AUBREY KINCH

They are done! Christmas cards are ordered and I am so darn happy and emotional about these new family pictures. Something came over me this year realizing we have 2 years left with our big guy. He turned 16 last month and while I know he'll always come home there's a whole new realization to him becoming an adult and making a name for himself. He is such a God fearing young man and we really only have the smallest amount of time left with impact and influence on his heart and mind.

Being these kids parents is such a privilege. I never take it for granted God choosing me to parent them and love them. To teach them and mold them. To impress on their hearts the goodness of God and this life we have. Eternity is such a treasure and I get one chance to raise these arrows right and it's a gift and opportunity I am thankful for every single day.

So here I am documenting these family pictures of dear friend, Jenna @jennawilkesphotography, did for us. She has captured our family for so many years and she is a gem always bringing out the best and giving me keepsakes to have years and years to come. 

photos by Jenna Wilkes Photography

That's a wrap!! We took our family pictures early this year to be able to check it off the list and it was a relief getting them all back to sort through and pick our Christmas card. You might have seen the debate here and I'm happy to say, they've been ordered and delivered and I'll share our final selection very soon!

Our photographer, Jenna, worked with Andrew at Discount Direct before he left and she's been our go-to for a few years now. The kids love her, she has such an eye and does amazing work with our natural, AZ desert! Plus, her galley she sends always has a slew of images so I have plenty to choose from. Girl knows I like options!

While Emery and Hollyn's dresses are both past seasons, I've linked below my dress, the guy's tops and some fun options for you planning for this holiday session and getting updated photos. Also, check out this post for some tips on coordinating for pictures!

PHOTOS BY

Jenna Wilkes Photography

Jenna is amazing and such a doll. Ironically, last winter I had posted something about Andrew being home from work and we were so excited and she responded and said "Wait! Your husband just started at Discount Direct, huh?!" (that's the call center for Discount Tire) and he had!! So she had been a follower of mine and then recognized Andrew since he started working with her and we totally hit it off. I met her in person a month or so later at the company work party and she's so dang talented, she just had to shoot our family pictures!

We weren't even going to shoot family pictures this year since we had our Christmas cards done in September but I was so excited it all aligned to work out and get some updates ones to print and have around the house. These are JUST the sneak peeks she text me and I'm already dying. I had to share right away!

Similarly, let's talk through some tips for family pictures and how to coordinate without being matchy matchy, shall we?

You'll see here Andrew rocking buffalo check and I found this dress from PinkBlush and knew it would be a perfect fit to coordinate with him and then having all the kiddos in solids. Because the dress has the cranberries color, it went perfectly with Hollyn's tutu and the black in my dress and Andrew's shirt goes seamlessly with Emery's dress, too. Because I also have gray in my dress, it was a great fit having Drake in gray versus black or white, like the girls, so he stands out on his own, too.

The girls are both in whimsy styled outfits with Hollyn's little collared top and Emery's linen dress - similar, but not the same. Their Birks are coordinating with metallics and make for a great boho touch pairing with my dress, too.

The girls both have Buffalo Check bows that coordinate with daddy and I'm in a gold necklace that ties with the girls metallic shoes. Win win! And Drake opted for my white converse instead of his black converse so he coordinated with Hollyn. Seamless pairing!

We knew we were going to be outside in the desert which is super boho and warm feeling so while it's not typically like me to go for a brighter dress like I have on, I knew it would pop so nicely against our Arizona background. Same with the cranberry tutu for Hollyn.

We are all set and ready to send our Christmas cards! Back in September we were working on a fun campaign with Hanna Andersson so it gave us an opportunity to shoot some family pictures all decked out in Christmas jammies and it was the perfect chance to jump on ordering our cards right then. We used Minted, which we have for a handful of years now, and couldn't be happier.

I used to stress and stress over if the card should have our whole family, if we should match, coordinate, only have the kids, include the dog, inside or outside... and then thinking about looking for a perfectly styled design was another thing to add to the bundle. Previous years, I spent days looking for the right card that eluded Christmas, our family, simple and classic, yet fun and unique and because we chose to jump on doing them early, I had no stress.

None.

I looked over Minted one night, picked 3 I liked on the first page of their Christmas card selections and popped our image in - BOOM - done. Picked it and ordered within 20 minutes. That's the way to do it. But all that said, I want to encourage you to enjoy the process of sending Christmas cards! Shouldn't it be a fun time being able to update family and friends with your year? Hopefully you can remind yourself that in the hustle and bustle this season brings.

Simple. Lovely. YOU.

We had such a fun time on Sunday celebrating both our little ladies! A few months back my grandparents were in town and Gam Gam is all into horses so her and Emery were watching Spirit on Netflix and it just clicked - we were having a "horsey birthday party" per Emery's request and Hollyn doesn't care so it stuck!

Gam Gam and G-Money (we call my grandpa this) got the girls these cute little outfits for their gifts, we scored the most darling invites from Minted, our friend Erin from Whip It Good Cookies did the best creations, Presh Party handled the cutest party hats and balloons, and Indy & Pippa sent us the coordinating bows to pull it all together. We felt so loved on by everyone who came out to celebrate them with us!

Because I was asked a few times on Instagram about our snacks, here are a couple items we made!

1 box Teddy Grahams

4 cups Chex cereal

1 cup milk chocolate chips

1/4 cup peanut butter

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup M&M's

2 cups mini marshmallows

Instructions //

Melt the milk chocolate chips and peanut butter together and stir to combine, then add 4 cups Chex cereal and coat in a bowl. Transfer to a large ziploc bag with powered sugar and shake to coat creating the puppy chow base. Then add all ingredients to a large bowl, mix to combine and serve!

Instructions //

Melt the white chocolate to have ready and layer all your ingredients! We start with the kettle corn, add the white chocolate by drizzling it over the popcorn, crunch up the pretzels and circus animals, sprinkle with sprinkles and repeat - popcorn, white chocolate, pretzels, circus animals, sprinkles... etc until your bowl is full!

Grief is a funny thing. Andrew's grandpa went home to Jesus September 2017 and we said goodbye to him October 2017 with all the family, cousins, aunts, uncles... everyone. It was rough. I have a video on my phone from minutes after learning he passed of Emery in her Elsa costume and her asking "mommy, why are you crying? are you okay mommy?" and I wanted to remember her sweet soul and her sweet comments because she said over and over she loved me and asked if I needed a hug.

Their hearts are innocent and pure and GOLD. Solid freaking gold. In that moment it was comforting and familiar and gave me a good push to get through the days following coming to terms with not seeing grandpa again.

Fast forward to July 2018 and Andrew's grandma needed a favor from him. He loves finding cars, flipping cars, and making a business of it so when she needed to turn in the lease on her vehicle and buy a new one, Andrew was all over it. Take note, we're in Phoenix and she's in Golden, CO. Of course he found her the best deal and we planned to drive there 13 hours on a Thursday, get in around 7pm, spending Friday with family and fly home first thing Saturday morning.

It was a whirlwind. A good and healing whirlwind.

We stayed with his grandma and it was my first time being in that home. So much love and memories were there. SO MUCH was told through the things on the walls and collectibles they had throughout the home. It was like a big wave of grief all over again knowing he wasn't there to give us a big hug and share a donut and coffee. Such a weird experience coming to terms with that.

Being at peace with his passing was easy because we knew he was no longer in pain after suffering for so many years - he was with Jesus now. Whole and home.

Such a random post but it's always good to talk about what's happening in life and share our hearts.

xo