Where Elephants Fly and Time Stands Still...

We're home!! Betcha didn't even know we were gone, did ya?!! Love the little "postdating" feature on Blogger!! Since I am a bit paranoid and don't like to share with the masses that we are going out of town and our house will be left unattended, I postdate blog entries and set them to pop up at various times while we are gone...and when those pop up, it is just like me updating each and every day!! 

Anyway, this time we were in California!! We left Saturday morning and just got home mid-afternoon today! I have my second load of laundry in already and the pictures all uploaded to the computer! WHEW!! There is still lots to do though...as in unpack and put all of those clothes away...ugh!! My least favorite part of traveling for sure!!

I realize California is a BIG state to say the least...we were in the LA area. We did lots of fun touristy things...but our family pictures and Disneyland were by far the highlights!! And speaking of Disneyland, I totally got my title for this post from a sign I saw while we were there!! Just wanted to give credit where credit is due!!

First of all...the amazing Tonya met up with us on Monday morning and took family pictures! I was SO darn excited I started waking up at 4:00 that morning...so if I look tired, well, I was!!! We haven't had family shots taken since Gentry was just 6 months, so it was definitely time!! And she was definitely the photographer to do it!!

I am not sure how I even found Tonya, but I have been following her blog for months. I feel like I have known her and her sweet little family for ages! When we met there was no awkwardness...the kids took to her immediately and fell right into the photo shoot! Not to say they were perfect because they weren't...they are two and almost four and well, they acted two and almost four!! But they were as good as could be expected for the above average heat and humidity we were tromping around in!!

Anyway, I can't say enough great things about our experience! If you happen to live in the LA area, I send only the best recommendation for the lovely Tonya!! She has kids of her own and completely understands their lack of enthusiasm and doesn't give up!! 

And here is a little sneak peek of just a few of our pictures!! (And  yes, I have her permission to use them on my blog!! I am sharing several, but there are a couple more on her blog...to see them, click here!! And the rest will have to wait until she has them edited and we pick out our images!!)

The main goal was to get some family shots!! Here is one I just adore!! I realize Huntler is not smiling, but he is making eye contact and that funny little frown face makes me laugh out loud! For those of you who know the "real" Huntler, you know how serious he is by nature...

And this one of Chris and me...LOVE IT!!! 

And the oh so loving Huntler letting mommy kiss on him!!

And of course Little Miss Gentry with her polka dot dress and REALLY grubby little feet!!

Tonya has something on her webpage about not putting pictures off for that perfect time. I can't remember her words, but there truly is no perfect time. We'll always want to lose weight, wish our hair was just a little bit longer, worry about how the kids will act, etc. But that is life. There will always be something we wish we could change or do differently. I for one will cherish these images forever. We have so few of us together as a family and time flies...we all change. I want to remember these days always...and I am more grateful to her than she will ever know for capturing a little bit of who we are today...who we are in real life. Thank you Tonya...thank you.

And on a lighter note, here are just a couple of the kids from Disneyland yesterday! They were SO good and we had an amazing time!! I will definitely share more later, but I have lots to do after being gone! (And they so did NOT love the hats...they were literally on seconds and I managed to get these!!)