I bought Grace a Christmas dress (from Costco, only 16 dollars!) and I decided it would be really cool (no pun intended) to get her dressed up in it and go outside to take some Christmas photos. We had lots of fun, she’s such a good sport. Enjoy!
Our hearts grow te
nder with childhood memories and love of kindred,
and we are better throughout the year for having,
in spirit,
become a child again at Christmas-time.
~Laura Ingalls Wilder
Good to be Home 
Your music is perfect for the setting and her dress….I sorta feel as if I am watching the nutcracker! Your daughter is so adorable!
so beautiful! Grace reminds me of Lucy from the Chronicles of Narnia Series…hmmm…
I love Grace’s haircut! It is very cute on her the pictures in the snow are so lovely; thank you for sharing them with us.
(and i must admit that i was a bit dissapointed when you said you wouldn’t be posting until after Christmas, but i understood. i am very glad that you are feeling less stressed out now and are back to posting!)
Apology accepted. ( I think you were OK to change your mind. How many times have we said something like, “I’ll never wear that dress again…it makes me look fat.”…..then we do because we realize that it was a rash statement the time?) The pictures are lovely and God has blessed Grace with beauty.
A delightful Snow Princess!
You are absolutely forgiven. I think we all understand that feeling of being overwhelmed and at the time you wrote it, it was the right thing for you to do. It gave you time to back off and reassess and now you’re back (huzzah!). I love the dress, it’s so pretty and she was such a trooper to model for you.
You are most certainly forgiven, dear friend! 🙂 You know I have been there too. I love the quote.
Grace ~ your inner and outer beauty just shines! 🙂
Beautiful pictures of Grace! Rachel saw the pictures and said that she likes Grace’s haircut and that it makes her look different. I’m glad that you are still posting. I love reading about your life and getting a peek into your happy home!
There is not a thing to forgive, Shanda. I think we all love seeing your pictures and hearing about what you, Rich and the children are up to, so it’s a welcome surprise. It’s amazing the deals you can get at Costco or Sam’s; that dress is just darling.
God bless your wonderful sweet and giving heart…I couldn’t get the pictures to download from yesterday’s blog, so I came to your site and when the music started playing right away, I was in another place. Along with seeing Grace’s beautiful pictures in her new dress I was taken into a life of happines, peace and beauty. It was “surreal”/spiritual and I was lighthearted as a kid would be with no cares or worries. This is the life Jesus died for us to have…to cast all our cares on Him, for He careth for us…double wow and thank you, love, evalyne
You don’t need to ask forgiveness… :)I love, love, love Grace’s new hair cut. It’s just perfect for her. I’m sure it’s easier to maintain, too. She looks so beautiful in that dress.
Nothing to forgive! So glad that you feel more rested and are enjoying everything and knew to simplify. I was greeted with “Purpleamethyst posted!” when I came down the hall this morning …..so you know we enjoy your posts. Love the snowy setting, the darling dress, and best of all Grace looking so lovely and serene…what a model! Yes it has the look from Victoria magazine. Love the Nutcracker music….we used to listen to it and slide across the hardwood floor in our socks….childhood memories indeed.
David and I started to make cookies yesterday…..looked all over and cannot find the cookie cutters!! eeek. Don’t know where they went as I haven’t tried to use them since last Christmas before we moved. Today we will probably go ahead….we have flower, star, and heart breadtubes we can use for shapes and David says he will try to freehand some shapes.
Oh, how sweet — love the dress and the haircut (she looks so grown-up) — we don’t have a Costco’s around here – is it like Sam’s?
Grace is gorgeous! And that dress is beautiful – what a great deal!!
Forgive you? Who’s offended? Not me ~ I’m happy you are back! And Grace looks stunning!
First of all, I want to apologize for not coming by more often! I can understand the reasons for the time you needed off! I’m so glad things for you are better now, and hope that you are enjoying your time getting ready for Christmas! Your pictures here are absolutely beautiful, Grace looks so pretty in that dress … it is perfect for winter photos … {I enjoy going to Costco myself, and finding bargains!} That is a great quote from Laura Engles Wilder, as well! You enjoy your week … and have yourself a wonderful, and blessed, Merry Christmas! ~ Deborah <><
so beautiful! and of course you are forgiven!! lol
Very cute 🙂
What’s to forgive, I’m just so happy to SEE your photos and hear from you again!!!Grace’s dress is so pretty, and the blue velvet looks perfect out ti the snow.My favorite pictures are the one where she is hanging balls in the tree,and the other one when she’s holding the branch and looking at you..in both the sunlight in her hair and on the branches adds a magical touch
May I also suggest subscribing to http://www.xanga.com/leans_2_the_rightSarah is a college student in Texas, comes from a large homeschooled family,writes very funny posts and takes wonderful children’s pictures.
