and not just holiday photo sets

I just finished decorating for the holidays. If you have followed me long enough you know that means I have switched out my everyday portraits for holiday portraits. 

As I sit here in the dining room sipping my morning coffee and I can see the portraits of my kids with Santa on my bookshelf… and I am flooded with memories. It’s been 15 years since we took that visit and these portraits I put out every year have become so much more than just a piece of art or holiday decor. It’s a window into the most magical years of my kids childhood. Those years are short lived but somehow also feel like a long time. With one look up at the portrait I can feel like I am walking right back into watching both kids converse with Santa.  

My kids were in what I define as the magical age. The age when they are full of excitement and wonder. They love magic, pretend and their imaginations are vivid. Their giggles fill the room. I didn’t fully realize the significance of taking the photos and having artwork created during this Santa visit at the time. 

Today, as I sit here looking at the portraits of my kids with Santa, I can hear them say ‘that was the real Santa, Mom.’ I can hear my daughter listing off and pointing to her top three items as she ‘reads’ her list to Santa. 

The years have flown by, and our family dynamic has evolved and changed in ways you just never can fully predict. Yet, this one holiday portrait that I put every year remains a constant reminder of the chaotic and wonderful Christmases we’ve shared as a family. That portrait comes out every year and my kids look for it and can recount the day. They also know the stories I will most definetely tell about it. 

The experiences I create for you and your kids in studio are inspired by the ones I created at home for my kids when they were growing up. I sometimes have mom guilt (am I even a mom if I don’t) because my kids didn’t have these luxury photo experiences. These sessions grew as I learned how to do this for my own kids and I am thrilled to pass this on to your kids. I am also thrilled to be able to provide this to you because I know first hand how exhausting trying to do everything is! We can’t do it all. I am here to take one magical moment off your hands and let you sit back and enjoy it. 

If you are looking for a fun cookie to make at home, below is Grandma Lila’s Candy Cane Cookies. Prob the most requested to eat and to make! Most kids (and some adults) find twisting the dough difficult at first but once you get the hang of it, its fun! 

Cheers to preparing for another magical holiday! 

Candy Cane Cookies

Mix together thoroughly:

1 cup margarine

1 cup sifted confectioners sugar

1 egg

1 1/2t almond extract

1t vanillas

Sift together and then stir in:

2 1/5 cups flour & 1t salt

Divide dough in half – blend one half with 1/2 red food coloring.

Roll about 1 Tablespoon of each color dough into a strip about 4 inches long. Place strips side by side and press lightly together. Twist like a rope.

Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Curve the top to form handle of a candy cane.

Bake about 9 min or until lightly browned. Remove with spatula from cookie sheet while still warm Sprinkle with mixture of 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy (candy cane) and 1/2 cup sugar.