yearly photo shoot.

So for the past 5 years we have had someone take professional family photos for us. Fall is my favorite time of year .... well winter too ;) but I like to have the pictures taken in the fall. It's just so colorful and such a great time of year over all. (In my opinion anyway)

This year it wasn't quite in the budget. Buying a new house kinda came first on the budget list ;) And that's ok, because we need a place to live, and we love our new home. Anyway... I still wanted to get some updated shots of the kids but I really do not like school pictures. So on a whim one Saturday morning I decided to go for it. We were going to take a walk down the tracks and by the river, there are trails down there (which are steps from our door) and the leaves were so pretty. I decided to tell the kids I wanted to play around and get some pics of them, I even let them pick their outfits....that's living on the edge, you never know what they will come up with! ;) They did good though! Kale even picked his vest and tie from Daddies graduation, and I was glad, because I love that outfit.

So anyway... I used both my good camera and my iphone. However our lap top had crashed a few months ago and we switched out our hard drive to get it up and running again. No biggie, except we haven't added back in my photo program, so I haven't downloaded any of my pictures from my good camera on here. However, I have to say, I got some pretty sweet pics with my iphone and my little editing app I have on there. I impressed myself, and I had fun! Here are some of our shots.....

of course we fooled around a bit too! 

One of my favorites! 

Lil Missa did not want in on this one...it was on our way back and she was D.O.N.E ...... but I love it of the big kids. We were going for Serious...Bella just can't keep the giggles away though. K man is very serious..and Emma's got the whole "grunge" thing goin' on....and it works! Def. a Favorite from the day! 

We Had Fun! 

White Mountains

A couple weeks ago we took a day trip up to The White Mountains. One of our favorite places! I personally love driving up the mountain, we have done it many times, but it never gets old. It is just so amazing and beautiful. It has been cloudy the past few times we drove up...honestly I don't remember the last time it was crystal clear at the top.
It wasn't looking so good on the way, but as we got closer and even as we drove higher up the mountain, the clouds rolled away. We had a great view and the kids were really amazed by it.
Even just the drive up, through the Notch and the Presidentials was great.

Lots of hikers! 

Entering the Mount. Washington Auto Road. 

If you've never done it, you should (if you are in NH) it is worth it!! SO Worth it! 

A view from the way up. 

There is a certain spot we have stopped at on the way up a few times. There are some really good views, it was before the snow but it was actually colder and windier at this point...

pretty right!!!?!!

Bryn grabbed Emma's hand at one point and couldn't stop the giggling, she was very nervous looking out her window at the pretty much straight drop off on the edge of the road!

Then we reached the snow and ice... we stopped there because...well HELLO, we haven't seen our snow in 2 years!!! Bryn had just turned 3 when we moved south so it is neat to see her check it out as well, since she doesn't really remember it too much. 

The clouds coming over the mountain were so cool! 

 LOVED the way the ice looked on these markers! 

 SNOW!!!!!!!

yum ;)

Almost to the top...that's the Observatory (and the restaurant) .

We made it to the top and walked around a bit...and of course took pics at the summit! we were going to eat lunch up top. There is a restaurant near the Tip Top House, but there were a ton of people. So just hung out for a bit and then went down and ate else where. 

I know...A lot of pictures! Seriously though, you can't resist taking so many pictures and sharing them. They are just too great to keep to your self ;) 

We had a great day!

Mount. Washington.... home to the craziest weather in the world! Really! 

notice the chains holding the house down ;)

remember... it was the beginning of October! I love it!!! :)

I just LOVE these shots of the kids on the train. The Cog Railway.... a very VERY Steep ride up the mountain on a slow going train. Pretty neat right... maybe one day we will go up that way ;) But I love how fun these are... like a Magical Train in the sky! The Polar Express maybe!? 

Great day in the Clouds!