Christmas is approaching, and so is the need for Christmas family photos!
I bundled up my little family in winter gear and we headed to Token Creek County Park in Deforest, WI just outside of Madison.
It was the perfect place to find plenty of pine trees, forests, and open fields. I was obsessed with how the setting sun was filtering through the trees during golden hour, when we were there.


I had my Christmas props set up, and my tripod set to take some family self portraits. Everything was perfect… except my toddler was NOT in the mood.
If you’re a toddler parent, you know how unpredictable their emotions can be. One moment he was happy and smiling, and the next he was fully bending backward and screaming.

Fortunately, we didn’t need to spend too much time there to get the shots. We did our best to keep the little guy happy with his favorite songs and by playing with sticks.



We got some adorable Christmas family photos, and some funny outtakes as well. Even though the crying ones might not be the best for Christmas cards or to hang on a wall, I know that thirty years from now those will be our favorites as we can laugh at this memory.

