whatever

i don’t want to forget….

craig’s mom asking for annie to sing her program song.
she stood up on a chair in front of us all
she shouted very loud waving her arms
“EVERYBODY DANCE NOW!”
not Away in the Manger.
then she giggled like crazy.
so did we.

craig’s mom opening her gift with annie’s help
she says “we got dat! we got dat fo you at da MOLLL!! yeah…da moll”
nodding her head up and down.
she likes to talk about the mall.

scott reading the christmas story for all of us on christmas morning.

annie being sick for all of christmas.
poor baby.

all the christmas art…
different every year.

annie knocking over a table in my mom’s kitchen
with a candle, lots of dishes and food on it…
trying to get to her beloved playdoh in the bottom drawer.
we were very lucky that she wasn’t hurt.
wow…it was the loudest sound i have ever heard!
when we were leaving my dad hugged annie and said
“thanks for breaking my dishes”
she said “Wham-pa that was a ass-i-dent!”

the beautiful snow that almost ruined christmas.
(those are my mom’s christmas lights shining through the snow.
it was nearly impossible to drive in.
thankful that everyone made it safely.

a really lovely time with craig’s dad’s side of the family.
so nice to just sit and talk this year.
i really enjoyed it.
becky’s house looked so pretty.

fondue at our house…2nd year in a row.
we love hosting parties.
craig’s family has fondue every year…
anything you can dip or fry – they do it.
lots of food…
then games for the rest of the evening.
chad, ross and gary you are too funny.
“terry brown”
“meat lover’s pizza”

seeing everyone get excited when they opened their aprons.

meeting amy’s friends from college
and getting this beautiful handmade christmas greeting…in chinese.

changing our christmas this year.
giving each child only one gift and their stocking…
and seeing how happy they were.
no complaining (lauren tried to be unhappy but couldn’t stay that way.)

hope your christmas was full of funny special memories too.

what a wonderful christmas.
really really lovely.
lots of snow and lots of family.
happy kids
happy family
lots and lots of laughing.

“stockings” came in boxes this year.

“knee high socks!!”
she will only wear knee highs this year.
so she was thrilled about 4 new pairs.

hannah montana and friends.

heeleys.
shoes with wheels in the heel.
this was what scott wanted.
now…how many days till a broken arm?

sean received legos from everyone.
he said at my mom’s
“this is one of the best days of my entire life!”

i hope you all had a wonderful christmas too.
we all got new jammies…even me.
this is my official christmas break uniform.
messy hair, no make-up and giant coffee cup required.

it started out innocently enough…

grandma had gingerbread men for the kids to decorate.
great idea grandma!
we made sure there was plenty of frosting.
no one had to wait to create.

mmmm….looks yummy?

we finally saw santa.
he happened by craig’s office yesterday.
with rudolf and the grinch.

this is talby’s face she makes when she is nervous…
always.

annie was keeping close eye on that grinch.
but they weren’t afraid.
and there was no crying.
santa misunderstood what talby was asking for.
she said “it’s okay…when he brings me that i will just give it to annie”

just as i was about to get the perfect shot…
annie was done.
“see ya”

upstairs on their way to craig’s office
they saw him again through the glass wall.
knock knock knock
“santa!! santa!!”

then some time to play on daddy’s marker board.
and computer.
and mess up all his drawers.
and eat cookies from their christmas party.

then we went to the carwash.

seriously…this was the highlight of their week!
better than santa?
better than cookies?
these girls know how to party.

we got some snow.
the kids immediately wanted to go sledding.
this year i went…just for the pictures.
i haven’t gone for years.

as soon as we got out the car
i remembered why i don’t go sledding.
i hate being cold.
oh my goodness it was cold.
but i got annie to the top of that hill and then she was hooked!

after 15 minutes her little pink cheeks couldn’t take it anymore.
and i was right there with her.
i was done being cold.
we sat in the truck watching everyone go up and down again & again.
we were warm.
but i really needed some hot coffee.

i am so glad we had snow.
it feels like christmas when it comes in december.
the bad part of snow….

some shots from around the house.
the house seems so much prettier at christmas.

something different this year.
craig said it looks “very narnia”
he’s right.
i was inspired by this.

i showed this before…
but the first one was for someone else.
and mine is just the vintage paper and the letters – no color.
i love how it sparkles.

ready for santa.

these are my nativity mice…mary & the wisemen.
(the purple mouse had a gift but one of my kids was too curious)
my great aunt and her sewing group made these.
they are so precious.
the detail…tiny little beads and sequins.
pretty amazing for her 90+ years

enjoying a cup of coffee…reading a magazine…
this is my favorite spot.

this year we got an artificial tree.
our first one.
we bought it from our neighbors when they moved.
and it’s nice…but it’s not real and there’s no doubt.
it doesn’t really matter right?
i have to keep telling myself that.
but…if better homes and gardens calls…
(a girl can dream)
that tree is out of here.

i know, know…
it’s what’s on the tree that matters.
and the tradition of decorating it.

this is our star for the top.
we’ve had it a long time.
then a few years ago…i was tired of it’s plain silver paint
so i got out the glue gun and the box of sparkly stuff.
it’s crazy looking but i like it that way.
the tree is for the kids and i think this screams “kids”

this is my favorite ornament on our tree.
my great aunt (who is now 97 years old) made it when i was little.
she made many different ones.
she still sews handmade felt crafts with her sewing group.
but i am always drawn to this cat and the pink ice cream cone below.

we cut big snowflakes and hung them all over.
the kids’ handmade ornaments are always so sweet.
pipe cleaner snowflakes…beaded candy canes…foam gingerbread men
i miss our illinois church’s christmas craft day.
every room in the church was set up with different craft ornaments
for kids to make…all provided and ready.
our tree would be bare without it.

and who doesn’t love sock monkeys?

even though the tree is fake…
it looks beautiful with this little darling in front of it,
waiting to go to her christmas program.