The 2008 Family Photos

We are lucky enough that John's brother Philip is a photographer. So this year I hit him up to take our family photos again. Last year was so crazy we never did it. However I am very pleased with the photos we have from this year.

As you can see Brandon's idea of cooperation was that of a three-year-old. This picture is going to be one of my favorites forever. I have one picture of myself as a small child with the same face. It's still my Dad's favorite. I will try to find it for a later post.
Poor Shelby just wanted to get the whole picture experience over with. Once again, here is Brandon and his major grumpy face.

Getting closer to a smile, Shelby's still doing great.

And finally the family photo, which we actually took first, because I expected the previous attitude.

Happy Holidays from the Wood Family. Please remember little ones do not have to smile for photos. I always get my best pictures when I don't make the kids smile.

Our Fortune

Happy Thanksgiving

from our family to yours.

We have so much to be thankful for and I really try not to forget how fortunate we really are. I have a wonderful husband who is a hard worker and also the most excellent daddy in the whole world. I have two beautiful children who are smart, healthy, and make me laugh on a daily basis. We have a huge extended family and parents who constantly go out of their way to help us in any way they can. We both have jobs, Shelby is doing excellent in school, and Brandon is adjusting to preschool. Thank You God for the fortune you have given us. We hope others can be as blessed as we are.

Brandon and his Uncle

Besides Grandpa Wood, one of Brandon's favorite people is my little brother Jonathan who is seven. Brandon always talks about Johnny and looks forward to seeing him and showing him what he believes is really cool stuff (like shovels and tractors). I love the minds of little ones. They get so excited about the simple stuff, adults should do that more.

Brandon and Johnny enjoying a lollypop.

Did you notice they both even have their feet in the air?

Dad's Birthday

Yesterday my Dad turned 58 and my Grandpa agreed to let me take him for a visit. At 86 it's hard to convince him to go anywhere. I didn't have a good picture of the two of them together so now I finally have one. I love you Grandpa and Dad!

The Cowboy and the Ballerina

Well, I guess it's about time I posted the pictures from Halloween. Brandon was once again an adorable cowboy. The mustache is always a giant hit, especially with older people. (Thanks to Mom for the great addition). John and I were happy to get our money's worth out of the cowboy get-up. Real leather vest and chaps, can we say spoiled.

Shelby was a beautiful ballerina. She was very excited to wear her costume to school and Brandon was excited we let him participate in her parade.

I received many compliments on Shelby's hair. I believe this beautiful up-do only took about eight minutes and no fighting. We even added glitter hair spray. How fancy!

She looked so pretty and was really excited to go trick or treating.

I believe this year we collected more candy than they sell in an entire grocery store. Shelby ran from house to house for an hour and a half. John was exhausted. I mosied along with the little cowboy who kept collecting candy until he literally begged me to carry him from house to house, at that point we were done.