Finally!

Matthew finally made time for me to take his Senior Portraits! This is the only one I have finish editing, but they all turned out really good. It's hard to believe that he will be graduating in about five months!

Our Merry Christmas

Some traditional activities we were able to participate in this year included visiting Santa Land, going to see Santa at the mall, Christmas school parties, gingerbread house building and decorating, Christmas at Nana's house, decorating the tree, driving around town to see Christmas lights, viewing the Land of Sweets window at Kingsgate, and holiday baking. For the first time, we were able to go to the Polar Express Train Ride and go on a horse drawn carriage ride.

We really had a great Christmas this year. Kris and Erika were able to come to town, DD had the day off, and the weather was beautiful. The kids were able to get out and play with all of their new toys.

Here's a list of everyone's favorite gift:

Cecil- a new car stereo

Cas- a temperpedic pillow

Noah- temperpedic bear pillow

Joseph- a Poke'mon figurine set

Nevaeh-her Powerwheel

Claire- pink toothbrush that sings My Little Pony (she wouldn't put it down to open other gifts!)

Claire was so afraid of Santa, AKA HoHo. It's so funny because she has several shirts that say, "I love Santa". She made us promise that HoHo wasn't coming to our house on Christmas eve. She was afraid to go to bed, thinking that he would come here!

Joseph is a real believer in Santa. There's nothing that Santa couldn't do in Jospeh's mind. When he saw Santa this year, his face lit up and he was all a flutter. Joseph wrote numerous letters to Santa. Only a few were wish lists, the others were letters to say how much he loved him and to wish him well.

Nevaeh is also a hard core believer. She loves Santa. She talked his ear of when it was her turn to sit in his lap. When it was time for her to get out of his lap, she cried and said, "I forgot to give him a hug and kiss."

Noah has been really questioning the whole Santa thing. I think he has asked everyone he knows! On the Polar Express, he said, "I know for a fact, that guy isn't real!" I makes me so sad that he doesn't believe!

This was Cecil's first Christmas without his Mom, so Christmas had a different feeling to it this year. Santa has always left him a stocking full of goodies at her house. I would always laugh when he opened his stocking. "As long as you believe, you will receive", he would reply. So this year, it was my honor to keep the tradition alive. Santa left him a pack of boxers, some candy, and Goo Gone.

Santa forgot that he had to fill my stocking until he was in the check out line at Wal-Mart on Christmas eve at 5:15pm! So, my stocking had Fritos, a travel size can of bean dip, some water, and a snicker. The kids were so excited about my loot, and helped me eat it!

We're Going Green...

... or at least that's the excuse I'm giving for not sending out Christmas cards this year! I took the kids on two separate shoots, and I didn't get anything I wanted to use on a card. I had this idea in mind, but I couldn't make it work. Also, business just boomed at Christmas. Much more than I ever expected. Time kept slipping away, and before I knew it, it was too late to send out cards. Oh well, there's always next year!

I just had to share this one..

While out shopping with Kris, I turned to see Claire just sitting there looking so beautiful!

Christmas Shopping

One condition of me getting to go shopping was that I had to take Claire. She slept most of the time, so she was in a real good mood when she woke up. She really put on a show for everyone.

Give Me That Gumball

Just a few pics from our day!

Christmas Party

I was unable to go to this Christmas Party, so DD went with Cecil and the kids. She is such a good sport. They had a good time. Photos are compliments of Cecil!

The Dangers of Being a Little Girl's Dog

This is where I found our little puppy. I am unsure of how long she was there. I heard her crying when I got back from the store, I heard her whimpering. Before I rescued her, I had to snap a quick pic.

You Do Realize...

These posts are very much out of order. Sometimes I get behind and it's too difficult to try to put them on here in order. So sorry if this makes you go crazy!

Not So Cute

Claire does this new thing where she looks out of the corner of her eyes while smiling and saying, "Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeseeeeeeeeee". Talking about driving me CRAZY! She also likes to squat to have her picture taken. I figured out that I always squat down to get on her level for a photo, so now she does the same thing when she sees my camera. A lot of times, I like to photograph her in a natural setting without her even looking at the camera. This is not a choice lately. If she even gets a glimpse of the camera, here comes the cheesy smiles!

