Merry Christmas | Traci Shupert Photography

Olive, the Other Reindeer | What to Read Wednesday | Traci Shupert Photography

Let me just tell you about one of my fav books to read every Christmas due to its high entertainment value. Introducing Olive, the Other Reindeer by J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh. In this tale of the misunderstood, Olive (a little doggy) hears a song on the radio that says, "All of the other reindeer..."

Olive believes she heard, "Olive, the other reindeer." Thinking she must be a reindeer because that's what she heard in the song, she embarks on a trip to the North Pole to help save Christmas.

This book was also turned into a movie several years ago. The book and movie have the same basic premise, but the movie takes quite a few different twists and turns. Between the two, the book is my favorite. I'm trying to convince my husband to watch the movie with me right now, but I'm not having much luck (maybe if we had some kids he'd watch it). Happy reading!

Baby, It's Cold Outside | Granger Baby & Family Photographer | Traci Shupert Photography

Meet Baby J - you'll be seeing her several more times in the coming year as she works her way to 1. Her parents welcomed her into this world a little over 3 months ago. She was all decked out in her Christmas sweater and jolly red pants. And those blue eyes! Merry Christmas K Family!

Pretty in Pink | Goshen Children & Family Photographer | Traci Shupert Photography

So glad I have families that are willing to brave the cold with me. These sweet girls attend the school where I work. Mom is a scrapbooker and wanted some photos to scrap over Christmas, so of course I was happy to fulfill her request. Have a great Christmas D Family!

I Love My Mommy | Traci Shupert Photography

Today at school we were checking in with the first graders to see how they are doing with letters, sounds, and sight words. I brought a student to my room that I normally don't work with. Before we got started, he had a few questions for me. This is how the conversation went:

Student: Do you and your husband have any kids.
Me: No.
Student: Why?
Me: Well, my husband and I are not ready to have kids yet. (I'm thinking - Geez! Even the kids are giving me a hard time about not having kids!)
Student: I think you should have kids.
Me: Why?
Student: Because I love my mommy.

That may be the most compelling reason to have kids I've heard yet. Because I love my mommy too!

Photo Challenge | Michiana Pet Photographer | Traci Shupert Photography

This week's challenge over at I Heart Faces is for the pets. What perfect timing? I just happened to have taken some photos of these cutie pie dogs this weekend. George (on the left) & Myrtle were so very well behaved that I might just be willing to attempt pets again. :)

Last Mini | Goshen Family and Child Photographer | Traci Shupert Photography

Saturday I had my last Christmas mini session, and thank goodness the temperatures took a turn for the better from earlier in the week. Funny story about this mother and I. We lived in the same hallway of the dorm during our freshman year of college. We quickly discovered that we went to rival high schools in the same area, and that we were born on the same day!
The kids looked super cute in the their fleece, and enjoyed trampling around in the snow. Merry Christmas S Family!

To the Dogs | Goshen Pet Photographer | Traci Shupert Photography

This weekend I had my very first pet session. These two, George and Myrtle, are the luckiest dogs in the world. They have great parents! They were very well behaved - sitting when they were told to sit, and posing for the camera.
This is Myrtle. Her tongue doesn't like to stay in her mouth. I was told in the summer it's out even more! She had a cute little head cocking action going on when we were talking to her. It's as if she was saying, "Give me a moment. I'm thinking about it."
This is George. George, George, George of the Jungle...I sang that to him (so sorry to my clients who have to hear me sing!), and he was like, "Lady, don't ya think I've heard that before?!" I had a fun morning with this duo and their parents.

The Legend of the Candy Cane | What to Read Wednesday | Traci Shupert Photography

Winter has arrived around my neck of the woods. I'm not a big fan of winter, so my goal this year is to be positive and find the joy in winter. Afterall, winter is beyond my control. What can I control? My attitude.

So, it's What to Read Wednesday around here on the blog. This week, I'm suggesting a favorite Christmas book of mine - The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg VandenBosch. This is a wonderful tale explaining the meaning behind the classic Christmas treat - the candy cane.

In the last week, I've experienced tremendous loss. The father of my friend, and my great uncle passed away within a week of one another. At times like these, I am struck by the brevity of our time here on Earth. Despite the sorrow and difficulty, I am overwhelmed by the HOPE we have when we believe in the Lord and his son, Jesus. God has promised eternal life with Him in Heaven to all those who believe and accept his Son as their Lord and Savior. I am beyond thankful that both of these men believed that Jesus experienced life here on Earth in order for all humanity to be saved, and they are now with Jesus in Heaven. As we begin our celebration of Christmas, let's allow ourselves to experience the HOPE that is found in birth of the Christ.

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life."
-John 3:16 from The Message

To All My Fav Clients | Traci Shupert Photography

If you've been a client of mine this year, be looking in the mail for a special gift from me to you! And don't forget to look on the back! ;)

If You Give a Pig a Party | What to Read

If You Give a Pig a Party comes from the series of "If" books that Laura Numeroff has written. I chose this book to highlight today because you can get your very own (hardcover and all) at Kohl's right now for 5 buckaroos. These books would make excellent stocking stuffers for your little ones.

One of my favorite movies at this time of year is Christmas Vacation. I often like to quote the wise Cousin Eddy. "It's the gift that keeps on giving." Books don't require all that lovely packaging that you have to get through in order to get to the toy. Unwrap a book, and the gift is ready to go. And Cousin Eddy was right - it keeps on giving, and giving, and giving. Now, I know as adults, it can become drudgery to read a book for the (what seems like) millionth time. But it is a sacrifice of love that we do that for our children. It's what they need!

To be completely honest, as a reading teacher I feel like I'm fighting a war. The War for Reading. Way too many children spend hours in front of electronics. I recently read a study that showed that our brain's activities while watching TV are actually slower than when we are sleeping! So, when you're talking to a child (or adult), and they're not answering it's because they literally are in a comatose state. I've never done a study on it (maybe someday I will), but it wouldn't take a very long conversation with a student to figure out how much they've read or been read to in their lives.

Just like anything that's good for us in life (eating healthy, exercising, praying, reading the Bible), we must make reading a priority in our lives. It must be intentionally done. It doesn't magically happen.

If you give a kid a book, they will ask you to read it with them. If you read it with them, they will become readers. Happy Reading!