?"

He made me work for the smiles, but it was so worth it!

This fierce look cracks me up!

Ben was also in the studio for his 9 month shoot.

Here is a before and after that I wanted to share.

My sister's hands were never off the baby. The final shot was a composite.

My sister loved the crying shot.

Just in case I don't get back here, Merry Christmas, my friends!