It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

 Merry Christmas 2018! 

This year my husband and his aunt surprised me with a real tree for Christmas. Justin goes to help his aunt pick out her tree every year and this year she gifted us a tree! This is my first time experiencing a real tree.

 So far I'm enjoying the experience. It is a little weird having to water a Christmas tree. I also couldn't be in the same room as the tree for the first day it was up because the pine scent was a bit overwhelming. 

 The following day the scent was much less overwhelming. I've enjoyed decorating it.
We went with a silver and blue theme with white twinkle lights

 More Christmas decor. It's definitely a mix of styles.
 Justin gave me the large deer for Christmas last year.

Grumpy Cat and the snowman were a thrift store find! 

Our vintage hand-painted 1978 nativity set from Justin's Grandma. I'm very thankful that our cat is not destructive with knick knacks so we can actually display these.

We put a tiny 15" tree in our bedroom. The tree was another thrift store find. 

The lights we added are LED and have a soft twinkle.

How the tree looks at night. 

These lights on the bookcase add so much cheer to our living room!

So pretty!

Here's Oliver enjoying the giant bunny in our living room. Justin got this for me last Christmas but it's clearly been stolen now! 😍

Love, Rebecca

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Baby Henry's Newborn Portraits

I took a moment during Thanksgiving day to get a few photos of my newest nephew while he was sleeping. He was right by a window so I was able to work with some beautiful natural light. One of the key things I've learned with the infants I have photographed is to keep everything looking light and soft. 

Check out his big brother's newborn photos! Click Here

Love, Rebecca

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Thanksgiving 2018

We had a fun Thanksgiving this year! 

My baby sister made us this beautiful chalkboard art. I love her turkey!

My mom made a turkey hat for my nephew's first Thanksgiving! It was a little big on him. 😂

Katelyn being a cool aunt. Collin Levi is definitely spoiled.

Time for food! My family made a lovely meal for us. We had Turkey, biscuits, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, corn, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce, coleslaw and Stephanie made potato salad. oh and of course gravy. Can't have Thanksgiving dinner without the gravy! 

Matt getting some turkey. My dad cooked a great bird, it was very good! 

Katelyn helping get Collin Levi's plate ready.

Loved seeing everyone gathering around the table. We were just missing my brother Brandon and his girlfriend. They are living in Washington State now and we miss them.

My Dad's post-lunch nap 😂 - to be fair he looks pretty comfy!

Mom and Jeremiah enjoying Baby Henry snuggles. He is a very chill baby and loves cuddles.

Dessert time! We had pies and Ice cream

I made Peanut butter pie as usual. It's heavenly! I've got my own recipe down by now and I enjoy making it.

Caleb enjoying ice cream and pie 

 My grandparents stopped by briefly and I got a photo of Baby Henry with his Great-Grandpa!

Uncle Matthew enjoying the baby. When you are a new baby in a big family someone is always ready to hold you!

Justin playing games with the kids while Caleb enjoys cheese and crackers

It was a lovely day with my family! 

Love, Rebecca

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Another Nephew to Love!

 Saturday morning at 4:05am my second nephew joined the world! My brother and his wife have named him Henry. 

Henry was one day early and his birth was way less dramatic compared to Collin Levi's.

Big brothers amirite?

Collin Levi meeting his new baby brother. Collin will be turning three next month. 

My parents and my grandmothers. My grandpa wasn't well enough to go visit while Sarah was in the hospital.

 Collin and Sarah with Baby Henry.

 Collin Levi thought the baby was cool and all but the donut needed attention first.

Family photo!! Collin Levi is slightly confused that "Henry" is the baby. He think's Sarah's tummy is "Henry". The baby is "baby" 😂

 I'm not sure what that face is from Collin Levi...

Of course I had to get in on the baby goodness and get some cuddles in. It was so surreal. I remember 8 months ago when we were visiting Collin and Sarah for dinner that Sarah said she was feeling off. I thought to myself "ooooh she is pregnant!" 😂 Turns out my suspicion was true!

I'm so excited to watch this little boy grow up 💓

Love, Rebecca

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Birds of Autumn

Since I was a little girl I have always enjoyed watching birds going about their day. Black-capped Chickadees were frequent visitors to our backyard. I loved their tiny round appearance

 I also learned to identify them by their chirps as a child and would get so excited to hear them!

  My in-laws have several bird feeders in their backyard and I have been enjoying bird watching again. Our apartment has no trees on the property so I don't get to see birds by our place much.

 I will sit on their deck with my camera and just patiently wait for the birds to stop by. 

 The House Finches are the bravest and are not bothered by my presence at all, so all my best photos are of them. 

Sometimes I have Nessa with me and they don't even care. She is a great bird-watching companion. 

 I actually thought these were originally Purple Finches at first but after reading up more on them I definitely think these are House Finches that I saw

 White-breasted Nuthatch at the feeder. I used to call these "Nut-thatches" for the longest time. 

 They don't stop by the feeder for long. Just grab a seed and go.

 I have spotted them in the trees after hearing them tapping for bugs.

 One of the cutest birds I have seen are also the skittish. 

The Tufted Titmouse birds are regular visitors but the slightest movements startle them.

 I have to be super patient trying to photograph them.

This photo didn't turn out great but I thought it looked too cute

I'm proud of this photo. My patience finally paid off and I got a really nice photo

 This photo however is more accurate to what I got from these little guys. I would slowly lift my camera, peer through the lens and snap a photo only to discover I was too late. 

I have seen a few other birds but haven't gotten good photos of them yet. This is a screenshot from a video I took. That was the only time I've seen a Downy Woodpecker at the feeder. I have also seen a yellow-bellied Woodpecker one time but I didn't even have my camera that day.

I am enjoying spending time outside watching for birds and hanging out with Nessa is pretty awesome too. She is one cool puppy!

Do you enjoy bird watching? What bird are you excited to see?

Love, Rebecca

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