They mean something different to each of us. You may think of football and tiaras or traveling to see relatives for the holidays, but for military families a homecoming is so much more. Yesterday, the USS Winston Churchill, a destroyer that is part of the Truman Carrier Strike Group, came home to Norfolk after a 7 month deployment. The weather was bitterly cold. (Well, it was bitterly cold for Norfolk!) But the piers and heated tents were still crowded with families carrying signs, flags and a lot of nervous anticipation.
Asthe owner of my own business, military homecomings can be a pit of a pain. The schedules are always changing; I basically have to block out an entire day for one homecoming photoshoot because I can't risk the time changing to interfere with another appointment. I have to drive 30 to 45 minutes to Norfolk or Virginia Beach, fight the crowds, find parking and wait in the cold or heat. (For the record, I think the heat in July is worse!) And, because I do these sessions for free for military families through Operation: Love Reunited, I don't make any money.
But I take every homecoming session I can.
Read the rest of this post and see the photos on LightHearted Photography, the Blog.
Because life isn't always a perfect picture and we wouldn't want it to be. Sometimes the outtakes are the best part!
How did this:
Become this?
In 2007 I was boring. I bought boxed cards. But in 2006, we had the whole family on our holiday cards. This is the one and only time since we had children that T and I have made an appearance on our holiday card.
In November of 2006, when these photos were taken, I had been blogging for about 3 months! Holden was 10 months old and Hollis had just turned 2. And yes, that is still some very scary math for me.
Enjoy!
Yesterday, I happened to mention that I designed and ordered holiday cards in 2008 but failed to actually send them out! Several people have asked if they could see it, so I figured what the heck! Why not?
So here you go. The never-before-seen N_____ Family 2008 Holiday Card!
The outside, front and back:
(Click to enlarge)
...and the inside:
I think I'll make that my signature phrase:
"Embrace the naughty."
Happy holidays!
I've sent out all of my holiday cards! This is a first for me. Last year I designed and ordered cards. Never sent them. I actually thought about sending them out in July, but I lost my motivation rather quickly.
This year I swore that I would send out cards and that the boys would sit still for some decent photos! Well... at least the first part of that happened. I got some shots of the boys in their adorable little tuxes at my brother's wedding in October. Holden was less than cooperative.
However, since most people have gotten our card by now, I think it's safe to reveal it on the blog. Happy Holidays!
