Photo shoot with the Long children

I would like to know if anyone has any tips to getting a good group picture of children. We have 6 kids to photograph and all we want is one good picture. Just look at the shots we got. We took these pictures inside of a house... I can't even imagine if we took them in a studio! Yikes.

Ready for Christmas

It is only November 29th but the Long family is ready for our favorite time of year~ Christmas. Today the girls dressed in one of their many Christmas outfits for church. After church, their wonderful grandparents helped us decorate the front of our house. They put up our lights and loaned us a lot of cute lawn decorations. I can't wait to see it at night! I also can't wait to get our tree. Did I mention that we already went and saw Santa last Tuesday. I just can't help myself. I am not very patient with these sort of things!

Thanksgiving

There is so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for a God that loves and cares about me. I am thankful for a wonderful husband who has more courage and kindness than anyone I know. I am thankful for two precious little girls who keep me smiling every day. I am thankful for wonderful parents, in-laws, brothers and their wives and families who do so much for us. We live such a rich life. I am so grateful for all the blessings in my life.

First trip to the hair salon

On Wednesday, November 24th, I took Kylee to my fantastic hair girl Stephanie. I want Kylee to have long hair, but it needed a trim. It was so cute to watch her. Stephanie gave her the works... shampoo, cut, and blow dry. Kylee did such a great job sitting still. I think she is a girl after my own heart. When we were in the car on the way home she said, "I am so glad!" I am not sure if she is glad she has her hair fixed pretty or glad that it is over!

6 month cutie

I can't believe how fast 6 months have gone. Look how big Reagan is!! I am so in love with this girl just as much as I am with her big sister. It's funny how much more I love her every day. She brings such a smile to my face. I love the way she wakes up so happy in the morning. I love the way she smells. I love how she gets excited for her bottle when I show her. I love how she splashes in her bath. I love when she laughs at her sister. I love when she pulls her self up. I love that she is finally getting hair and that I can actually put a bow in it. I love that she sleeps in her crib! (If you know about Kylee... you will know why I love this.) I love that she loves life! Darren said the funniest thing about Reagan. He said, "She is so good at life!" He is so right! Did I mention that I love her?

our new addition

"What's her name again?" Kylee kept asking us. You see, my parents adopted this cute little dog and I said she was cute. Next thing I knew, the Long family had their very first dog. The girls love her, my cats, well, not so much! She is super sweet and very calm. I haven't even heard her bark yet... is that good?? Her name is Misty. She is a 2 year old Spaniel mix. What a cutie!!

What a difference a day at Disneyland can make

Today we ventured off to Disneyland on our day off. We were up at our usual work day time, before 6 A.M. thanks to our little alarm clock Kylee. When we arrived, we decided (unintentionally) to spend hundreds of dollars doing things we have never done before at Disneyland. I first had to stop at the adorable Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique to do some Christmas shopping. Did they always have such cute things for girls? Then we headed on over to have breakfast with Minnie. This was so cute. The food was good and the characters came over to each table and took pictures, goofed around, and danced with the diners. It was such a nice experience. After this, we walked over to the princess pavilion and waited in line (where Kylee was able to take a 40 minute much needed nap) to meet some princesses. This was just adorable. When it was our turn, each princess invited Kylee over, talked to her and then took pictures with her. We spent a good 10 minutes in that area. Well worth the wait. This was truly one of the better times at Disneyland for me personally. I think life is WAY better when you see it and experience it through your child's eyes.

curled hair

This is my precious 2 year old, Kylee with her hair curled for the first time. She loved it for about 3 minutes ~ just look at these pictures. Front view, back view, bratty view.

Pomona Fair 10-4-09

Here we are on the last weekend of the Pomona Fair. It was a buck to get in and 15 dollars to park... WHAT??? Despite the price confusion, we had such a nice time watching Kylee run the show. She HAD to ride the pony, and she HAD to take her picture in every cut out poster (this was hilarious for us to watch her put her head in the scarecrows and the corn on the cobs). I HAD to get her hair done like a princess. Too bad she fell asleep on it shortly after. Reagan was there too, with her cousin Emily and Auntie Christy. They were asleep for most of the day. Maybe next year they will enjoy a bit more.

Happy Fall Y'all

Happy Fall! This is such a wonderful time of year. The weather changes, kind of, the leaves change, kind of, and we get prepared for the holidays, kind of! Well come on, we do live in So. Cal where it has been hot, cold, hot, cold... etc. I don't know how to dress my girls from day to day, much less myself for work. I usually am so hot in the morning running around trying to get out of the house, I typically dress for warm weather. Some days it is perfect, other days, not so much. I love this picture of Reagan. She is ALWAYS this happy. We were at Disneyland inside of Woody's Roundup. They always do such a great job decorating this area. It really puts you in the mood for all the holidays upcoming!

Pumpkin Patch

On October 19th, the family took their first trip to the Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Patch. A friend had suggested that we go and that it was fabulous! She was so right. I have never seen so many pumpkins together (except, of course, on It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown). We had a blast walking through the pumpkins, taking pictures, and playing the dollar games at the booths. Kylee especially liked walking through the corn maze (it took her all of 1 minute to get through). I hope that this will become an annual event for us in the years to come.

loving life

I look at these two girls and can't believe how blessed I am. I can't even remember having as much fun as I do now that I am a mom. Each day brings so much joy amidst the struggles that life throws at you. Whenever life gets you down, look to those in your life that bring you joy and remember that life is so precious. Enjoy each moment!

falling in love

If you are a parent of two, then you will understand what I am about to say. Have you ever been so in love with your child you don't think you could share your love with another? When I had Kylee, I fell in love so hard! Then I was pregnant with Reagan and worried every day, how am I going to share this love between two? When we met Reagan, I don't know how I ever questioned this. These two girls have allowed me to be so in love in such a way that I am so excited to wake up each day and see what new and exciting thing they will do or say.

dedication

On October 4th, we dedicated Reagan to the Lord. I pray everyday that she loves Jesus and lives a full and blessed life. Her grandparents, auntie & uncle, cousin, and wonderful church friends were there to share in the special day.

Her cousin Emily was also dedicated on the same day. It was so sweet to have them spend this special moment together.

priceless

This picture is priceless. Look at my dad's face. He is such a happy Pa with all his girls around him. I think that retirement suits him! This was taken on his birthday. We like to spoil him and surround him with the girls. I secretly think this is his favorite day of the year! :)

a momentous day

This was such a momentous day! Reagan sat up on her own. She was only 5 months in this picture. I was excited to say the least!