I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Christmas Eve for us begins with our smorgasbord feast.  We have everything from hot wings and steak to crackers and cream cheese topped with raspberry chipolte.  Delight for the kiddos and indigestion for those over 40.   

There is the reading of the first Christmas in Luke 2. The reason for the season. 

Our morning began @ 9:30a.m.  With teenagers we all slept in and lounged around. It was a relaxing & enjoyable Christmas morning but sad to say this is the only photo (i took it last night before Bruce & I went to bed)...we didn't get one of the kiddos unwrapping their gifts.

on Christmas Eve we received SNOW...we awoke to a fresh blanket of white.

 "What a beautiful site...we're happy tonight...walking in a Winter Wonder Land"

Hannah was kind enough to let me take a shot or two. It was a frigid 12 degrees so we snapped a few shots and we're done.

TWIRP 2012

One of the two dances that West High puts on: TWIRP (girls choice) and Prom held in the Spring. They are not the best environment so 2 is plenty.  It's about the group that you go with and Parker had an amazing group.  Most of them are friends that he has grown up with and just great kids. 

 When you live in Montana what better place to take photos than on a ranch

The GENTLEMAN

Ethan Kauher, Nick Atkins, Parker, Andrew McLane

The LADIES

Kelsea Jorden, Madalynn Beckstead, Whitney Wells, Mckelle Wothington

What I loved most: look @ their modest dresses.  I love our youth what great example to those around them.

What I've Been Up To

It has been far too long since I have posted! This is what I have been up to...Family Photos, Senior Pics and 5ks.

 Seniors Pics

A brisk, chilly Fall morning. With temperatures in the low 30's the girls and a friend joined 2,500 other Billingites to run for a cause.  Really no rules just run through a course and get pelted by color.

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 They started out clean and fresh and a little cold

By the end the girls were colorful and down right dirty.

Driving 101

There are two pedals on the floor of the car. The brake pedal is on the left, not to be mixed up with the pedal on the right.

The impact from the crash on the wall behind the fridge.

Sidney was doing an awesome job prior to the little fridge accident. She had mastered her road alignment, making her turns with precision, feeling quite confident. Upon completion of the drive we proceeded to park in the garage.

Me, "slow down a little... a little more."
Me, "slow down a little."
Me, "Hit the Brake". Maybe not the best choice of words...since her foot was already on the brake. She punched the gas instead.
Sidney, "I mixed up the gas and the brake".

These pictures were taken after we emptied the packed fridge.  The fridge was packed from the previous days Costco trip which included 6 gallons of milk, two bins filled with fruit, 5 dozen eggs. Lunch fixin's. Our fridge in the house is now busting at the seams.

Every time I see these pictures I just laugh (I can now! many days later). I am grateful...not that our fridge was demolished but that the fridge stopped us from going right through the garage & onto our patio. When you think about it we saved so much money... we only had to pay $20 to take the fridge to the dump instead of who knows how much $$$ it would have been to repair the front of our van and a major hole in the back of the garage. It is true you can always find something positive out of a negative situation.

Embrace

I was reading a blog today and read this quote, "embrace time spent together". So simple yet very profound. Maybe it is the events that have transpired in the last two weeks, the time spent with family, my children growing at the speed of light, I want to embrace, cherish, and not squander the time I spend with those I love - my husband, my children, family and friends. Time is speeding up.

I don't know if it is just me but events happen in the blink of an eye. Birthdays fly by and since we celebrate all of my kids in two days, back to back, in February, they come and go in an instant. I want to slow down, take note and enjoy...be still.

It seems like only yesterday that my sweet kiddos were clinging to my legs, needing me for everything. Now I am texting them, wondering when they will be home and busy trying to coordinate our schedules.

I love the quote by Pres. Hinckley, "Life is ment to be ENJOYED, not just endured".

Enjoying the time that I have in this life to experience, explore, not just endure to ENJOY...to cherish.

Natalie Spratling Photography

I am starting my own business. Doing what I love doing...taking pictures. You can visit me at href="http://nataliespratlingphotography.blogspot.com">.

Children
Family
Seniors
engagements/weddings
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Natalie Spratling
Photography

Timing is Everything