"Family" Pictures

For the last 9 years, I have been mentally compiling a list of things I want once "we are finished." I am not ridiculous enough to believe that my life pre-being-finished was lacking in any way. I have basically been spoiled/lucky/blessed/the-most-fortunate-person-ever since conception (being a twin gives you a pretty awesome foundation in life). However, there were things that were just not do-able. To be fair... most of these things are still not completely do-able. Haha. Unfortunately, once you finish medical training, you are expected to pay back the MASSIVE loans that is basically the equivalent of two monthly house mortgages "graciously" spread out over ten years; you buy a house and also have an actual house mortgage; you should probably begin saving for retirement, college, a rainy day; hello much higher tax bracket- sure, I would LOVE to pay for some unemployed person's car/food/drugs; etc... 

Some of my friends and I joke- as we are consignment sale hopping and using coupons everywhere..."If only I had married a doctor, maybe I wouldn't have to be so frugal." Haha. 

PLEASE believe me that I am not by any means trying to imply that my life is even slightly difficult. I am FULLY aware of the amazingness that is my life. 98 % of it is, of course, this girl in the Princess Monkey jammies lying on my legs/the baby girl moving in my belly/my husband sitting across from us/my family/ friends/books/chocolate. But, the part of my happiness that is a result of this gorgeous house, the knowledge that I can feed and clothe and spoil my kids, this whole not actually having to work thing...well, I do realize how easy my life is. I promise. Several times a day, I enter a "is this really my life?" moment where I just literally cannot believe my luck. BUT, I do really, really hate medical school debt and the government sucking most of our money away.

I'm not sure where I am going with all of this...I just know that I have DREAMED of one day being able to afford family pictures. Thankfully, we always had Amanda, so I basically did get them- just for free before. Haha. But, there is something special about being able to actually fulfill one of these dreams I had as we were packing to move again or leaving our friends AGAIN or I was scavenging clearance shelves during the last 9 years. It's still crazy to me that this journey is over, and here I am posting paid-for family pictures. In some weird way, this feels like a mini finish line.

On to the pictures...

Of course, all dreams don't turn out as expected. Lily REFUSED to wear the long sleeve winter dress I bought for her at Kohl's on super clearance. It was silver, sparkly, etc..., but she tore it off, threw it at me, ran out of the room, and slammed the door in my face. 

We are really looking forward to her teenage years.

Therefore, it was 35 degrees, and Lily was wearing a thin $4 H&M purple dress. 

Oh. And, about 10 minutes before we were leaving for the pictures (that I had planned and booked MONTHS in advance), Hughes texted me that he was stuck in the OR (operating room) and wouldn't be able to make the pictures in time. This happened 3 seconds after Lily slammed the door in my face and ran off in protest of the long sleeve dress.

Since I am such rational, calm, non-dramatic person, this information did NOT send me into a frenzy of tears, throwing things, yelling about being married to a doctor, stomping, etc... 

We had a little mommy-Lily shoot, instead. 

I love her goober face...BUT, come on, Lily! Be normal for a second. 

Cute. 

Precious. Except I think I just look fat? Like Lily is listening to a cheeseburger digest?

I do like this one. Reese. :)

She is really talented at editing. 

(I LOVED our sweet photographer- she didn't miss a beat when I showed up frantic, still crying a little, minus a husband, and with a half-dressed kid. Her name is Jessi Pansock if you live in the Tri-Cities. She is really talented, FAST at editing!, and reasonably priced as well). 

Big Sister bracelet (thank you, Aunt Paula!!) and necklace. 

I love the smears of dried paint on her fingers. 

GOOB.

It's hard to tell, but it was FREEZING that day. 

Eating Reese? Not sure. Haha. 

I am happy with how they turned out, especially since we had some last minute changes. In the Spring, we are doing a Full session with Baby Reese and hopefully a husband. 

Some other things on my once-we-are-finished-list:

1. Disney World

2. Flexible Fabric band-aids (have you tried them? SO much better than regular plastic-y ones. They cost about $4, though, so I seriously never bought them "before"). 

3. Pottery Barn stockings ( I STILL could not let myself spend the money on them this year, though, so we still have the after-Christmas Target clearance ones)

4. Starbucks twice a month

5. New socks

6. Glases when my prescription changes

I really love our journey now that it is over. Haha. It is fun to be able to genuinely appreciate buying new socks and flexible fabric band-aids. Being able to take my girl to Disney World wasn't too bad, either. :)