Sequential Shenanigans

It's not very often that my entire family (sibling-in-laws included) are all together in one place at the same time. Seems like someone is always at work, at some kind of game, out of the state, at boot camp, etc. We were all together this past week over Christmas, and then we had a "family day" of sorts this past Wednesday.

We went to the mall first off. My dad had given all of the sisters these really fun leather bracelets from Zales. They have tons (read: too many for me to make any efficient decision) of beads that you can customize your bracelet with. So he gave us a bracelet and a gift card to go get two beads for our bracelets. The man knows how to give presents, that's for sure. He had 5 happy daughters and 1 happy daughter-in-law.

After that we went home and played some Sequence. (Read: World War III) My family is nothing if not ridiculously loud and competitive...so it was fun in a cover-your-ears and put on your big girl pants cuz you're about to get beat sort of way. ;) I just need to point out that my team won one of the two hands. Taking my preggo brain into account I was impressed.

We went out to dinner later than night, which was even more fun since dad paid. ;) Probably not fun for the waitresses who were serving our gigantic table, but fun for us. We consumed entirely too much chips and queso dip, and generally had a great time just hanging out together. Mom is hoping to make this post-Christmas family day a tradition, and I kinda hope that works out, too. :) Really thankful for the great family I've been blessed with.

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. / Matthew 18:20

The last shot is for The Paper Mama, Second is for Sunday Snapshot, 

Third is for Scripture and a Snapshot

Christmas Photo Dump

I don't usually do "photo dump" types of posts, I like to run my mouth when I blog, but there were so many from Christmas, and I am so completely brain dead at the moment, (example...it took me 3 tries to type moment correctly.) that I just thought I'd show you our Christmas instead of tell you it. Trust me...I dont know that you'd understand a word I said right now anyway. So here goes...

We spent the day with my family, opening presents and then spending a little time outside shooting (a recent Christmas tradition), and then some time inside eating, and eating some more. I don't think I'll be hungry till New Years. It was a great holiday...hope yours was, too!

The first shot is for Texture Thursday, Second is for This or That.

The Best Gifts

We had a pretty fabulous Christmas this past weekend. The kiddos made out, getting spoiled by grandma's, grandpa's, aunties and uncles, and various other family members. They ever were relatively well-behaved during the spoiling, which made it a little easier for me to let them be spoiled. Billy and I gave them each a few small things, including these ridiculously cute hats that they have literally been wearing since Sunday morning...

We were pretty spoiled ourselves, just watching them have so much fun. We also got lots of great time with family and some great gifts on top of it. Related: I took these shots with the camera (5D Mark ii, for those who have asked what kind) Billy gave me, to have made into canvases for the kiddos' room (which was a gift from my sister-in-law). I'm pretty excited to get these up on the walls.

Out of all the gifts given yesterday, the time spent, the food consumed...these two items in the pictures are my very favorites. I'm so blessed to have been able to spend this holiday with them and their dad. (There is one more "gift" of this nature I'm waiting to open...but am ready whenever he is. ;) Come on Baby J!) How was your holiday? What was your favorite gift?

The first shot is for Sweet Shot, Second is for Communal Global.

For unto us...

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?”
“It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
“It came without packages, boxes or bags!”

And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!”/ The Grinch

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. / Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas, everyone! :)

Only in the movies.

The other night while hubby was working late I watched one of my favorite Christmas movies: White Christmas. I love this movie...it's so old and classic and just a bit cheesy. I do not, however, hope that we have a white Christmas. I'm just not ready. I need to watch It's a Wonderful Life next time Billy works late...he's not quite as thrilled with watching movies older than we are. But I was raised on old musicals and Disney cartoons, so it's not quite Christmas without it.

The movie was topped off with some yummy cheesecake from Cheesecake factory. Some friends from church gave us a gift card for this delicious establishment at the shower for Baby J. I highly recommend giving gifts of food to the mother of the baby you are showering...it's pretty awesome. ;) It definitely made my night even better.