Please! I’m so glad you are blogging!! Lovely pictures. You have such a talent. Suz
First of all, a big NO PROBLEM, when it comes to blogging or no blogging. I know when life gets crazy here, Xanga jumps way down in the priority list… (even though I do miss it). I love the pictures of your daughter. I really should do something like that! They are so real, subtle, precious! Take care and Merry Christmas.
Oh Shanda, do not feel guilt or worry about it for one second. You have nothing to apologize for either! Grace is just beautiful and I love her dress. What a great deal. She is growing up. Merry Christmas my friend. I am happy that you are feeling better.
I’m at a complete loss for words! This post is just beyond precious! You have an amazing eye and capture your children’s personalities perfectly! Little Gracie is picture perfect! Her haircut is simply adorable! I think it makes her look older! Oh, she is so sweet… I just love her! That dress… what a deal! It’s perfect for her! You have such a beautiful setting… the trees and snow. I want you to take pictures of my kids sometime… you capture something really special in your pictures! My goodness, I could go on and on and on and on!
I think this post is one of my all time favorites from you!!
As far as appoligizing… I’m just glad you decided not to stay away! Your site is one of my favorites for sure!
P.S. Tim said while we were looking at these pictures together how he wants to come up and visit you guys sometime. I agreed.
The last ones with her near the window, and the one where she is hanging ornaments in the tree are my favs.
Especiallywhere she has her knee up and her head is leaning on the window…so nice!
Her hair looks almost red in some of the shots.
I am glad that you decided to still post this month, and I think you are crazy for saying sorry, everyone is glad you changed your mind! You do not need to apologize for that.
Apologize for writing and ministering to our hearts? I’d rather you repent of feeling any weight of expectations from your adoring public! Please feel free to take a time out whenever life overwhelms you. Things I remember fondly – jammies with feet sewed in, making cookies with Mom, having Mom read to us (at 53 now I still enjoy her reading voice), snow (last seen in Dana Point, CA back in 1969), tents made of blankets (real secret places they were). Now I’m making “real” pumpkin pies to share with co-workers and a nice, but ornery woman. Perhaps this weekend, I’ll try making a pumpkin roll with cream cheese, sour cream and walnuts. I hear it freezes well.
Thanks for the memories! Bob
Beautiful dress and VERY beautiful little girl!
Hugs
No apology needed. I’ve done that so many times, I’ve lost count. Besides, I’d hate to think we were kept one day longer from this beautiful story told in pictures. What a wonderful post; what a beautiful daughter!
Merry Christmas to your family.
Wow you do such a great job on your pictures! I’m glad you are blogging I love to read your blog! What great pictures of Grace. She reminds me of the American Girl!
That dress is so pretty!! What fun! I am so glad to here that you are going to be posting! More glad that things have calmed down for you and not so stressful! I am with you on that one! I haven’t been able to post much as of late…my pictures are piling up! One of these days Xanga will be overloaded with my post if I ever get around to getting them all on! Ha! Have you gotten your piano yet? Or is that today? I can’t recall when it is suppose to come…I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!! Can’t wait to see the pictures! 🙂 Grace is beautiful!!
hey, no problem…in fact your apology made me feel guilty, cause I did the same thing…lol….those pictures are so cute!! Some of those in the snow made me think of the Chronicles of Narnia….very charming~
What a beautiful dress and a darling little girl. The pictures are so well done. I love all of the different ideas you had for her. …..I think the one where she is hanging the ornament on the snowy tree branch is my favorite.
I’m so glad you didn’t keep your word…..we all love your posts and your beautiful photography skills. Thanks for blessing us with your sweet family and your talent.
((((Hugs))))
Jana
I’m glad you didn’t stay away until after christmas!!! Wonderful picutes Shanda!!!! She is soooo beautiful, I also love the one with her putting the ornaments on the tree and the one at the window!! All of them are great. What wonderful memories…. I keep thinking way in the future when she has a beautiful daughter of her own she will be so happy she has them to share with her.!!!! (hopefully you understood all that rambling…LOL)
Beautiful pictures of Grace. 🙂 You know, I am very glad you did come back on and post, because I am selfish and enjoy reading your blog. I am also glad you are rested and feeling better. I never thought of it as you “going back on your word”. I really just thought that plans had changed and you decided to post. It brought to mind Cheryl’s (copperswife) saying of “holding our plans loosely”. I love coming to “visit you”. :)Merry Christmas!
P.S. Every little girl needs a Christmas dress. My dd’s is purple and blue. From Costco as well. 🙂
Wow!! How beautiful!! Are you a professional photographer?