excuses excuses excuses

Here are the reasons why I am completely and entirely worthless these days.....

On a good note, I have slowed down with my Pinterest addiction.

Have a great day!

Christmas Morning 2011

The Stockings Were Hung

Christmas Eve. One in the morning. Everyone in bed. And I couldn't help but notice that Santa had come. And so I had to snap a photo. Before the chaos of the morning. Because it's so much work for Santa to orchestrate something like this. And thank God for elves who are able to build toys and run to the store when said toys are missing parts and make this happen so our kids can look back with fond memories of Christmas.

I was lucky to grow up in a house full of people and love. And holidays were always special. And we were spoiled. And so I have a hard time doing anything else for my own kiddos. Because you're only little once. And this is magic.

Christmas Eve 2011

Ready for Christmas Eve Mass.















Kids table at Grandma's house.
















Cousins and Great Grandma













Matt helping Tucker take out his monster trucks.













My Dad admiring a family picture.















My Dad proudly displaying his bulk sized jar of jalapenos. To which he yelled to my uncle, "Are you trying to make me Sh&* my pants this Christmas???" Quote of the year for sure.

Helping Grandma open gifts.










Classic example of the paper is always better than the present.
Cousins and friends. These two are going to stir up some trouble for sure!

A Sentimental Christmas

My Christmas tree was a disaster this year. I dreaded putting it up and I couldn't wait longer than 9 am the day after Christmas to take it down. And so I decided to ignore the pile of broken ornaments piled on the counter and the empty bottom half. And focus instead on the up close and personal...

















This is my absolute favorite ornament on my entire tree. We got this ornament the first Christmas after we were married. I think it reminds me of the two of us together playing house. We set up an enormous tree and hung this front and center. The rest of the ornaments have all come after this one. It still goes front and center every year.


















Every year the kids are lucky enough to get an ornament from both sets of Grandparents. Usually personalized and cute as can be. I love this tradition!

And we also have tons of hand made goodies such as Cameron's handprint snowmen, complete with her kindergarten handwriting sample. Priceless!












I was so lucky to receive an entire box of personalized ornaments from my Mother in Law when we got married. Each of Matt's ornaments have to do with logging, sports, or just being a boy in particular. And every tree should have a 1990 logging beaver! This is my favorite out of his collection.












I also had quite the collection of ornaments from my childhood tree. Mostly all of mine had to do with cats. And so my tree has a disturbingly large amount of Christmas cats on it. But this one in particular always goes towards the top of the tree, a ceramic ornament painted by my Mom when I was pretty little.

My Christmas babies, Tucker and Brody on their first Christmases. I also have one of Cameron, but I guess I forgot to download it. Ooops.
And the classic Preschool Christmas ornament. Tucker brought this one home from school this year. I have another one just like it from when Cameron was in preschool.



















And my glitter reindeer that hung from the garland across the window.


These are all packed away and ready to attempt it all again next year. Hopefully Brody will be a little easier to reason with so we can actually enjoy my collection of love and Christmas memories. But for now, I have photos and if I'm careful, Brody won't be able to get to those....

More attempts at Christmas card perfection

Fully decorated Christmas tree...atleast from the waist up....
Coordinating red and green shirts
Multi-colored Christmas hair bows
Excellent camera
three cute kids
Check
Check
Check


The ability to get them to cooperate......PRICELESS AND IMPOSSIBLE!

Dancing Queen

Last fall when it was time to sign Cameron up for dance classes, I decided that two dance classes would be busy and excessive and so I made Cameron choose between clogging and ballet. And low and behold, she ended up being in both (I swear I said choose one) and so we have been busy dancing on Tuesdays for clogging and Wednesdays for ballet. This meant double tuition and double costume fees, which sucked, but she loves it. But then we got the schedule for the Christmas recitals and they ended up being on the same day. Yep, four hours of beginning dance moves later....

And it gets better because we started the day out with Clogging. And I was fine. And Cameron was amazing. And I was so proud. And we headed home for a little rest and relaxation before the ballet recital and about two hours before it started, I started to feel a little dizzy. And tired. And oh dear, upset stomach, complete and utter flu symptoms. And I knew it was coming because Matt had had it earlier in the week but of course it had to hit while I was applying Cameron's make up and getting ready to go. And there was an actual complete and utter fear that I may not make it to a bathroom if needed once there in the audience. But I was absolutely NOT going to miss this recital. So I got her there and I sat in the very back row of the auditorium so as to be able to make a quick escape if nature called. And I sat and I shook with fever while my sweet ballerina danced away.

So I don't have any photos from the actual recital, but I did get some shots of her afterward in front of our tree. Isn't she beautiful?




And while I had the camera out and I wasn't puking, I decided to take some photos for the Christmas scrapbook page. But I didn't have the energy to fight it, so there is a lot of unruly posing going on. Love these kids.
But I wish just once they would all give me a killer smile at the same damn time.