I'm also getting pretty good at firing up the ol' fireplace by myself when Billy isn't home. It only requires opening the thingy-that-lets-out-smoke (that I don't know the official name of and am too lazy to google) and throwing in one of those duraflame logs and lighting it. Presto...I'm practically Laura Ingalls or something.  Cozy evening coming up.

I'm going to miss the tree when we take it down after the holidays. It's taking up space in that empty corner of ours that needs a chair, and between that and the fireplace our house is extra cozy looking right now. I leave the lights on the tree turned on pretty much except when we are sleeping. Doesn't matter if it's daylight...there's something sad about a tree sitting there without it's lights on.

While I'm not hoping for said white Christmas, that can stay in the movies, I don't mind enjoying all the other cozies this season has to offer...from decorating sugar cookies, to wandering the mall, to eating the overload of chocolates that have been gifted to Billy at work. (I mean last night he brought home an entire basket of Godiva randomness. His coworkers are trying to kill me.) What are some of your favorite Christmas-time traditions?

See more "Festive" shots at YouCapture. The third shot is for Texture Thursday, last is for This or That.

Naptime Pastime

{ First off...please let me know what you think of this new layout. Confusing? Ugly? Love it? Trying to decide if I like it or not and would love some feedback please! }

We had a real teaser of a day last weekend as far as Baby J goes. It was one of those "this is it" days that ended up not being it. I do have a lot of those, but this time we were even ready to have someone watch the other two hooligans.We were pretty sure there would be a baby by the end of the day, and after a long morning/afternoon of intense contractions (3 min apart for a while there) there was no baby.

He's still happily kicking away in my belly. And honestly that's ok. He can stand to bake a bit longer. I'm officially full term today, though, so I'm ready whenever he is. I was pretty cranky after all that contracting...and I'm a bit ashamed to admit I sat my sore, exhausted self on the couch and cried for a few minutes. I thought no one was watching, but Merrick spotted me, and offered to wrap me up with his blanket. It was so cute I cried harder. Billy apparently felt pretty bad for me too, because he let me open my Christmas present. ;) (My new Camera)

I didn't put up too much of a fight, and yesterday during the hooligans naptime I got in a little playtime. I'm so thankful for this gift. I'm sure it's going to be put to work. My last camera (which was another Christmas gift from my parents...a Canon Rebel XS) definitely earned it's keep...and I've used it so much that the shutter button is extra sensitive and the eye piece is gone. But it's still in good shape...I just think I'll let it have a little vacay.

I'm looking forward to getting better with this new camera. I still haven't had a lot of time to fiddle but so much with it. But I can see what I'll be doing now during naptime. Don't know if it's been nesting or what, but I've become a chore-finishing monster during naptime the last few weeks. I see that going right out the window, however.

The first shot is for Sweet Shot, Third shot is for Simplicity, Last shot is for Communal Global.

Balanced

The other night we "made" Christmas cookies with the hooligans. I didn't actually make anything, thanks to Tollhouse...but we did roll out the pre-made dough and cut out the cookies ourselves. I feel like that should count for something right? ;) As previously stated, I don't bake anything for the sake of those around me.

The kiddos really seemed to have a good time. We aren't very "crafty" around here, which is an area in which I know I need to improve for their sake. They love doing crafts and coloring...and always bring home lots of artwork from when we go to the gym in the mornings and they get to do craft time in childwatch.

There were a few cookies that had "help" in the decorating, but as you can see from this shot Merrick decorated one of his cookies with a "snake" that apparently had legs, hands and "cheeks". I didn't realize snakes had those body parts.

Cheeks or not, the snake cookie was devoured in a short amount of time. I think this is the kind of craft we wouldn't mind repeating.

"A balanced diet is a Christmas cookie in each hand."

 

Check out more shots at Monday Rewind. The last shot is for Macro Monday.

No Title.

Sometimes I get tired of staring at the blog I just wrote, wondering what to title it. So I won't bother. My brain is fried...my entire body aches...I have a giant pile of presents I should be wrapping but don't want to...cute kiddos who are having a picnic on my porch...and my Christmas present/push present (a 5D Mark ii!!! EEEEE!!!) is sitting under the tree staring at me. Obviously, I cannot be expected to name a blog post at this point.

