Christmas in pictures (lots of pictures...)

We had a wonderful Christmas 2009.  The girls are at that perfect age for the magic and excitedment of the holiday season and it was impossible to be around them and not get caught up in thier joy!  Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year, but this year was extra special because of my little princesses.  Here are some pictures from my mom's annual Christmas Day - this year we coined the term Merry Mimi Christmas - and from our house on Christmas morning.

The girls - Savannah, Mia, Zora, Tara and Caitlin

The little girls - Caitlin and Tara

The big girls - Mia, Savannah and Zora

My girls - Tara and Savannah

My sister's kiddos - Mia and Tripp

The boys - Tristan, Gabriel, Christian, Chance, Chaz and Tripp

The whole crew - Tristan, Gabriel, Chance, Christian, Chaz, Tripp, Caitlin, Mia, Savannah, Zora and Tara

Me and my girls!

Bliss!

Yep - it really is that chaotic - and really that fun!

Ready for Santa!

Look out - she has wheels!

Look - Santa was hungry!

Showing off thier dolls!

Prince Charming got something too!  No more instant coffee at 'Dega!

Showing off thier gifts for Mama!

My little artist!

You can't make this stuff up...

Actual conversations on Christmas Eve:

Prince Charming - I think we should turn off the lights outside and turn them back on in the morning.

Me:  Okay.

Minutes later as we are getting into bed...

Prince Charming - I thought you were going to turn off the outside lights?!?

Me - I just said okay!  I didn't know that "we" mean't "me"!!!

('Course, I am about as bad I guess - I thought "we" meant "he"...
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At my in-laws for our annual Christmas Eve supper and gift exchange.  We gave Dan's brother a CD of Eric Clapton's greatest hits.  Our 18-year-old nephew grabs the CD to check it out.

Nephew - Whatcha got?  Who's this?  Who's Eric CLAMPTON?!?

Cue the explosive laughter from the older adults in the room.  Next up - the confused and slightly embarrassed look on Nephew's face...
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And one from this morning...

Tara - looking at the new bicycle from Santa (which has a ride-along seat for her baby) - Mama, I don't fit the seat!!! 

Me - Baby, that is the seat for your baby.

Tara - wailing - But I wanted a bicycle for ME!!!! 
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You can't make this stuff up, people!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Holiday Rock!

I dare you to watch and not smile!  Yeah, you, ya grinch!!! ;-)

More Reading = Less Blogging

I have so many topics to catch up on - Savannah's birthday, the children's Christmas Program at our church, Tara's surgery (tonsils and adenoids removed and new tubes put in), a bento lunch update and of course, Christmas is right around the corner. 

But, I am eyeball deep in the Sookie Stackhouse novels and for better or worse, I just don't have the attention span for blogging.  I am on book 7 of 10, so it won't be long!  Of course, then I am getting a Kindle for Christmas - that could be dangerous!

In the meantime - here are some pics:

Sliding down the jumpy slide at Savannah's birthday party!

Spoiler alert:  Can you say Christmas Card?

An actual picture with Santa!! I never thought I would see the day!

Family Ties

What is is about going "home" that makes you feel 10 years old all over again?  I went home to see my family in Arkansas this past weekend and overall it was a great visit.  But, there is that little stuff that always comes up that always takes you back.  And not in a good way.

Honestly, can't we all just get along?!?!

So, anyway, there was that.  On to other news - Kris the Christmas Elf has been hanging around our house - the girls love having him around and seeing what new place he will be in when they wake in the morning. I love having him around because a reminder that "Kris is watching..." is surprisingly effective.  I am hoping that he will be a annual tradition at our house.

Savannah is now down 2 teeth - the second one came out tonight (with a little help from Dr. Mom...).  Looks like the tooth fairy will be paying us a visit again soon.  And, along with Kris, a suggestion that perhaps a call to the tooth fairy is in order is pretty darn effective.  Oh, yeah, I went there proudly!  There is nothing I won't stoop to as a mom. 

Savannah looked doubtful for a moment and then said skeptically, "You don't really have her phone number, do you???"

I assured her that indeed I did, that it is in the special mommy book they give you when you become a mom.

What?  You didn't get your copy? 

Mission accomplished!

I feel a little like Dora!!!  I did it - I set my goal and I did it!!  30 posts in 30 days!  Yay me!!!

So, what did I really accomplish here? 

1.  As a new blogger, I really did not have the habit of sitting down and blogging every day - now, I will admit, it has kind of worked its way into my routine after I get the girls down to bed at night.

2.  It helped me learn more about what kind of blogger I am.  I don't think I will ever have one of those blogs that becomes a "go to" gotta read like Snarky Mommy or Love that Max are for me, but it is a good place to record my musings and share them with the Cyberworld, for whatever that is worth. (Hey, I know I have at least a handful of regular readers.  My people - I love you!!!

3.  It taught me what I am not - one of those hang it all out there and everyone's opinions be damned.  I have lots of off-limit topics that I don't discuss here.  I don't curse on here for the most part, because while I don't seem to have any issue with popping off with a word or phrase of the four-letter persuasion when in a close gorup of friends, I tend to automatically not write the same words that I sometimes say.  Who knew???

4.  I met a goal!  Nuff said - big or small - an achieved goal is always a rush for me! 

Where do I go from here?  I am not sure.  I really don't know if I will continue with the Post Every Day Or Else approach I have followed for the past month.  Maybe I will, maybe I won't. But I do think that I will be a more regular post than I was.  And at least for me, that is enough. 

52:52 Challenge, continued...

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote this post.  Since then, I had read three more books, bringing my total for the year so far up to 55.  They are:

52:53 - Bed of Roses - Nora Roberts

52:54 - Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris

52:55 - Living Dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris

I am halfway through Club Dead - Book 3 of the Sookie Stackhouse novels - they are great.  Quick reads, funny and engaging. Since I only started Book 1 Monday, that should tell you something!