Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas. Santa came...and brought too much stuff. Everyone was happy, and Talia kept saying that her Christmas was "Awesome!". Lincoln spoiled me, and broke the "NO ELECTRONICS" rule i had given him- and got me a new iphone. I love it. My favorite gift from him was a super cute cardigan from J Crew...I just told him I wanted one (he bought two..good man!), and to pick it out himself. It is grey with a little shinny silver thread woven through it, and its longer, no buttons and two side pockets. Dressy, and not dressy at the same time. I had it on- all dressed up and ready to go to the Hansen's for Christmas dinner. Lincoln made the most amazing prime rib! Out of this world amazing...I am getting hungry just trying to describe it. Then Simone threw up.

Poor baby. Lincoln and I sat there and stared at each other. He headed to the Hansen's without Simone and I. =( He left me some prime rib, and some the raspberry dessert I had made.

Oh, all the snowflakes pictures. There was a beautiful little moment after all the presents were opened. We looked outside and the prettiest snowflakes were floating to the ground. I put on my new boots, and my new gloves and headed outside! Quietly I looked for tiny snowflakes on my back deck. I am sure my neighbors think I am nuts! "Why is our neighbor outside in pajamas and a coat-kneeling on the ground taking pictures of snow?"




This is why.

(Click to enlarge...the details are amazing!)

Love me some snowflakes!


The week before Christmas was hard. I got the stomach flu immediately after hitting submit on my last photo order. I am grateful that I didn't get sick one second earlier! I stayed in bed all day. I don't want to share gory details, but I was so sick I broke blood vessels in my eye lids, and on my cheeks, and under my eyes. boo. (They had better HEAL!)
Then the next morning I took a shower (and brought my sick two year old in there with me.) I passed out on her.
Yep.
Fell right on top of her head.
She thought I was being crazy or silly...and laughed at me after I was on the ground.
Luckily Lincoln was home to help us out.


We were healthy for a few days, and then Talia got it, and then Simone. I hope it passes over the boys.

Wow. This is not a very Christmasy post at all!

I am going to go watch a movie with Lincoln. Make guacamole and watch a good movie.
Yum.


Oh.
We're going to Hawaii!
Lincoln was one of the top salesmen for HP in 2010.
They are rewarding 5 people with a trip (with spouses)....he is one of them!!!!
I am so stinking proud of him!
It was his first year in sales....and they LOVE him.
As do I!

I have been swimsuit shopping like crazy!
Just thinking about flip flops and sundresses has me giddy.

Here come the Holidays

I can't believe it's the 23rd of December! I tried really hard to be ready this year. I am not. I just realized an order I was expecting...I didn't ever place it. Oops! Off to the mall I go.

I will also admit that I am a failure this year. I told Lincoln I wouldn't do any photo sessions or photography (editing, ordering, etc.) in December. I DID TONS! I'm sorry babe. I worked so much I haven't been to dance class in FIVE weeks. That makes me cry!...REALLY I'm crying about that. I did FIVE session in December, when it should have been ZERO. Next year will be different. The whole year. I am really changing the way I work.....not taking on new clients....for a whole YEAR. I'll have a wait list for 2012. I am so lucky that my clients KEEP coming back! It is strange and wonderful to see these little families grow, and I feel so honored that I am the one they ask to capture it. There are several clients I have photographed for SIX years. Their homes are covered in my work, and it make my heart sing when I see that!


Back to my family....

I filled my cute advent calendar with fun Christmas activities. A few my friends and I brainstormed together to come up great things to fill our month with the Spirit of Christmas. Here are a few examples of the things they pulled out of each door.....

Cut out snowflakes.
Drink hot cocoa with candy canes.
String popcorn and cranberries.
Go cut down a Christmas tree.
Decorate the Christmas tree.
Sleepover under the Christmas tree.
Christmas stories by candle light.
Put up the Nativity.
Do something nice for somebody else. (Keep it a secret)
Gingerbread house!
Symphony of Lights
The Lights at the Temple. (Go see the Christmas tree with Mom's photos all over it inside the Visitors Center!)
Eat a Candy cane.
Wrap Presents.
Smores in the fireplace.
Electric Trains as the Fire station.
Build a tent fort and listen to/sing 5 Christmas songs in it.
Christmas movie night with popcorn.
Christmas movie night with ice cream!







The Christmas tree farm. It was so so cold, and the wind made it unbearable! It was a fun adventure, and the kids loved it.




This is Wyatt reading about the Ginch, while Talia cuddles as stuffed animal of him.

After Wyatt got done reading I heard Simone in the kitchen, "You a time out. Nose to the WALL!----You in time out."

I looked to see her holding the Ginch, his feet on the floor and his nose on the wall!

That's what you get for stealing Christmas from Whoville I suppose.

My favorite tradition

Last week I took the girls to The Nutcracker! We went out to dinner with some of our favorite friends; Maggie, Ellie, and Sophie...or Fophie as Simone loving calls her. Then we were off to the performance. We got great seats and the girls were so well behaved. We just happened to be there the same night as our dance teacher, Elaine. She is my teacher, Natalia's, and Ellie's. It was a serendipitous meeting. Before the show she sat with the girls and told them about the ballet, then characters, how to behave during a performance, and that it is okay to clap and even the occasional laugh is fine. Simone kept saying, "Blue turtian (curtain) UP! Move this turtain!"

Then the show began. Simone was on my lap and she loved every minute. Except the mice and the mouse king. She took my hands and covered her eyes with them. When I took them down after I thought it was safe...she grabbed them and said, "Your hands....cover my eyes!"

She laughed, she clapped, and when Mother Ginger came out she could see the little feet under her skirt and she said, "they hidin". Simone watched every minute. Now Natalia chose to sit by her little friend and was very far from me. I would peek over every once and a while and she was absolutely smitten! Her eyes never left the stage. I loved looking at my little girl, her face illuminated from the stage lights, thoroughly enjoying one of my favorite holiday traditions.

Afterward our dance teacher took us backstage. The older two girls had picked out a paperback copy of The Nutcracker as a souvenir and they had the dancers autograph the first page. It was a magical moment and such a fantastic way to end our evening.



This is a link to Maggie's blog. She just posted about it too, and she is such a talented writer. (And she brought her camera to the ballet!)