Monday, December 22, 2008

Joey and Julie

A rare but exception picture of the camera shy Joey...

Our intent and alert little bundle named Julie as she sits exploring the world of sibling filled chaos around her.

Joey and Julie share a moment together (he really enjoys all the time he spends with her... we may be hiring him for some baby sitting duties in the near future... well, probably not, but at least they really enjoy one another).

Name that game?

An obvious holiday tradition in our house, the kids had been begging to play, so on the first day of Hanukkah, we obliged.  Here is Jess a she spins her dreidel..

Joey takes his turn... note the pice of paper in front of him that mom made explaining the various symbols and what they meant

Waiting for a turn...

Joey and I lost quickly (even after Jess gave me three of her coins just to try and keep daddy in the game with her)... here she shows her emotion at her lack of a winning streak...

And the gelt thiefing winner herself!!!  Don't fall for that cute face...



PS: Sorry Bubby and Zaeyde, I didn't get any pictures of them opening gifts or lighting the Menorah...

Making Holiday Cookies

Jessamyn (aka: minichef) loved her chance at doing some baking with mum in the kitchen...

The icing was Joey's favorite portion... though, he kept sampling his work (obviously for quality control measures) by eating each comleted cookie in each's entirety..

Jess did the lion's share of the decorating... determined that these would ALL be left out for Santa on Christmas eve night.... I'm sure "Santa" will enjoy eating several dozen cookies on that night...
Note the pants!!! Jocie too helped make cookies... and apparently trying make herself into a cookie too...

Joey and Jess as they busily puch out shapes from their gingerbread dough that mommy spent hours making (well, actually I think Pillsbury may have helped a little too)

Jocie is dangerous with a rolling pin, lemme tell you that fore sure... but, she really loves it too..

Cleaning up afterwards...

Joey in deep concenration...

Our Trio

Post-shower cuteness of our three blessings...

Joey's School Holiday Program

It seems that every chance I get, I seem to brag on an on about how great the kid's school really is.  Well, here we go again.  Last Thursday was Joey's holiday program for school.  Parents and family members (and just general members of the public) showed up to pack Western Michigan Universities "Miller" auditorium to almost capacity level (which would be 5,000).  The holiday program is based on Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" with each grade of the school taking part at various points during the play.  Near the beginning, Joey's class trouped up on stage and performed two songs, and then again at the end of the show as EVERY student got up on stage along with alumnus.  Again, another amazing performace by a group dominated by five year olds... and we struggle to get him to clean his room, yet he can perform flawless in front of thousands of people...  We're so proud...

"Ribbon Day" for Jess and Jocie

Thursday was a "Ribbon Day" for Jocie and Jess as this was the last day in their Gymnastics classes for this session.  Both were very proud and they are getting very good at their talents in each's respective areas...

Monday, December 15, 2008

Some Random Candids



Jocie feeds Julie

Naturally a little upset from the length of time I took setting up and executing the previous photoshoot, Julie was a bit on the hungry side.  Jocie was ever so eager to help out and hold the bottle for her in a repeat style photograph similar to one I have of Jess feeding Jocie.

Julie in Black and White (take II)

These were a little challenging, but well worth the effort for me.  I setup three black towels against the back of our bed, put my camera on a tripod and set a prefocused point on the bed and marked it with a penny, positioned a soft light box to the right of the camera, and took a remote shutter release with me as I held her in the air over the penny and snapped these shots.  I'm rather happy with how well they turned out as it would have been much easier if I were behind the view finder rather than in front of it.... lol.  (Nikon D300 w/17-55 lens @f/7.1-1/200th-iso200).



Jessamyn's "Jingle Bell"

On Friday, Jessamyn had her 2nd annual holiday performance at her school, an event that she looks forward to all year and is very proud of (as are we as her parents).  The show lasts for about 35 minutes and has between 20 and 30 songs that the 3 and 4 year olds perform verbatim, in key, with full hand and body movements.  Very impressive!  This year, Jess had some help from Mommy in getting ready (note the curls in her hair and the faint hint of some blush on her cheeks).  She was very proud.... Here she is ringing her own bell...

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Jess's 4th Birthday Present

This past weekend, we took Jess up to Libby Lu's in Grand Rapids for her 4th birthday present (albeit a little late).  She got a complete makeover and emerged as our little Rock Star complete with puppy to carry around....

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

The Pike Kids plus Julie candid

We've been trying to put this one together for a while now, and I'd really like to try to repeat it on an annual basis, but here is our first take at this one...

The kids and Santa

Everyone but Julie was enamoured with Mr. Clause's presence... 

Joey and Jess couldn't wait to review their lists with Santa...

Jocie at Play

Here are a couple of quick shots of Jocie having fun at the play area in a Grand Rapids mall

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Studio shots of Jess, Jocie, and Julie





The "Pike Rock Stars"

This past weekend, we took the whole family up to Grand Rapids (in the middle of a snow storm) to give Jessamyn her 4th birthday present: a make-over at Libby Lu's.  Naturally, she wanted to be a "Rock Star".  Not wanting to let their sister go without some other front-men and women, Joey and Jocie joined her.  JL and I were treated to a 1/2 hour show from the "Pike Rock Stars" featuring their new hit single "My Aggravation".


Joey does a solo.

Monday, December 1, 2008