Yes, I already know what I'm getting for Christmas. My hubby and I are awful at keeping presents a secret, and at giving them on the appropriate date. A lot of people give us grief about it, but I kind of love that about us. It's nice to be given a gift that someone is so excited about they just can't wait to give it to you. So the fact that my Christmas present is still in the box is a major feat of determination on both our parts right now.

Another reason for the lack of focus is that aching body thing I was talking about. I'm about 37 weeks so the fact that things are already progressed enough to be considered in "active labor" (if you know what I mean), but am not officially in labor is pretty annoying, and to be honest it hurts. I did this with Tirzah...it was a long last month of false labor and wondering if it could be weeks or any-minute-now. I'm up a lot of nights and have lots of contractions, but they never get any more consistent or closer together, so we wait. And we try to wait patiently.

But I know how good Baby J is gonna smell...all tiny and new, so it's hard. Much harder than waiting to open that box staring at my from under the tree. (I have already specified to Billy, however, if I go into labor before Christmas that box is going to the hospital with me...I will need to use it. Yes, NEED.) I am definitely gonna have made out like a bandit this Christmas as far as awesome presents go. I mean, look at the gifts I already have in the above picture. Peanut butter mustaches and all...they are pretty great.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 

James 1:17

The first shot is for Scripture and a Snapshot, Second is for Sunday Snapshot

...with all that I want.

And when the night is falling, Down the sky at midnight

Another year is stalling, Far away a good bye, good night

So small a turning, The world grows older every day
An ache, a yearning, Soften when I hear you say

And when the cold wind's blowing, Snow drifts through the pine trees
In houses lights are glowing, Likewise in your eyes that find me here...

...with all that I want.

Out in the harbor the ships come in, it's Christmastime. / The Weepies

See more "Light" shots at YouCapture. The second shot is for Texture Thursday, third is for This or That.

Lit

Christmas is such a wonderfully tacky time of year. I mean not everyone's Christmas decor is tacky, but you have to admit those people who go all out? You're probably secretly just a little jealous of their ridiculous display of Christmas cheer. Like my neighbor a few houses down who decorated ONE tree in front of his house with enough lights for the entire block.

We've always wanted to put up a lot of lights on the outside of the house. Not over the top so much, just a little something. With how expensive gift giving is it always seems to be the thing we decide to skip. Not this year.

This was enough for me...although Billy would like to do more. Our house is the only one in our little cluster of townhouses that has lights on it (besides the crazy tree). I was secretly a little worried our neighbors wouldn't appreciate our lights, but after my neighbors gruesome Halloween display I decided this shouldn't be frowned upon but so much.

The kids are thrilled as you can imagine. They would leave the lights plugged in all day if I let them. Nevermind the fact they wouldn't be able to SEE them in broad daylight. The crazy tree is another story though. I think if that was left on all day someone would mistake it for the airport.

The first shot is for Sweet Shot, Live, Love, Travel, and second is for Simplicity, third is for Communal Global.

Showered

This past weekend I had the serious blessing of being thrown a baby shower. I didn't think those usually happened by the time baby number 3 rolls around. So I was pretty thankful and excited when my sister and sister-in-law told me what they were planning.

I think after the shower has happened, and I've opened so many generous gifts of tiny diapers and adorable little outfits (and one ridiculously awesome stuffed bear that is as big as my 3 kids together...) I am even more excited for the upcoming arrival of Baby J. I mean, he has all this cool stuff he needs to use.

I know I'm going to be thoroughly exhausted when he does arrive, so I'm trying to enjoy these last weeks and not rush things, but we seriously cannot wait to meet him. And I seriously cannot wait to use his actual name as opposed to "Baby J". I am awful at keeping secrets and this one is tougher than I thought.

I'm so grateful for everyone who gave thoughtful gifts this weekend, and for all the people in our lives who are just as excited and anxious to meet Baby J as we are. He's going to be one blessed little man, and we are already some blessed parents. So...anytime you're ready, