Christmas Catch-Up...

In no particular order...I promise I'll post pics of the pink room as soon as I am completely finished...maybe when she is 4.

My mom and dad spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning with our family! What a treat for us all!Such a ham...

Our cute neighbor, Selena, gave Emma this darling Santa hat with her name embroidered on it...
Christmas Eve jammies! Princess style...

Merry Christmas!

Paint Update...

So...Emma will have a pink room for Christmas. Thanks to my Mom (are you surprised?) and my sweet niece, Ashlee. They came over the weekend and we painted the entire room in one night! It looks so adorable! I will post a picture when I get the finishing touches done :)

Christmas Craziness...

The week before Christmas is crazy enough as it is (I tell myself every year not to let this happen...). Then....

Somebody....
asked for a pink bedroom for Christmas.

I haven't even started...

Making Lemonade out of Lemons...

Pedaling gave me this blog award! The idea behind this award is that the blog author has shown a wonderful ability for finding the silver linings and making the best of a bad situation (making lemonade out of lemons). I am to pick 10 sites that show this silver lining philosophy approach. Hmmm....I know I have more than ten friends that fit in this catergory. Here are a few of my favorite blogs full of creativity and inspiration:

• Pedaling - can I give it back to you? If I can, I will. Her blog is full of both creativity and inspiration. I hope to be half the mom she is.
• Danielle - the best (and most creative) mom on the planet. She makes the rest of us look bad. (her blog is private, sorry.)
• Pepper - of all the people I know, she has made the most lemonade!
• Leeann - so inspiring with her work for Autism. Did you see her in the newspaper yesterday?? So cool.
• Abbey - my cute single friend who sees the best in everyone.

Okay, so that is only five. But I gotta go. More on what is keeping me crazy later!

Flashback Friday...

We have always tried to have at least one family picture taken each year. Here are a few early ones for you to make fun of...

Spring 2000

Fall 2000

Spring 2001

Winter 2001

Oh, Emma....

New Pink Pants worn EVERYDAY: 1/2 price at Gap
Shirt worn backwards: end of clearance .99 at Old Navy
Purple Socks: "borrowed" from Aunt Nell
Flip Flops worn in the winter: left at our house so claimed as "mine"
Seeing the biggest smile on your two year olds' face for dressing herself: PRICELESS!

I think she needs to wear a sign on her shirt that says, "My mom had nothing to do with this outfit".

Slacker Mom...

Gabe lost another tooth yesterday at school - and I forgot to play tooth fairy! I usually stay up late at night doing my own thing. I was so tired last night, I snuggled down shortly after the kids went to bed, and playing tooth fairy didn't even cross my mind! Now, mind you, Gabe knows who the real fairy is, but still expects his payment. So this morning he comes running up the stairs with his tooth in hand, and says, "Mom, you forgot." Oops.

Getting to Know Me - Christmas Style...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Depends on what it is...if it is too hard to wrap, then a gift bag.
   
2. Real Tree or Artificial? Artificial - if I could I would leave my whole tree decorated and store it that way! (I know, so lazy...)
   
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the day after Thanksgiving. This year, um, today.
   
4. When do you take the tree down? A few days after Christmas.
   
5. Do you like eggnog? Disgusting.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My cabbage patch.
   
7. Hardest person to buy for? In-laws
   
8. Easiest person to buy for? My kids
   
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. My in-laws gave it to us years ago from Jerusalem.
   
10. Mail or e mail Christmas cards? Mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I have no idea
    
12. Favorite Christmas movie? Polar Express
    
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can remember
    
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Anything chocolate mint
    
16. Lights on the tree? Of course.
    
17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night (preferably sung by Lisanne Lee :))
    
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home
    
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Not sure
    
20. Angel on the tree top, or star? Star
21. Open presents Christmas eve or morning? One Christmas Eve - the PJs, the rest Christmas morning.
    
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Crowds (I am so grateful for the internet!)
    
23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? Reds, golds, and greens.
    
24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Can I say anything chocolate mint again?
    
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I don't know. How boring is that.
    

More Family Pics...

Thanksgiving 2008...

Emma after our Thanksgiving Feast at Little America...