This has been the funnest Christmas week I can remember! Each day was filled with fun and no stress! Here’s how our week went…Sunday we went to church and breakfast then we visited the Santa Claus House. Monday we had a big family dinner at my sister’s house. Tuesday we baked the forms for our gingerbread houses. Wednesday I had lunch with my girlfriends, shopped with my Dad and we had a big spaghetti feed and gingerbread house decorating contest between our five families. Thursday we visited the museum, had lunch with my Dad, went to mass, had drinks with the family and stayed up late watching a Christmas movie and wrapping gifts. Friday we had a fun relaxing day at home opening gifts, eating cinnamon rolls, talking to our out-of-town family and then we joined the family for a big party at my parents house. Saturday we slept in, drank tea, played with new toys then capped the evening with a huge sledding and pizza party at my aunt’s house. And finally on Sunday we had a lazy day at home watching football , then we completed the day with a visit from my parents and a nice dinner with them and my brother!

While I was at book club the week before Christmas Mike took Lael to her first movie to watch the Princess and the Toad and in the movie they say “that’s the bee’s knee’s” when things are neat…so all week Lael has been saying that when something is cool. When we went to visit Santa, the only thing Lael asked for is Peanut Butter and Santa was shocked! You can only imagine her surprise when she got peanut butter called ‘The Bee’s Knee’s Peanut Butter’! Who knew they made Bee’s Knee’s peanut butter?!  Santa, that’s who! Although she loved all her gifts she was most excited about her slippers from Santa – she forgot to ask him for them, but has been talking about getting some anytime she sees me in mine.

It’s been a fun filled week we are so blessed to have had. The following are some of the snapshots from the week. The quality isn’t great, but the memories are priceless! Enjoy!

Amanda Furlong!

Amanda’s sweet sister Becky nominated her and I am proud to share her nomination…

So I was thinking of who I would nominate and the first person that came to my mind was my sister Amanda. She is a single mom of 3 and is expecting one now! Oh my! Her oldest is Alycia which is 6 and then there is Mathew who is 4 and the youngest is Ian at 3. They are all the sweetest thing and have their own little personalities. My sister is 23 years old and was a young mom to start with. She has really just had bad luck with men…she had this summer gotten married to a guy that we all thought would of been great! He was good with the kids and helped out. Then he just started going down hill and got involved in drugs. My sister didn’t want to put her kids around it and left him. She is pregnant with his child. Currently having medical issues ontop of being pregnant. The doctor just put her on bed rest and she in unable to work. She is getting state assistance which is barely enough to get her by. The apartment she just moved into she was just informed she needs to move out because the hospital bought the property. So now once again she needs to move…She has just really had a lot of bad luck. There is no way she could ever afford to get your beautiful pictures taken. I really just hope for things to get better for her. Pretty much she feels stuck. I know she has not had a huge tragedy or anything but just a hard time getting on her feet. I know she would love and appreciate your artwork and the kids love getting their photo taken! She is due with her next child in March but went into the hospital last night dilated. Way too early for that baby to come! So that’s who I would nominate

Here is a shot of Amanda’s niece Hayden to make you smile…Enjoy!

My Christmas week got away from me and I will be announcing and notifying the Giving is Awesome winner on the 26th. Stay tuned!  Thanks for your patience.  Merry Christmas!

It is with great honor that I announce my Giving is Awesome petition for this Christmas season. Last year the entries were incredibly heart warming and overwhelming. This is a new season and I know you know someone who could use a little boost in their spirits this Christmas.

You know someone. You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography – $1,265 worth, to be exact on me! That’s right, the fabulous find collection will go to the winner and it’s in your power to help me find a family who truly deserves it this holiday season. Need a reason to nominate someone???  Here goes…the person who nominates the winner receives a $250 print credit. I want to make someone feel absolutely special this Christmas so please help me find a family who would truly cherish this gift.

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Blowing their cash on their trip to Hawaii or the sweetest ride out there doesn’t count as financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in the Fairbanks area. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story : cassy@exposures-studio.com

* Shoots will take place in the Spring, Summer, Fall of 2010 – a date mutually decided on by me & the recipient.

The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve…get nominating! Please share this with your friends and family – the more people we reach the better. I can’t wait to read all of your entries! Open your heart to someone this holiday season – and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

Cheers!

Cassy

We got a special treat of going to Seattle for a quick trip with my dear cousin, Michelle and her family. We only had time for a day trip to the zoo as a group, but it was worth it! I didn’t get many great shots of the day, but these few are fun…

Marek & Lael would wait for the otters then bolt when one came up to see them!

Our little snow leopards!

Zavier has the most fierce growl I’ve ever heard – seriously if I didn’t know better I would have thought a jaguar was there! He and Jahnna were giving their best growl…

After Seattle we headed for Pennsylvania…

I like to pretend I can sew and I tackle projects like making a quilt or pillows or halloween costumes and instead of patterns I use logic and ask myself how might these pieces go together…the results are usually pretty impressive if I do say so myself. The ladybug was a fun one!

This year we were lucky enough to spend Halloween in Pennsylvania and I can assure you I was stoked to trick-or-treat with a light jacket and not 5 layers of clothes. It was great! The bummer was Lael didn’t have any kids to join her so she’d see a random group on the street and take off running yelling “hey guys wait for me!” It was pretty cute!

Here’s the little ladybug getting her wings…

Never-mind that my logic of how the wings might stay on failed me…I thought giant construction staples and broken chopsticks would hold the straps on and keep the wings connected together. It sounded good right?!  So what if I was wrong and she didn’t wear them, that’s okay – we have a picture.

So who puts this awesome display in their yard then doesn’t have candy for the kids?! This house, that’s who…

Our real reason for our trip to Pennsylvania is Michael’s sweet Nan celebrated her 90th birthday and we wouldn’t have missed it for anything!

Nan is the hardest working woman I have ever met! Everyday she works in her yard or around her house to keep herself busy. While we were there we had to cut down a huge pine tree and she was right in the throws of it loading and pushing the wheel barrow down her two acre lot and back. When it was empty she’d toss Lael in for a ride back up! Oh and a little side note, she’s the tiniest woman…only 4 foot 8ish.

She lost her husband of 70 years a little over two years ago and though she’s lonely she doesn’t let it get her down – she puts herself in God’s hands everyday and lives by her faith. She is an inspiration and an incredible example for our marriage, our faith and our work ethic. She’s incredible and we love her dearly!

She did not want 90 candles on her cake so we settled for a little bunch in the corner.