Family Pictures & Fall Finger Painting

Yesterday was family picture day in the Cook house. We usually take a set of new family pictures every year in November. Usually it is kind of a hot mess situation where the morning of I doubt all the outfits I picked out a month before, and this time it was no different. I had the joy of getting everyone dressed all by myself [by everyone I mean the kids and I], while I waited anxiously for Nate to make it home from work so we could leave. As if getting everyone dressed was not stressful enough when we made it to the car it started drizzling [it has been raining all week] and I thought great this is going to be a disaster.

 We made it to the location and our sweet photographer was already there umbrella in hand ready to do this thing. It actually turned out to be pretty fun, I think she did such a great job, and Ian is in love with the gummi bear lady. She is was so amazing with him, patient, kind, sweet, and loving. He is not the easiest child when it comes to pictures, and she handle his little attitude gracefully. There was lots of laughter, and sweet moments, I can't wait to get our pictures. If anyone in the KMC needs some family pictures taken I highly recommend Jesse's Girl Photography - Jessica is simply amazing!!!

 I made a deal with Ian and told him if he takes pictures with us and smiles at the camera we will have some ice-cream later, as a special treat - it worked. Sadly the kids fell asleep in the car after our morning adventure in the village and the woods, so we had to improvise to still keep our deal. We let them sleep in the car, stopped at the store, picked up some cones and ice-cream and decided to have an ice-cream picnic in the house. It is so much cheaper then going some where. They loved it!!

 The kids and I have been working on a lot if little fall arts & crafts, and decorations for the house in honor of Thanksgiving this month. It has been so much fun to do these activities with them.  We decide to finally make our fall trees with finger paint, and little finger prints makes the perfect little fall leaves.

I love watching Ian's creativity come alive - he just loves making things, and coming up with with things today - imagination and creativity is so much fun! Hayleigh in the other hand is more curious right now, and  I love that side of it as well, she has been expose to far more then Ian at that age.  I wish I did more with him......

I am so blessed with these to little people, watching them play and love on each other makes my day every day, they are best friends, brother and sister, and I would not have it any other way.  They stretch me in a hundred different directions every day, but with that comes growth, that I am humbled by.

Happy Thursday, it is almost weekend!