From NC to PA...: Our 2013 Christmas Card

Here's the start to multiple Christmas posts! Hoping to crank these out before heading back to work next week. This long vacation has been so wonderful!

First up is our annual Christmas Card photoshoot! Last year we started this tradition and loved it so much that we hope to keep it going! We knew we wanted to keep to the 2 photo format again with one with "our boys" Nolan and Dean, and one family photo. Here's on final product!

2013 Christmas Card

And of course, here are a few cute ones worth putting up on the blog that didn't quite make the cut (did I mention how incredibly crazy it is trying to get great photos of a toddler and dog?!)

The idea for this year's shoot was to use Nolan's Radio Flyer wagon he got from Nonna and Pop Pop for his birthday as a "sled" and for Deaner to be the raindeer. A cheap pair of human-sized antlers did the job for the transformation (yes, Dean's head is that big!)

Cute pic of Nolan, but Dean was not ready yet

Both looking at Joe off camera who was holding a treat to bribe Dean

Joe holding the treat up too high so Dean looks kind of crazy! Nolan is posing away though :)

Another crazy treat-obsessed Dean photo with Nolan saying "what's up?!" with his expression

Nolan getting in on the treat fun (Dean got a ton of treats during this photoshoot!)

Mr. Rein-dog

Nolan looking bored. Dean is so over having the antlers on

Love Nolan with the hat! Joe photobombed this one and Dean is again antler-less

Elf hat rejected. Cute, but blurry profiles

...then they both reached their breaking point!

Luckily we found our usable photo during our first photoshoot attempt although we'd have loved for Dean to be looking at the camera! We took a break for a few hours for Nolan to nap then had an afternoon session for family photos using the self timer (I am happy to report I received a remote for my camera this year for Christmas which will make these easier in the future!) We tried 2 backdrops - the fireplace and the Christmas tree. Since you couldn't see the actual fire with us sitting in front of it and we got a usable photo with the santa hats in front of the tree, that's what we went with!