Jumpin Jungle

I always love to go to birthday parties at Jumple Jungle, but I especially love going in the winter. There is so much pent up energy that gets built up during winter weather. The kids ran so fast and played so hard. They were hot, stinky, and sweaty when they were finished. Nana also came to the party. She carried Claire up the slide several times. This is no easy task. That girl weighs 40 pounds! And let me tell you, it seems to be all dead weight! Nana and Claire were exhausted! Claire was asleep before we ever got out of the parking lot.

I've Been Tagged

8 TV Shows I (used to watch and wish I still had time to) Watch
The First 48
48 Hours Mystery
Dateline
Cold Case Files
Deliver Me
Trauma: Life in the ER
John and Kate plus 8
Strawberry Shortcake


8 Favorite Restaurants
Taco Villa
Chick-Fil-A
Abuelo's
Logan's Roadhouse
Harrigan's
Rosas
Zucchini's
Did I say Taco Villa?

8 Things I did this weekend
Photoshoot
Edited photos
Made Christmas Cards
Went to church
Went out to eat after church with friends
Took a nap
Built a Gingerbread house with the kids
Nursed the runt puppy back to health
Went to see Santa

8 Things I look forward to
My sister coming to town
Christmas morning with the kids
The Christmas photo rush being over
Christmas parties
I can't wait for Noah to lose that wiggly tooth, so he'll hush about it already!
The first winter snow of the season
Arrival of new clothes in the mail that I ordered
Saving for a new camera!

I tag Kris, Kathy, and Mrs. Hicks

Bribery

This is what I have to offer to get any of the kids to go shopping at the mall, Chick-Fil-A ice cream (or the playground). It's very sticky and messy. No wonder my laundry pile stays so tall! This is one of my favorite outfits this season. I just had to share.

Her 1st pigtail!!

Do you know how excited I am about this!! I realize that it is not the cutest thing in the world, but it is definately a start.

We found this huge box in the school's alley and I decided that it would be a great toy to get us through the Thanksgiving break. The kids LOVED it! We cut windows and doors. They all colored all over it and made it into many different things.

Noah made it into his restaurant. He named it "Buffalo Steak House...Home of famous steaks...served with free Pecan Pie". It was complete with a drive though window.

It was great while it lasted, but it's begining to wear on my nerves now. It's really big and it has seen better days. I have a feeling that Dad may haul it off on his lunch break tomorrow (while the kids are gone). It was fun while it lasted.

Carriage Ride

This weekend we got to ride in a carriage that was pulled by two horses. We saw the old United window all decorated for Christmas. It was so beautiful! Claire was a little nervous about the horses, but she settled in pretty quickly.

Stink

Noah discovered this new series of books called "Stink". They are a "boys only" kind of books. This book was very gross, and he loved every minute of reading it. He is getting to be the best little reader. I am so proud of him! He read this entire chapter book in only three days. Next time you see him, you'll have to ask him about the ending of the book!

Dr. Pepper Chap Stick

Claire and Noah both love this chap stick, although they use it very differently. Noah puts it on his lips, while Claire puts it all around her lips and then she licks it. Noah hates when Claire gets a hold of his tube. Somehow he knows exactly which one is his, even though they are identical!

Claire's Turkey Lunch at School

She loves her little class and her teacher. It was really a rough start, but now she loves it! She actually asks to go to "cool"!

Her teacher, Ms.Cassie, (quite confusing) is so sweet to her. She loves Claire and Claire loves her!

This is the little Thanksgiving dress I made for her. I couldn't find anything festive in stores, so I had to make her one.

All things tiny

Claire has a fascination for all things tiny. Today I found these little puppies at TJ Max. It's hard to believe how much she loved these little things. She has played with them all day. At lunch, she put them to bed under a napkin and then she shared her drink with them. At the park, she slid them down the slide and hid them in the tunnel. Tonight she has loved all over them! It's so cute.

Claire's a Princess

and a bee, and Snow White! I never can settle with just one costume, so she was three things this year!