I took Jack to JCPenney's to get his birthday pictures taken on Saturday, May 31st. We went in prior to his actual birthday because the week of his birthday was going to be way too busy.
Pooja was able to take Jack's pictures as well. It's been so fun for her to see the kids grow up through the years. It was a little bittersweet since this was Jack's last time getting birthday pictures at JCPenney's. Next year he'll be having his Senior pictures taken by my friend Starr.
Jack decided to bring his new guitar that we got him for Christmas. The last time he brought in a prop was for his 15th birthday pictures and it was his first acoustic guitar that Miss Sarah from church gave him.
Jackson loves patriotic shirts!
We recently went to Walmart and bought him a bunch of new ones. On our way out of the store Jack wanted to look for a new jean jacket. He really wanted one with the sweatshirt sleeves. We found the exact one he wanted and he said it was the most comfortable jacket he'd ever put on. Unfortunately they only had it in a small and the tag was missing. We took it to the cashier and she looked it up in the system and found it online in a medium so when I got home I bought it for him as an early birthday present.
I took Zeke to get his birthday pictures at JCPenney's on Saturday, May 24th. Our favorite photography Pooja was there. We just love her! I was worried that she might have gotten a different job so I was excited to hear she was still there.
Zeke didn't bring any props with him, but since we use these pictures as school pictures Pooja thought it would be fun to use some props they have on hand. I love how this picture turned out...so cute!
Such a handsome dude!!!
13 years old....it's just so crazy to me!
His pictures turned out so good!
I absolutely love this tradition and as the same time loath it. It's so weird! It's just another thing that's on my "to do list" each year, but I do love the outcome and having the kids' ages documented is just priceless!
Since my oldest is graduating this year I've turned into this super nostalgic person. I've been going down memory lane a lot lately. When I posted about the Christmas stairs pictures I wondered to myself when did that tradition actually start. This is why I love my blog...I was able to go back every year and find all the pictures. Granted the quality isn't great for some of them, and some of them are more candid shots, but it's still fun to look back.
2011...I was pregnant with Zeke.
2012..Zeke Man's first Christmas.
We spent the night at Ga-Ga & Pa's and had Christmas morning there, but didn't do a stair picture.
2013
Second time waking up for Christmas morning at Ga-Ga & Pa's. I just love how all 4 of them can sit on the top stair and they aren't even smooshed together. They were all so little!
2014
When they were little the kids would not wake up early for Christmas morning. I don't know, but we got the golden ticket or something. We have never had a kiddo come into our room at 4am asking to open presents. They are just great sleepers. That does make for some pretty squinty faces when we wake them up since their eyes haven't adjusted to the light yet.
2015
All smiles!
2016
Once the kids did get older we instituted a 7am wake up time on Christmas morning...mama needs her sleep.
2017
Every year I always wake up before the kids so I can go to the bathroom, get my slippers on, go downstairs light a Christmasy smelling candle and start Christmas music. For one of the years we could hear the kids awake in their rooms waiting for the clock to turn to 7am. We could here them talking about coming in and scaring us to wake us up, but little did they know we were right outside their doors so just a few minutes before 7am Michael and I simultaneously burst into the boys room and Ella's room and shouted MERRY CHRISTMAS at the same time. It was hilarious!
2018
This was the start of Ella's nightgown phase.
2019
This was the first year I bought our family Christmas jammies...I even found a set for Ella that came with a matching nightgown for her doll.
2020
Dolls and stuffies have to be included in the stair picture. This was also when Owen was all about these cat sock/slippers I gave him.
2021
The last year with a nightgown and a doll. The end of an era! The last year that Owen wore the cat sock/slippers...they finally got a hole in them and his toes were sticking out.
2022
The year of the Cabin Christmas. This was the year that Christmas day fell on Sunday so we went to church and didn't open gifts until after service so no stair picture. The boys decided to change back into their jammies, but Ella didn't want to.
2023
2 with glasses and the second year of Zeke wearing those same jammies.
3 with glasses and the third year of Zeke wearing those jammies! :) :)
It has been an absolute joy and pleasure to watch these kids grow up. The saying the 'days are long, but the years are short' is so so true.
On Friday, May 31st, I took Jack into get his birthday pictures. When I took Zeke in I asked Pooja if she was going to be there. She said she was scheduled, but what I failed to ask was when she would be in. Jack's pictures were scheduled at 1:45, but she didn't get in until 2:30. I was so bummed. The guy that took Jack's pictures did a great job though. I think I was more bummed that now I was have a chance to see Pooja until February when I take Ella in since Owen won't be getting pictures at JCPenney's anymore. Crazy to think that next year he'll be getting Senior pictures taken! Ahhh!!!
Look at this handsome 16 year old!!!
Jackson smiled with his teeth for a couple pictures, because the guy told him to smile really big, but I could just see how he wasn't into it so I told him just to smile however he wanted to.
