Christmas Portraits 2014

We took our annual Christmas portraits in mid-November, but as always, it's crazy busy around here, so I'm just getting around to putting them up.  My mom had bought Izzie's dress last year and also bought this year's dress last year as well.  Since it matched well with the lines Gymboree had out last year, I was able to snatch up Brady's whole outfit on sale with coupons, spending less than $20 for the sweater and pants.  She has already purchased Izzie's dress for next year, which again lines up with Gymboree's lines for this year, so Brady already has all of his pieces for next year as well.  Gymboree also has adult clothes for Christmas to match their lines, so Andy got a coordinating sweater for next year as well.  I only have to get my outfit, but I've already found one I love ;)

 Izzie is almost impossible to photograph these days as she wants to be everywhere!  We were lucky we got a few where she was sitting and most of the time they were snapped as she was getting ready to get up and move!

 Getting her still and smiling was impossible.

 Brady on the other hand, did great!

 The only one we have of her smiling is due to Andy lifting her up in the chair and flying her around.  The minute he'd put her down, she run, so you can see his arm behind here.  It's better than nothing.

 Pajama pictures.

 Izzie's weren't exactly pj's but I couldn't resist the cute casual outfit.

A comparison of the kids, both around 20 months old.

Visit with Santa 2014

Every year since Brady's been a baby (minus our year in Disney), we have gone to the same mall for Santa pictures.  They are the best because they do appointment times rather than a standing line.  Last year, we made the mistake of waiting until December, paired with a Friday, and it was a disaster.  Our appointment time was four hours from when we arrived, so I spent most of my day driving around getting other things done while waiting for our private audience time.  This year, I decided we would be going before Thanksgiving in an effort to get in more quickly.  He came on Saturday, November 15, and we decided we would go the next day, as Brady has school Monday through Thursday, and Friday was a madhouse the last time.  That also meant Andy could come as well.  He had never seen the kids see Santa, minus when we took Brady to Disney.  The only hiccup is that they don't do appointment times on the weekends, and it's a regular line.  They open for Santa daily at 8AM, but the mall didn't open until noon, so we decided if we went early, we shouldn't have a long line, especially so soon after his arrival.  We got there around 10AM and walked right in to see Santa!  I was so pleased, we will definitely be doing it the same time next year.

 Brady has never once been terrified and screamed when it came to Santa.  He had been rehearsing all the things he was going to ask for weeks in advance.  He ran right up to him and jumped onto his lap.

 Izzie let Brady go first and that might have been wise because she's got an attitude and won't do anything she doesn't want to do.  I thought for sure this was going to be our first year with a screamer.  She did great!

 A look back at all five (FIVE?!?!?! can you believe it?) visits with Santa.

Izzie's comparison from last year.  It's unbelievable when we look at videos and pictures from a year ago how much she has changed!  Her hair is certainly one of the more visible changes.  It's so long, curly, and unruly now!  She's almost two now and has lost almost all of her "babiness."

The together shot comparision from last year.  Izzie was more smiley last year, but it's so much harder to get them both looking now.  We'll see what future visits hold for our family.

Sports Portraits 2014 & A Pitt Home Game

It's that time of the year that all of us sports fans wait for since the last second of the Super Bowl in early February.  After 8.5 long months, football is back!!! Thursday through Monday nights are now filled with games.  It's been several years since we took Brady for sports portraits and never have for Izzie, so it was time to get some done.  Brady has been able to say Go Pitt since before he was two and has been going to games since before he was even born.  We've had a hard time getting some good smiles during portraits lately, but I think he did very well this time around.

Loving on the panther.

Brady was six months old the last time we had portraits taken in his Pitt jersey.  These are going to be great for when he plays for them someday.

What sports session would be complete without Steelers gear?  Charlie Bear has been with us since Brady was about five months old and is always decked out for game day during the season.

Brady was 18 months old the last time we captured him in his Steelers jersey and Charlie Bear too!

Brady did great, so of course, Izzie would be the difficult one.  

The kids are both 18 months old in these portraits and wearing the same jersey (yes, I know Mendenhall doesn't play for us anymore).

 At the end of September, we made our way back to Pittsburgh to go to a Pitt game, which of course, wouldn't be complete without a beautiful Pittsburgh skyline photo.

Here it comes!!! 

Pitt Princesses 

Get ready, in 14 years, this will be for real!  Although, we figure he'll be a better running back. 

Of the two kids, Izzie has the better arm. 

 You can't go to Heinz Field without admiring a Lombardi Trophy or two, or six!

Primanti's sandwich time. 

For a late September game, it was crazy hot in the 80s and very sunny.  We all came out a bit pink and the game started around nap time, so Izzie crashed before we made it out of the parking garage.