We're pretty cute for two ugly people (name that movie)

fyi- these pics are untouched/unedited

isn't it great having your friend from high school become your sister-in-law and then your older brothers become roommates and marry roommates, so now they are related too? and that sister-in-law is uber talented at photography and makes all your family picture dreams come true?!

what? that didn't happen to you?

if you aren't lucky enough to have a personal photographer like me,

then you can borrow mine.

because i love you.

ellen is her name. photography is her game.

she lives in washington state, so all my friends in the beautiful northwest, contact her.

you will not be disappointed.

ellen is just about the most fun, easy going person you will meet.

if you don't already know her, you will feel like you do.

this was an almost impromptu photo session which lasted about 15 mins.

which is 14 mins. and 45 secs. longer than parker's attention span.

and still, did you see? he is smiling in a lot of them!

magic, i tell you.

it doesn't hurt that ellen is used to wrangling three lindsay boys of her own.

lindsay boys are particularly, hmm, active, shall we say?

so don't stress about your kids being hard to catch on film (memory card)

and i must say that parker makes our family photos about 100% better looking.

the hat, dimple, thanks for taking us up a notch buddy!

here is ellen's email, ellenlindsay@mail.com or contact me and I will give you her phone number.

Minnesota Moments

This year winter came early. We have had several big storms and the amount of snow that fell in December is usually the total for the whole winter. This was the first big storm that was similar to the Halloween blizzard in 1989 (I think it was 89). Brett was at work (he always seems to be working during the big storms) and I knew I would have to shovel about every 1-2 hours to keep up with the snow. Well, I couldn't keep up with it, that little path took me forever and I don't have much time that I can leave Parker alone.
So, I paid these guys to do it. It took them 2 mins. You can tell they are true Minnesotans by their lack of boots, gloves and snow pants. These guys drive around in big storms like an ice cream truck and hope that pitiful people like me will overpay them just to get rid of the snow. They were right. I should add that my parents would have rescued me, but it was near white-out conditions with terrible wind and their snow blower was in the shop getting fixed. After they left, my neighbor got upset at me for paying them and said he would take care of the driveway for the rest of the day. He snow-blowed the driveway 3 times that day to keep up with it.

During storms, Parker stays cozy with his blanket watching his favorite show, "Jack's Big Music Show" in his favorite spot, the broken entertainment center drawer.

Reese has the best spot in the house, my side of the bed! Oh I get so jealous watching her sleep all day! She tucks herself right in and hibernates the storm away.

Christmas 2010

Christmas Eve my family came over to make gingerbread houses and when Brett got home from work, we put Parker to bed and had fondue for dinner. Here's Parker eating more candy than he's ever had before!
This picture is out of order, but here is our gingerbread house!

Every time I helped him put candy on the house, he followed our hands with his mouth and tried to eat the candy! Can you see his mouth open,waiting to snatch the candy?!

Christmas Morning

Our traditional sugar cereal for breakfast

Reese loved sleeping under the tree and she never knocked the tree down this year! She did bite the lights and ornaments, but what's a kitten to do? Take notice of our new tree skirt courtesy of Brett's mom. She is always willing to take my orders for anything I want sewn, even without a pattern!

Parker and his new cozy coupe, he LOVED it. I think he spent more time in the car that day than out of it.

He also loved the teepee my mom made for him. He loves sticking his head out the window at people.

Here is Parker with all his Christmas gifts. Reese also loves sitting in the teepee, as you can see.

On Christmas afternoon, we went to my parents for dinner and Parker played in the snow with Aunt Courtney and Uncle Cameron.