exploring in the trees

 we have passed this christmas tree farm so many times in the canyon over the years and every time I would try to remind myself that when Christmas comes around we should make a little pit stop.  

this year i actually remembered.  it had been raining off and on for a couple of days, so when it cleared up for one day, we packed up as the sun was setting.

the sun had already dipped down behind the hills by the time we arrived

 and we raced against time to try to get a couple of pictures.  

i'm not gonna lie...i was really frustrated that evening. 

 after all of the times i had thought about going there, 

we had only about half an hour to explore and play.  

looking back, i'm really bummed, i didn't just enjoy our time.

i love this little series of them together.

these pictures capture their relationship so perfectly.

one part silliness, one part playfulness, one part admiration for each other

and one part running away from each other...at least they are smiling in this scenario running away from each other, that isn't usually the case.

one tooth just out and a second so loose i have no idea how it was still hanging on.

she now has the big window in front with her two front teeth missing...i'm still trying to get her to sing 'all i want for Christmas...'

i handed the camera off to Ella so that they could one day look back and know that I was actually with them this day.

no tripod, so we laid the camera on the my bag and set the timer...ha, ha

my fearless girl...lover of all living creatures

these last two pictures make me smile.  it was so dark by the time we took these...i think the graininess goes with these pictures.

just wishing we were hanging out on our own property somewhere out in the hills.