Anatomy of a holiday photo

The location: Dana Point, California.

The props: Santa hats, "one size fits all."

Ok, maybe not all.

The assistant: Uncle Jess.

(Yes, ladies, he is this handsome in person.)

The portrait subjects:
Jack

Lauren

Caroline

Our attempts at the perfect holiday photo:

The best we could get before the camera battery ran out:

Works for us!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our dear family and friends!

Merry Christmas

May the light of the season be with you all year.

Sunday morning, 12/13, just before church

Lauren on an Early Weekday Morning in November

You have got to love that face.

Jack Taylor, Fearless Warrior

This photo, taken in early Summer 2008, captures our little J's personality to a T.

Adventurous, ebullient, clever and resourceful (he pieced together this get-up entirely on his own, gear courtesy of my uncle's garage).  Completely, completely hilarious.

He is one-of-a-kind and we're so glad he's ours.

Upon arrival in California, Lauren expands her interests (much to our chagrin)

At the immediate conclusion of our cross-country roadtrip to Cali, we headed straight for the beach.

As we pulled into the parking lot at Dana Point, Jack could hardly contain his enthusiasm.  "Look!" he exclaimed, "the ocean!"  The sun was just beginning to set, and the sight of its deep orange rays stretching and glinting across the Pacific blue was simply breathtaking.

Lauren, equally excited, issued a follow-up observation that caught us all off-guard: "Look, Mommy!  Cute boys!" 

She pointed over to three young surfer boys--tanned, blond, sand-speckled and yes, "cute"--standing just a few feet ahead.  SoCal, as we've observed, is full of them.

Lauren is barely two...not even two and a half yet!

I think we're in trouble.

We moved to California

It's a long story.

We landed in a little place called Mission Viejo.

We love it here.

(East Coast, you will always be our first love.  We will be back to see you as much as possible.)

 

Caroline Was Tinkerbell

Our little light.

 

 

 

 

Lauren Was Snow White

 

 

 

 

 

Jack was a Race Car Driver

 

Happy Halloween!

The Sweetest Thing

Caroline, pictured here at six weeks old.

Jack's T-Ball Stardom, Part 2

Man, was it hot out there. Little J is such a trooper.

Jack Taylor, T-Ball Superstar

This summer marks Jack's first foray into organized sports via Bam-Bam T-Ball at the YMCA. We wish we could offer a detailed account of his many home-run hits and all-star plays, but the heat made us delirious and unable to remember much beyond how cute he looked in his little blue cap.

More Caroline (Part 5)

True story: Caroline has been smiling since the day she was born. Strangers everywhere light up at her little grin.

Stranger: "Wow, she really likes me!"

Jon: "She smiles at everyone."

Stranger: (Crestfallen) "Oh."

More Caroline (Part 4)

More Caroline (Part 3)

I love this one.

More Caroline (Part 2)

More Caroline

Caroline is enjoying only-child status for the week while Jack and Lauren enjoy the many wonders of Orlando, Florida with their grandparents. We're helping our "Little C" celebrate with a series of blogposts dedicated to her and only her. Here's a peek at her first few days on earth--more to follow.