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.