Fall Photo Session

The previous post is why I do photo sessions with my girls. Although the school pictures turned out okay, I still love the way I can catch their personalities myself. Plus, it just so fun! Of course, it's hard to find a time when all three of them are willing to pose for pictures. The promise of getting to wear their Christmas dresses and a trip to the dollar store afterwards was all it took for Carmen and Aliza. But Charlotte was a little harder to win over, hence the lack of pictures with her in them.

 Apparently when I was snapping this picture a squirrel was running behind me, so they got a little distracted. 

This one went on the Christmas card this year

 

 Carmen took this one while I was trying to get Charlotte to stop crying. She cried most of the time and kept saying "go home!". 

 No such luck, she still didn't want to pose (even after I let her hold a sucker!)

After I took this shot someone walked out of those doors behind them. He commented that I should take a picture from behind because it was super cute. I wish I had....

School Pictures

The lovely 2011 school year pictures....

 Aliza  - Northridge Preschool

Carmen - Hollymead Elementary - 1st Grade

Aliza turns FIVE

 I just can't believe this girl is now FIVE years old! For her birthday she really wanted to have a party and had ALL the details planned out. They were quite extravagant and more than this preggo mommy could pull off at the time, but we still managed to have a pretty good time.  We had a family dinner with cake on her actual birthday.

 For her friend party, we had two of her friends over for a play date. We started out by having everyone help make cupcakes. I think they really enjoyed being a part of actually making them.

 While the cupcakes baked, they played with some of her new presents.

 And they also painted sun catchers.

 And did stamps and colored

 And then decorated cupcakes and opened presents. It was so low key, yet everyone seemed to really have a good time.

Aliza is such an easy person to please (most of the time). And she is also very much a people pleaser.  She loves to be surrounded by people, and considers every person she knows a friend of hers. She reminds me everyday that she LOVES school and never wants to miss a single day. I hope she always feels this way about school. She still loves her pink bunny and carries it most places with her. She will readily "put on a show" for you at any time of the day. Dancing and singing are some of her favorite things to do. And Aliza is still my fashionista. She is always concerned about what she is wearing, and keeps me in line as well! Aliza is so detailed oriented and can recall what someone was wearing or the details of any occasion even from years past. We love having Aliza as part of our family! 

It's A Boy!

It's true! The Bean family really will have a little boy after all! I've strongly felt this entire pregnancy that it was going to be a boy. This is a personal story, but I want to remember it. Almost a year ago I was lying down taking a nap after church one Sunday. David was right beside me taking a nap as well. I kept waking up with that feeling you have when you are waiting and waiting for someone to arrive. I kept thinking "Where is he?! Why isn't he here yet? ". The feeling would not go away and I kept looking and reminding myself that "he", David, was right beside me. Later that afternoon, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was still waiting for someone to "get here". It dawned on me that perhaps that was Heavenly Fathers way of telling me it was time for another child to join our family.

My entire life, before getting married, I always said I wanted ALL boys when I became a mother. But when the technician confirmed that the baby really is a boy, I was speechless the rest of the ultrasound. All sorts of nervous feelings started racing through my mind. I don't know anything about boys!!! And there are all sorts of "boy things" I would be perfectly happy going the rest of my life without knowing more about them.  Legos, Thomas the Train, super heroes, trucks, dinosaurs, scouting, tying ties.... I could do without all of these things! Not the mention the whole "boy parts" issue.... And then someone mentioned the great feeling of sending a son on a mission! WHAT, I have to do that too!?!?! I can't do that?!!! Send my child away for two whole years to some other corner of the earth? NO WAY! Even though I did it myself, the thought of sending my child away nearly gave me a panic attack, and he's not even born yet.

I love my girls, they are challenging in their own ways. And I know that I will love my son as well. (It's still pretty weird to say "son") It know this will bring a wonderful new adventure to our family. The girls are excited to have a brother and David is beyond thrilled and stressed about it as well. I know he looks forward to all those things I said I could do without. I was pretty sure he was going to go out the next day and buy a train table, but he resisted! I've also never seen him so concerned about my welfare, encouraging me to get rest, take my vitamins and eat well.  And I guess I've got four more months to get used to the idea of not saying "the girls", but rather "the kids". Fun times are ahead!

**And for those who are wondering, the other side of those signs said - It's a Girl (we were prepared either way) 

Pjs and Pancakes

If you give a Pig a Pancake....

 Aliza was studying the letter P last week at school and I was in charge of the pjs and pancake party for the class. It was really fun to finally be able to see her in this sort of environment. She reminds me everyday that she LOVES school and doesn't ever want to miss it. I hope she always keep that attitude about school.

Aliza's Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

 Pumpkin Patch

 Her teacher - Mrs. Brickmeier

This is Eli, Charlotte's best buddy whom she constantly talks about. They have so much fun together!