brag book magazine photo shoot

so i have a friend named kelsey.  she calls me one night, just as we're getting the girls to bed.  i ignore the call and plan on calling her later.  she calls me right back so i immediately think something's wrong. thankfully everything is okay and she asks if O would want to be in a photo shoot the next day.  

i'm sorry, what!?!?!?  kelsey is the photo editor for the brag book magazine and she needs a 3 year old girl for the winter spread.  what the heck is a spread?  i say 'sure' and we go on with our conversation.  then, she asks me if i know another 3 year old that would be good for an ad?  what ad?  i say 'sure' and immediately call erin to let her know what i've signed A up for!!

after a zillion phone calls, texts and pictures of 'how many different colors of bows?' and 'are these shoes okay?' erin and i arrived at a dilapidated barn, east of town with every bow, shoe, tight and legging we own. oh, and the two 3 year old girls. the actual requirement for the photo shoot. 

our cars were parked next to each other with just about everything we own.  we look like the clampett's, don't we?

 we had snacks galore, drinks and pretty much anything to keep these girls happy.  did i mention halle was there, too?  she was SO good and never made a peep!

 S, knowing our girl very well, told me i was stupid for doing this and 'when she acts awful and doesn't cooperate, i don't want to hear about it'. i soooo didn't want him to be right but i was pretty sure this would be a disaster.  i didn't even bring my camera.  

 she.  did.  amazing!!  i was in complete shock the entire time!  she listened, she SMILED when asked and basically cheesed it up like i've never seen before.  i hate being wrong!  

 the fantastic angel porch was "on set" as the photographer for the shoot and she made O smile!  in fact, she made all of the kids smile.  she truly has a gift!

 thank goodness erin brought her camera so i could have actual proof of our successful afternoon!

 and, if she hadn't had her camera, we wouldn't have proof of this!  of course both girls had to potty and i'm SO GLAD i have a mini potty in the back of my car. you might say "yuck!" but i say "YAY!!"

 thanks, erin, for getting me doing this.  i appreciate it. 

 and, A thought she needed more time, so O sang justin bieber to her.....oh, my!

and, here are the actual pics from the magazine!  the wait seemed like forever but we finally have our own personal copies!  so fun!!!

so basically, the 'spread' for O meant a larger than life pic of her on one page...

 and then another pic of her (and sweet little gunner) on the other page.  it's crazy to see her in actual print like this!!!

and here is A's ad.  it's so cute!!!  we think erin should get lifetime discounts for this!

 kelsey, thank you so much for thinking of my girl for this shoot.  i appreciate the opportunity and i hope you and the magazine are pleased with everything!  i know we are!!