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Click on the photo above or HERE to see the slideshow. Thanks SO much to all of you who check in on frecklephoto on a regular basis. You make it so much fun for me!!! Can’t wait to begin another year of memories. Happy New Year everyone!!!
Feel like reminiscing??? Check out slideshows of years past (click on the dates) 2008 and 2007 .
I am happy to report that our family is feeling much better. At least everyone was sick all at once so we could just get it it over with. I took very few pictures over Christmas. In fact, I never even took my camera out of the bag at Joe’s parent’s house- I’m so bummed about that. The busier life gets the tougher it is to document it. I hope to be better in 2010. I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Christmas!!!!
Look for my 2009 slideshow . . . coming soon!
While the Speelman family recovers from a bout of post-holiday stomach flu, I thought I would post some of my (Aunt B) pictures of their Christmas day. We have a tradition that all of the kids have to wait at the top of the stairs until everyone is ready on Christmas morning. Owen made his mom a drawing that Grandma had transfered to a plate based on a plate Melissa made as a child. Owen also decorated many of the packages. Elle was not that interested in opening presents, but she did enjoy the boxes. Isaac wowed us by playing Joy to the World on Grandma’s guitar. Grandma gave Truitt a plate made from one of his drawings. And Owen was in pirate heaven (Melissa took this one with my camera, but I liked it).
I got to hang out with Kim’s newest granddaughter this morning. She’s so darn *sweet*. Andrea and Scott- you did good :). More to come!
One of my all-time favorite family traditions! Knowing that it was supposed to rain all day on Sunday, we packed up all of our winter gear in the back of the van when we went to Truitt’s bowling party. We left immediately after the party, drove an hour to Bethel and changed our clothes in the parking lot. We traipsed around until we found the perfect tree. As we were dragging our tree up the hill to get it packaged up it was almost completely dark. It’s always an adventure in the Speelman family!
It was another party weekend for the Speelman’s! Truitt has been dying to have a birthday party with all of his friends, so we decided this was the year. We had a “Truitt Strikes Back” party at Crossgate Lanes on Saturday. I made shirts for all of the kids (with a little help from Aunt B). The white shirts looked awesome with the glow bowl lights! It was SO dark in the bowling alley! Thank goodness I had my point and shoot in my purse because there was no way I could have used my DSLR without flash in there. Elle ended up being one of the biggest hits at the party. Most of the boys there are in all boy families. The boys entertained Elle most of the party. Truitt had such a big smile on his face the whole time. He has such a great relationship with all the boys in his class. Thanks to everyone who made True’s party such a success!!
Meet Leah, Kim’s freshest grandchild. Kim’s daughter, Andrea, gave birth to Leah last Friday night and then came to Kim’s Christmas party on Sunday!!! Leah is just over 48 hours old in this pic. How insanely adorable is she?! I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of Leah (and hopefully more of the Christmas party too). Tomorrow is Truitt’s birthday bowling party. Stay tuned!
It’s been almost a month since I took these pics. Thank goodness my good friend Dana is very patient :). I have so many favorites. Her family is so much fun (not to mention completely adorable)! Our kids are great friends. All of our kids have the same (awesome) sitter. Bryce and Owen now go to pre-school together. They are great buddies. Lola and Elle are destined to be the best of friends too. I feel so fortunate that all of our paths have crossed the way they have.
As promised, here are my students final Chuck Close Double Self Portraits. Fun! I have them hanging in the hallway from the floor to the ceiling. They are such a fun burst of color and life. I would love to have a whole wall in my house wallpapered with them (I’m not sure Joe would go for that).
Yesterday was Elle’s FIRST birthday party! We packed LOTS of people into our tiny house to celebrate. Elle had a great time. She had a blast toting balloons around the house. It was so nice of everyone in our families to make the trip to Cincinnati to celebrate with us. I took very few pictures, but my mom made up for it. Her pics are posted below. Tomorrow is Elle’s official birthday. We’ll have to stick a candle in a piece of leftover cake :).
