Who's that big boy?!

Cameron actually still eats in a high chair at home, for a number of reasons that I won't bore you with.  So it's rare that I see him eating a meal at a table.  And I just can't get over what a big boy he looks like!  Now if we could just get him to use a fork....

The reason I gave up on professional family photos....

I was determined to get a photo of our entire family over the holidays.  Full family photos are a rarity for us for a number of reasons.  Mainly because we rarely have anyone to take a photo of us, as well as the fact that let's face it, I'm a stay-at-home mom.  Putting on nice clothes during the day, only to have them stained with any sort of gunk you can imagine, as well as putting on make-up that no one will see...we'll let's just say it seems like a big fat waste of time to me.  I'm sure Oprah would disagree with me, but when Oprah has two kids running around screaming, mounds of laundry to do, and dishes piling up, then she can tell me if the first thing she wants to do is put on a little make-up "just so she can feel good about herself."  I love Oprah but that woman does not live in the real world.  But I digress...

So I knew that Christmas day would be my best bet.  Everyone would be dressed nicely (and yes, a nice new Bears t-shirt un-faded and free of stains is considered "dressed nicely" around here) and we'd have someone to make the kids do their thing as well as someone to capture this wonderful moment on camera.  And wonderful it would be!  I would frame the photo and comment to everyone who walked in my door, "Look!  Look how wonderful my family looks in this photo!  We are dressed!  We're smiling!"  Ok, maybe I wouldn't do that.  But I'd have something that proves that yes, we are a family of four and we are actually in the same place at the same time a lot of the time.

Oh, but wait.  The kids would both have to smile...

Well, that one won't work.  Let's try it again.

Ok, well we got one smiling.  But they're supposed to smile and look at the camera.  Take three...

Apparently there is some law that prevents two children from smiling at the same time for a photo.  I wish I had known about said law before I attempted this.  I am also fairly certain that they think a laser beam might burn their retinas if they look at the camera.  Oh well, let's give it another shot anyway...

Well, one is smiling and looking at the camera and one isn't crying so this will have to do.  Although, I'm fairly certain that for at least the next year, Cameron's stomach is going to show in nearly every photo we attempt with him due to the fact that you have to hang on to him for dear life lest he dart away.   At least we now have proof that we are, indeed, a family of four who spends major holidays together, even if it did take 15 painstaking minutes of my life.  See you on the next major holiday!

All Aboard the Youngman Express!

Uncle Jay is well aware of the many train enthusiasts in our family.  So, not only did he make sure he had a train looping their Christmas tree, he also took some time to set up their old train set in their basement.  Cade and Owen were in heaven!  We didn't bother taking the little boys down there, as we thought it might be a little too much for them at their age.  Here's a peek at our big boys enjoying the action.

I just love the look on their faces in the photos as they watched the train race by them.  Cade would say, "All aboard!!!"

One of our bigger boys thought he might get in on the conducting action in an effort to impress his wife.  I'm pretty sure all it did was confirm to her what a big dork he is.  That's what it did for me, anyway. ;)

A big thank you to Uncle jay for taking the time to create something so special for the boys!  I know my boy certainly loved it and can't wait to come back and play some more!