now THIS is fun.

"You want a piece of candy? Say pickle! Smile for Elmo! Do you love Wonder Pets? Smile for Santa! If you smile, you can pick out candy at the store! Put your head down, look this way, don't do that with your arm, pull your dress down, sit up straight! Touch the tree! No, not like that! Show me your teeth! Say, I love Christmas!"

This is what I said all afternoon. All while toting my giant camera, camera bag, and keeping my hand over my back so my underwear did not peek over my jeans.

My shirt was too short today....not an appropriate shirt choice to make for bending over taking my kid's picture....but, it was kind of a last minute decision...and I just have so much extra time to spend thinking about what shirt won't show my under roos.

This picture is just an example. 99.9% of my pictures turned out like this. I was sweating when I was done.

Our photographer and I just couldn't get together this year. Fevers, broken cameras, yucky weather, 4 children in the mix, and a 50 mile distance made it kinda hard this year.

So, if you get a Christmas card from us. Keep that in mind. The 100% camera illiterate Mom snapped the pics.

At least my subject is cute.

Do YOU want some candy? I do!

Marlboro Santa

These are the kind of smiles I get now. Head cocked, fake, huge, funny, overly sweet smiles. It is this or a similar smile....with her fists next to her cheeks.

Almost reminiscent of some friends of mine and their party pics from sorority parties. Not being ugly about sororities people....but, you do know the head tilt / smile combo I am talking about.

This was on our way to see Santa.
This is our picture of E with Marlboro Santa.

As we were waiting in line for him to come from his "feeding the reindeer" break....Santa entered the South end of the mall....right by Forever 21....and our child yells out "Santa has a ponytail!"

Sure enough....he did. Just stood there picturing Santa out on a smoke break. Not accusing Santa of any bad habits....just the first thought that came to mind.

So, as we waited in line to see him....Shorty commented on how fast they get the kids in and out.

As I placed my kid on his lap....I soon learned why.

I had to say "Tell Santa what you want for Christmas!" So she followed my instructions and softly told him "A jewelry box, jewelry, candy, and presents"

He gave her a book and off she went.

Good thing I reminded her!

Almost reminded me of "A Christmas Story" kinda....well, not really....but, maybe....

Oh well...you get my point.

Ho ho ho....

Rule breaker

We are rule breakers. We disrupt the ecosystem...

Notice the piece of 2 day old bread in my kids hand....then read the sign behind her.

"Please do not feed the ducks"

Seems as if these two ducks have been fed by humans for a LONG time....they come right up to you....these ducks have no fear.

Took this picture on an afternoon trip to our neighborhood pond....with the Shorty family and my cousin and his sweet baby girl.

After I went back and looked at the pictures....they are blurry. And I have no idea why.

My goal is to really learn my camera. I mean really learn it. Not just the on off button, auto, and how to turn off the flash.

So, in between dog walks, potty breaks, hot dog slicing, vacuuming, laundry sorting, toilet scrubbing, dinner cooking, and Christmas shopping, I plan to know my camera by the back of my hand.

Should take me a few years. I am such a techno genius and I read instructions really well too.

This should be fun!

Smile!

STAY!

We put up the Christmas tree last night. Shorty is not one for Christmas decorating....he "supervises" from the couch. But THIS YEAR, he helped! He put the tree together....and I decorated it.

Yes, I see the garland is crooked. I will fix it.....it was late last night.

After we got the tot to bed...I hauled out all the bags and boxes of decorations. I was kinda overwhelmed. It was so much...and I was kinda tired. Have I mentioned we had Thanksgiving here?

So, as I began to hang what felt like 874 ornaments on my new tree....football was on. Commentating and whistle blowing was not putting a pep in my step...so I grabbed my ipod and put it on shuffle.

Turns out that I have more of The Beatles on my ipod than anything else.....I decorated our tree to the tune of "Michelle" "Love Me Do" and "Yesterday"

Not quite festive music...but, it made my fingers move a little faster.
Doodle the Poodle is not phased by the tree. I had nightmares of her bouncing off the tree, knocking it over, and eating ornaments.

She just lays by it.

We have mastered "sit" and "shake" but, not "stay"

Just haven't taught it to her yet.....I am a lazy dog trainer.

I wanted a picture of my black fuzz ball in front of the tree...and this is the best I could get.

She was just about to stand up and walk towards me in this picture.....she is not depressed.....

So, had to share a picture of our 30 pound 5 month old puppy.

Sit, shake, stay.

It's that time....really?

No way. It couldn't be time to decorate for Christmas. I just can't believe it.

Turkey Day has come and gone...and it is time to fill the house with all things sparkly.

Wonder how fun it will be to have a 2 year old, a puppy, a 33 year old, and a Christmas tree. I am taking bets on who messes with the tree the most.

Shorty is a sucker for playing with those Christmas ornaments....

So, tomorrow night...we will set up the allergy free Christmas tree...and unwrap boxes full of family ornaments...and that box from The Dollar Store too.

Must admit that I am pretty excited to watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. Now that we have a 2 year old at Christmas time...I have an excuse to watch those shows.

I love Christmas.

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to Minnie! :)

Hope your day was perfecto!

Love you!

The Shortys

I'm a slacker.

Have you been so sad? Have you lost sleep at night wondering where I have been? Have you been longing for a pointless post?

Well. I have been busy. So there.

One of my dearest friends has been in town since yesterday. So, my ritualistic life was thrown of course and I couldn't type my blog....and tell you all about my opinions.

We celebrated one of our best friends 40th birthdays over the past weekend. We spent the day at The Galleria, ate dinner at some new trendy spot, went to listen to a band, and spent the night in a hotel....

The band we went to see....it is a band that we used to go watch 12 years ago. They are still playing in Houston. The birthday girl used to be friends with him back in the day....and we just couldn't pass up an opportunity to all go back to see them again.

Saturday night was a blast. Dinner was out of this world, the girl talk was perfect, the music was good, and the cab divers were hilarious.

I always sat in the front seat of the cab....I get car sick...so, I got to chat with the Yellow Cab drivers as they toted us around the big city.

I hope our friend had fun....I KNOW she did.

A few more years down the road till another one of us turns 40.

Happy Birthday!