December 9, 2011 - The Coca-Cola Polar Bear. Coca-Cola has a Holiday Caravan (this Christmas semi-truck) that drives around the country and does free photo ops with the Coke Polar Bear. They did two stops a day for several days in Salt Lake. We caught up to it at the Zoo. Seemed fitting to get our picture taken with a polar bear at the zoo. We didn't actually go into the zoo, we'll save that adventure for another day.
December 10, 2011 - Ward Christmas Party. The primary kids did a nativity. The second counsellor's family just had a baby boy in October. So their oldest daughter was Mary and she got to hold their new baby as baby Jesus. So cute! They also had a photographer set up to take Santa pictures. This one is just from my phone, I am looking forward to seeing the 'pro' shots.
December 12, 2011 - Decorating the tree. Since our tree is so portable (and so cute!) and we're packing up the laundry room where the tree was previously being stored, we finally decided to decorate for Christmas. The tree is in Lincoln's room and I'm so grateful for the tiny lights on the tree (thanks again Sharon and Dick!), they add a lovely ambiance to middle-of-the-night feedings. Lincoln is the same height as the tree, but the tree topper snowflake gives the tree the height advantage. Next year Linc!
December 13, 2011 - Santa Photos! A local photo studio (FotoFly) is doing a Christmas photoshoot (FotoFly Santa). They put up a tent at Thanksgiving Point with two backgrounds. Then a parent dresses up as Santa, so most photos don't show Santa's face. I signed us up and I signed Kristen's girls up too. James had a lot of fun being Santa and I think our pictures turned out so cute! I'm not posting the 'best' ones because they'll be going out as Christmas cards or gifts, but there were a few I can share! Forgive the blur on the cell-phone-photos, they were taken indoors in a tent in the wintertime at almost dark.
Kristen and Aspen, waiting for our turn.
Santa James - he got to be Santa for Lincoln's pictures and Emma and Aspen's pictures.
They took enough pictures to get a couple different poses. This adorable picture is one that I love, but is not quite as awesome as the best ones.
The photographer (Mike) prepping for an Aspen and Emma photo. When we met Mike, he said, "What a cute pair! A Peach and a Pear!" about Emma and Aspen. And then asked for their names. Emma gave hers up right away, but Aspen was shy. So Mike called her "Peach." Kristen just loved this window prop and really wanted a picture using it. Mike made it happen. Turned out so great! But you'll have to ask Kristen to see it!
They also have the real Santa standing by for photos that need a real Santa and for visiting with the kids who are waiting. Aspen was so excited to visit Santa and tell him her wishes. When we finally talked to him, she told Santa, "Surprise me!".
Here are the cousins with Santa.
After taking pictures, there is about 20 minutes to wait while the photo editors do their thing. So we had some time to check out part of Thanksgiving Point. They have two of Santa's reindeer come - Santa said it was Comet and Cupid tonight. Emma and Aspen ran from the reindeer to the outdoor fire to the editing computers to the picture tent to the reindeer to the fire...
We weren't IN LOVE with one of Lincoln's pictures. So we got to go back and take a few more. We had the real Santa in the pictures to save time. I love Santa's glasses and the reindeer feet on Lincoln's pajamas!
And another with the real Santa - by this time, Lincoln was getting pretty tired and hungry. So not many smiles, but he is such a good boy. Didn't cry and he didn't really like the beard against his face but only drooled in protest. I love this one, this is how we hold Lincoln when we're trying to get him to fall asleep. James had him just before we gave him to Santa and his eyes were almost closed as he rocked in his Daddy's arms. Now he just looks sort of concerned.
I like this studio because they do good work, but also because they give you the copyright to the photos and all the edited photos on a jump drive. So if you don't want to have them print the pictures, you can take them somewhere else. They also gave me Kristen's pictures because James was the Santa. I'm trying really, really hard not to share her pictures, but I couldn't resist cropping this one so you can see Santa James through the window.
I love Christmas time.
