i ♥ this photo shoot

after looking at the amount of photos in this post (and i cut it down a ton!), you may get a better idea of how in love with valentine's day i am.  seriously.  it's my favorite.  so i jumped at the chance to do an actual studio photo shoot when a photographer friend said i could use hers for the day.  what a gift!  i can't thank her enough.  the girls and i had a fun time playing real-life photographer, probably me more so than them, but i snapped a ton and have a whole bunch of new favorite images.  

our valentine's day afternoon in photos... 

what a ham...

i asked them to kiss...harper turned her head, and then realized what i'd asked of her.  she said "no" the second after i snapped.  gotcha.

we turned up the tunes and harper couldn't help busting a move to her favorite songs.  lately, we've been having pre-bed dance parties more often.  i love their dance moves, expressions and freedoms.

harper stole my camera and asked me to pose.  she gives directions like a pro.

in every life, some fun must fall, right?!

my favorites...even the one with crosby's grouchy face because she was so done by this point.

thank you for this one, harper. ♥  

that's a wrap.  til next heart day photo shoot. ♥

hearts galore

valentine's day is my favorite holiday.  not my favorite time of year, by any means, with all the snow, freezing wind and ice outside, but a fun little holiday filled with brights and reds and pinks and love make the february brutal weather a bit more tolerable.  it's something to brighten up the inside and something to look forward to after the hustle and bustle of the christmas holiday.  

this year, we left gifts for the girls on the table.  bubble bath, chocolates, hot chocolate and froyo gift cards, a snuggly bunny for crosby and a lego for harper.  

i make sure to decorate the house as much as i can.  throw all the pinks and reds on as much surface as possible i say.

we make special breakfasts- this year, chocolate pancakes with sprinkles.  

we played games, and lazed around for a bit before harper's yoga class and our afternoon photo shoot at a local studio (more on that tomorrow).

that evening, we planned a special dinner.  michael grilled steaks outside, all bundled up in the freezing wind (he loves us).  harper was in charge of the dessert- chocolate covered strawberries.

they were perfect- just like our day, just like our family.  happy valentine's day! ♥