Been a while

Christmas is such a hectic time of the year. So much is going on, it is difficult to find time to share. I wanted to share some more recent photos of the family. We were planning on getting some photos done this year of the family, but due to budget issues, time issues and us not getting our act together we had to settle for some snaps taken using a remote trigger. But before I get to the family, here is the cutie who is soon to be a big brother...



Yes those are Dad's shoes and yes Clayton has a bit of growing to do...

Well here is a family photo... I know, nothing in full color today. Merry Christmas from us!

Christiansen's Christmas

Our most excellent friends the Christiansens asked me to take some holiday photos for them! I thought it would be best to start from the youngest and work my way toward the oldest. We did the photos at their home, in front of their beautiful stone fire place.

The photos are just a few of my favorites (just a small sample). All the photos with Clark turned out uber cute. How could they not when you have chubby cheeks and huge eyes like these (he is such a little animated baby)...





Christopher is Clayton's buddy. The kid is a little wild man, and when Clayton and Christopher get together watch out! Christopher is one cute kid though, and like all the family, very photogenic!





Buddy, is a little gentleman. He looks so good in his vest and tie.





The big sister, Kayla is so beautiful. She is going to be a heart breaker!





And last is the whole family, it is sad that we live so far apart. The one thing I think that would have made the pictures a step up, is if the Christmas tree had been up. That is my one recommendation so we may do a quick retake?



Lucky they had a good photog, to make them look as good in print as they do in real life. OK, a monkey with a point-n-shoot camera could have made them look good, but would it have been as much fun???

Christmas at the cabin

Like I mentioned earlier I am way behind on the whole blog thing. Christmas was crazy fun with ton of family that totally wore me out, and then work was busy!

This year we spent Christmas with the wife's side of the family up at a cabin at snowbird. The mountain was beautiful and the cabin was roomy yet cozy all at the same time. It has been a while since all of Anji's sisters have been together. Seems lately there is always is someone A-wall.

Well we weren't there for Christmas morning because we were with my family (we heard that Christmas morning at the cabin was world war three with gift wrapping flying and parents ducking for cover).

So what fun things did we do? We took the kids out for a little sledding. It wasn't a huge success but it was just great being out in the fresh cold mountain air.









The cabin had beautiful views.



And when it got to cold it was time to go inside and warm up, snuggle and get some hot coco. Izzy like it so much she stayed inside the whole time.



Poor Damon got a upset tummy.



Papa (Grandpa) went wild playing with the grand kids,



And Nana had the grand kids eating right out of her hand.



Did I mention that the kids got guns for Christmas? It is the wild, wild west...





This is why it is required that young hunters take "hunter's safety courses"!



One last special note: Nikki and Stoker were sealed in the Salt Lake temple during the holiday. It was a very special moment for the whole family. OK I know the photo of Nikki and Stoker is not from the night of the ceremony but I liked it best of the photos I have of them (seems most all my photos are of the kids).



Nik and Stoker's parents were so happy and proud! What a wonderful day!

Christmas in Sanpete

OK, I am just a little behind on the photos. We spent a portion of the Christmas holiday with my family and then another with my wife's. It was a busy Christmas and I remember feeling like I needed a vacation from my vacation when all was said and done.

We spent Christmas eve and morning in Sanpete with Grandama and Grandpa Marx. Clayton got new cars, trains and a whole slew of other new toys..... So with all the new toys what to do?

Brody, we are going to go sledding!

No you are too little, you can't go sledding with us! We might loose you in a snow bank and never see you again!

So what do you do when you get a whole bunch of new toys? You ditch them and go out sledding! Way more fun than any old toy!




We used the four wheelers to pull the sleds up the mountain and then we rode the sleds down the mountain!

Clayton loved it till it got to far past his bed time. He held up like a champ for more than a few hours, but the cold and lack of sleep finally got him.

You tell Jordan to smile and you get a snowball hucked at you!


The big kids had fun as well. I even got to see my little brother Andrew and his wife Lyndsay. I feel like we haven't seen them since they got married.




Yep, sledding is fun!



Even the dog (Sweets) got into the action... Of course not of her freewill!

Christmas greetings from Dani, Jason

Here is one cute family... Great mom and dad, protective and loving big brother and hyper active over the top cute twin sisters! You don't get better than this. Of course throw in the mix last minute preparation, an inexperienced photographer (me), a family running late with no time to spare and what do you get... The Sander's Christmas portraits.



This is the closest the twins ever got to smiling for the camera. They just were not amused!

Don't stick that lip out at me Emma!



Even when the twins don't make happy faces you can't but help wanting to reach through the monitor and trying to give those cheeks a pinch!



I thought that if I threw some snow the twins just might smile... Another failure.



Next time I know exactly what to do to make the pictures "picture perfect".

Christmas pictures for John and Mandy

Meet Buddy (also known as Johnny), Max (sometimes Christopher), and Kayla (her dad affectionately calls her Key Largo like in the beach boys song). John and Mandy are really good friends that live here in the town homes with us. They are the same friends we went to Maui with. They wanted some portraits for their Christmas cards....





Aren't they just the cutest kids? Max (the little guy) is Clayton's best buddy. Frequently he will tell us that he wants to go to Max's house to play.

We took pictures after a ginger bread house choir performance that Buddy and Kayla were part of, downtown here in Salt Lake City. Temple square is always so beautiful during the Christmas season.








So where are the parents you ask. Well Mandy is pregnant and didn't want to be in the picture for reasons any mother would understand (though men might not). It was a bit of a challenge to get all the kids to cooperate. Max is only two and it takes work to get the attention of a two year old, let alone his older siblings.



Of course when there is a camera around Kayla is always willing to jump in and take any one's place who might not feel up to the challenge of being photographed! She is such a cutie that no one minds.



Last picture, I promise.... Well the kids were pretty much worn out... Even Kayla had a hard time giving that brilliant smile she has. Plus the cold was starting to get to everyone, the kids only took off the coats for a second while I hurried and took pictures like mad, but still the cold was getting to everyone!