Fall 2011 Sears Pictures

We always know when Christmas is just around the corner, because the Virts family is off having their pictures taken...AGAIN!! I am still learning outside with natural light and so I don't even attempt to try anything indoors, so I religiously book my two annual Sears portrait studios appointments. I enjoy Virginia (our personal Sears photographer) and it makes Christmas cards a breeze!!

I found matching dresses for Christmas Eve...

And some in bronze tone...

Why don't I think of getting so close to their faces? I love to remember how they look at each age and these pictures are perfect for that.

And last but not least, my favorite pose...

Fall Pictures

The girls and I took advantage of a long weekend and beautiful weather for me to practice my photo taking skills. I was inspired by a good friend to use railroad tracks and I ended up loving the pictures today. Of course I had great subjects too...

I love this "we are having a good time" face...

I know that I take this pose a lot but I love the symbolism of the two of the girls walking through life together (I am so glad that they will always have each other!!)...

And there were even pictures showing a little attitude...

My little model makes up her own poses.

Homecoming Madness

This year's homecoming theme was "Rustlers got the Beat!" I have been truly blessed this year to get a fantastic team of teacher's to work with. We are trying an academy learning environment to try to make learning relevant in other academic areas. My two teachers are so much fun on a daily basis so homecoming was no different.

Monday's theme was Disco. How did we do?

Tuesday was "Favorite Artist." We picked not necessarily our favorite group, but one we thought high school kids would recognize...the Jonas Brothers.

Dance, Dance, Dance!

As summer ends and fall begins, the girls begin their many activities. The first activity that started was dance. Abbie this year is doing jazz and ballet. She was so excited to try something new and she's been practicing some ballet-looking moves in the living room for weeks. I didn't get any pictures of Abbie at this viewing lesson because Abbie was always at the front of the group and it was hard to distinguish which dancer was her.

Rylee, on the other hand, seemed easy to see. She was easy to see because she was so little, I think. Rylee is a little young to start dance, by about 4 months, but when the class started she went right in and did what Miss Denise asked. When she comes home she shows us all the moves she did in class so I think she really seems to like dancing.

Who is the cutie on the end?

Tell me your name and age," says Miss Denise. "I Rylee and I two." a little louder.."I two." almost yelling, "I two." Nice job Rylee just slipping into the class as a 2 year old when you are supposed to be three. I hope they thought she just doesn't really know her age!

Oma Birthday

The girls are so lucky that they have so many loving, caring grandmas. We celebrated Oma's 86th birthday with ice cream cake! Yummy!

Happy Birthday Oma! We love you!

Labor Day Camping

The last camping trip of the season is always so sad for me. I love the summer and look forward to each camping trip and so when that time of going back to work comes, it makes me so sad that another summer passed so quickly. We did our last camping trip Labor Day weekend with several families from the fire department; Schmidts, Giests, Furrs, and Zaremskis. The girls had a great time because of all the kids to play with.

Rylee had the girls wrapped around her little finger. They would do whatever she asked of them. That was actual nice for Abbie too. She got to go play and not have to always cater to Rylee and what Rylee wanted to do.

Rylee said she wanted to ride the bike so the girls would run alongside and try to coach Rylee on how to ride a bike without training wheels.

Meanwhile instead of running after Rylee, Abbie just relaxed and enjoyed the time without being the dutiful big sister.

Along one of the rides we stopped to take a picture for our annual calendar.

The weekend was really fun. On Saturday, the moms (Erin, Amy, and I) went for a motorcycle/4-wheeler ride just by ourselves. Jeremy, the girls, Sissy, and I went for a ride on Sunday packing snacks to enjoy along the way. The weekend was filled with 4-wheeler rides, s'mores eating, nail polishing, late night movie watching, and just enjoying some great company. It was a great end to the best summer ever!

1st Day of School

The first day of school 2011-2012. Abbie is starting first grade and I am starting yet another year at CMR.

Me and the girls

Doesn't she look grown-up?

I wasn't able to take Abbie to school today so it had to be just Jeremy. Jeremy isn't big on details and pictures so luckily I have terrific friends who took pictures to capture those priceless shots on the playground where they look excited, scared, nervous all rolled up into one.

Abbie, Jenna, Norah

Ready for 1st Day of School

I know that I am constantly saying this, but "Where did the last 6 years go?" I can't believe Abbie is starting first grade. Each year I say that this stage is my favorite and the same goes for right now as well. I love spending time with Abbie and having such grown-up conversations with her now. She has a definite opinion about everything from how she wants her hair, to what to wear, to how she wants to have her room. I asked Abbie some questions about the first grade on our way to the meet and greet with her teacher the night before school started:

What are you feeling right now on the day before first grade? Scared and excited

What are you scared of? Just scared, not sure why

What are you excited about? Excited to meet new friends and learn new things (Bless you my little nerd)

What do you picture your teacher to look like? (Abbie's teacher had taken some time off from teaching so Abbie didn't know her or even what she looked like) I picture her to have long light brown hair in a pony tail, tall, and wearing a white skirt.

Abbie at her desk...

Abbie with her new teacher, Mrs. Betsayed

I asked a few more questions after we left her school and headed home for the night before school preparations:

What did you think of Mrs. Betsayed now that you've met her? She's really nice.

What are you looking forward to about tomorrow? To see what first grade is like.

Last Bit of Summer

The weekend before school started we met the Etcheberrys at Giant Springs for one last picnic before the chaos and hectic lifestyle started. It was a beautiful afternoon to play on the playground, feed the fish, and enjoy the last bit of summer. This summer was by far my favorite! The trip to California, our many camping trips, and the lazy days and picnics made for an amazing family summer.

Can you believe she is already starting first grade?

Drew, Abbie, Jenna, and Rylee

Annual Pre-School Photo Shoot

This year I was having a hard time deciding where to take my annual photo shoot before school started. I felt like I had exhausted all of the typical Great Falls photo hot spots and didn't know where I would take the girls this year when my dear friend, Melissa, suggested we go for a day hike to Memorial Falls. It was pretty sunny on the day we went, but I still was happy with the pictures.

I took some of Rylee alone...

Abbie alone...

and of course the two of them together...

We had a picnic and cooled off in the mist...

It was also fun to take some pictures with Taylee...

I love these lazy summer days of enjoying the sunshine, a picnic, and fun company!