This isn't his full smile it's more of his smirk...he kept blinking during the pictures so I think he was just trying to focus on keeping his eyes open. :)
On Saturday, May 25th, I took Zeke to JCPenney's to get his birthday pictures taken.
He chose is outfit without any help from me. He also chose not to bring any stuffies or other toys with him as props.
Pooja is the photographer that took his pictures. She's been there for years. She's always so happy to see us and she's amazing at her job. If you ever go to the Southcenter JCPenney's ask for her.
This was the shirt that Ga-Ga got him for his birthday and he was so excited to get to wear it for his pictures.
For Ella's Birthday she just wanted a few friends over for dinner and a movie. We decided to have her birthday on her actual birthday...February 16th. June and Caitlynn just came home with us after choir practice was finished. We ran over to Costco to get pizza and salad and then came home. The girls hung out and played until Anna & Addison were finished up at choir. They are both in the later class so they don't get finished until closer to 6pm.
For dessert I made the chocolate chip cookies Ella really likes and then we made them into ice cream sandwiches. They were messy, but oh so yummy!
The girls were having such a blast upstairs just hanging out we almost forgot that Ella needed to open her presents so the girls could watch a movie together.
Silly jelly beans!!
Present time!
Miss Kim got Ella the same sweatshirt that we got her for Christmas just in a different color.
She also got 2 diamond paintings, nail stickers, bath stuff and flowers!!!
After presents the girls got to watch the movie Ever After! It is the best rendition of Cinderella ever made period!!!
Caitlynn & June ended up going home around 9pm, but Anna, Addison & Caleb all got to stay the night and I took them home the next day! It was such a fun treat have them over so long!
Ella's flowers from the Kuch family lasted over 2 weeks! They were beautiful!
On Sunday we had Ella's birthday with family. Unfortunately Papa & Ruth missed out, but they were having a great time ministering in Uganda!
Ga-Ga & Pa got Ella an Ulta gift card and there was $114 inside the OJEZ box!!!
Ga-Ga also got Ella this light up heart decoration with a saying about granddaughters!
From her siblings she got a nice digital camera!
I can't remember exactly what happened hear, but she was having trouble with her words and being super silly!
Then Ella opened our gift and it couldn't have gone better. I was so sure she was going to be all nonchalant about it and not care so I had prepared myself for that, but she was so happy!!
I was passing on my ring to her. This heart ring was given to me by my Dad when I was 14 years old during Christmas of 1994. He gave it to me because he had bought my mom a really nice ruby and diamond ring and I was jealous. I wore this ring almost daily until Michael bought me my 10 year wedding anniversary ring. By that time the ring really need some repair. The jeweler was actually surprised I hadn't lost any stones since it so badly needed to be repronged. So last year I took it into Kay Jewelers and I had them reprong it and straighten and thicken the band since it was too thin and bent out of shape. It made my heart so happy to see her so happy about it.
On February 24th, Ella had her birthday pictures at JCPenney's.
She straightened her hair for her pictures. She so cute!
Ella loves flannel shirts and Converse tennis shoes!
All Owen wanted for his birthday was books and to have a nice dinner with family and friends. Isn't that sweet!
The morning of his birthday dinner we were having our Teen Girls Bible Study at our house. I hadn't gotten around to wrapping Owen's present yet so I went to the garage to get a gift bag and tissue paper. I bent over to get the bag and promptly threw out my back so bad I couldn't move. I thankfully had my phone in my back pocket and I was able to get it and call Michael so he could come help me. He had to guide me into the house....I could barely lift my foot off the ground to take the two steps into the house. He tried to help me sit down on the couch, but I started crying I was in so much pain. By this time Sarah who is leading the study with me showed up. Michael was helping me walk around the house so I could hopefully work it out a bit. That did help to the point where I was actually able to sit down on the couch for the bible study.
For dinner my plan had been to just buy Costco rotisserie chicken and Caesar Salad. I was also going to make cupcakes. After Bible Study I was to stand up and talk Owen through making the cupcakes. Ella can't have cupcakes so I needed Owen to make cookies for her. He had a bit of trouble a few times, but with Ga-Ga's help he was able to make some yummy chocolate chip cookies.
Michael was amazing getting everything done and making it so I didn't have to worry a bit. It also helped that it was just a chill time so it didn't need to be this big fuss.
Celebrating my Owen!
Owen presents were basically books and cash! It was perfect for our book loving guy!
Due to numerous things....my back, winter retreat, Owen getting his wisdom teeth out and Owen's job his birthday pictures got pushed back until March 10th! Oh well...better late than never!
How can this guy be 17 years old. He's almost and adult!
His smile in a few of the picture was looking forced so I told him to do a serious one and I like it!
He's such a handsome dude! I can't believe these were his last pictures at JCPenney...next year he'll be getting senior pictures!
