Family Picture {Outtakes}

Over Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fun to try and get a group shot of the cousins while we were all together. I had letters that spelled 'FAMILY', so I gave one to each of the older kids. It was a comical undertaking to get a picture where everyone was looking, AND we could see all the letters! This whole process lasted less than 10 minutes, maybe even less than five. Here are the outtakes:

Notice Wyatt is using his 'Y' to prod Piper.

One is trying to escape!

Probably the best one of this pose. In retrospect, white letters against white shirts weren't the best (not that I did any kind of prep for this other than calling all the kids over when they were playing in the backyard.)

She was determined to get away, even if it meant losing her shirt!

So then I had them all sit down and just set the letters behind them.

Love Wyatt's face in this one!

The babies look like they're both getting the squeeze.

And the one I decided was the best, even though Nicole still wasn't too happy:

At least we could see all their faces! (I really like that we could see their varying heights when they were standing, but the 'FAMILY' was just too hard to read.)

Thanksgiving 2011

For Thanksgiving, we drove up to Wichita to spend the week with our Amey family. The weather was nice and mild while we were there, so we played outside quite a bit.

Piper enjoying the outdoors.

Lila and Kaelyn

I had an easier time getting her to look at me when she was standing.

Unlike her sister, who requested to pose with the props I'd brought along (for the family picture I took).

We played some games, like "Mother May I".

Piper wasn't quite ready for "Mother May I", but she was happy to watch.

My turn to be the Mother :)

Then one day we went over to the church/school (where Ben's Mom teaches and Ben's brother, Brian, is the Youth Pastor) to play in the gym and on the playground. Here Grandpa has his hands full.

Grandma and Piper

Brian blew up the little bounce house for the kids to enjoy.

Nicole wasn't sure she liked Grandma holding someone else.

Brian and Mark, shooting some hoops.

Wyatt was having fun running around the gym.

Only a dad can get away with this.

Piper was well loved :)

She didn't seem to mind!

Practicing walking with Daddy.

Someone was excited to crawl around such a big floor!

One with Mommy (proof I was there!)

Whee!

Dogs sniff. Babies finger each other.

(L-R): Nicole (15 mos.), David (3), Lila (5), Wyatt (3), Britton (8), Kaelyn (6), Rachel (5), Piper (11 mos.)

They had NO problem giving me their silly faces :)

Then we went outside to the playground.

Ready, set, go!

I think this was the point where Ben got stuck!

Maybe he should have gone down this way!

Thanksgiving day was also nice. In the morning, Grandpa hooked up a little flatbed trailer to his riding lawnmower and gave some rides around the yard.

The girls were waving and yelling "Happy Thanksgiving!" like they were in a parade.

Piper said "I can wave too!"

Followed by, "Ooh, what's this?"

The girls were seated at their own table for the Thanksgiving meal. They were excited about that! We made some cute leaf name cards, so everyone would know where to sit.

More rides after lunch.

Then they came inside, and I got out the finger paints we'd brought along.

The day after Thanksgiving we went out to the family farm to visit with extended family. We went outside to see the animals, starting with the kitty cats. (Right after I took this picture, this cat pooped on Lila. I thought her meowing was to say she didn't like the way Lila was holding her, but apparently she *needed* to be put down!!)

Wyatt, watching the cows (the other animals we saw).

The dog was also interested in the food.

We also played with some bubbles.

The two girls on the right are Ben's cousin's daughters. The next day we went home. We had a great time playing with our cousins, playing cards, eating good food and just enjoying being together!