When we just can't seem to look at the camera at the same time...

Like every mom, I want to have an annual beautiful family photo.  I don't even care if everyone is smiling in the photo, I just want us all to be looking at the camera at the same time.  Year after year, I find myself getting so incredibly frustrated with the whole photo shoot process. I spend FOREVER picking out everyone's outfits, and ironing and looking up cute poses for us to do....and every year...my kids (by the way, this includes my husband) last all of 2 seconds and then they are OVER IT.

So this year I decided to try something different....I decided NONE of us would look at the camera. I would set us up for success.  My husband and I would just carry a kid and hang them upside down...and steal a quick kiss.  I can't tell you how easy it was!  Hope you enjoy your family photos as much as I did this year...well more than I did this year...the picking out outfits, ironing and getting everyone ready was still a pain!

What to do, oh what to do, when grandma is in town....

My grandmother is staying with us for almost 2 weeks while my parents are on vacation. I used this time to take advantage of making memories with my 89 yr. old grandma for my kiddos!

So...what did we do? We went to Build-a-Bear of course! Isn't that every 89 year olds dream????Ok, I admit, I had a hidden agenda.......2.5 years ago, before my daughter was born, I took my grandma to Build-a-Bear to make a rabbit for my daughter...the best part about it was having her record her voice telling her great-granddaughter a little something special. My daughter calls her great grandmother "nonna" and she LOVES,LOVES,LOVES her rabbit and often presses the recorder that has been stuffed inside to hear Nonna's voice telling her she is loved.

Now that I am on the verge of giving birth to our little boy, we took advantage of having grandma here to make him a bear (or in this case monkey) of his own. Here are some pics...

..... a kiss for the heart that goes inside

and now time for a fluff bath

grandma with her finished monkey for our son....when you press the hand you here Nonna telling her grandson that she loves him and hopes he will be a good boy!

My kids and I will treasure these stuffed animals forever! I love that years and years from now, we will still be able to hear her voice and know how much she loved us!

~ellie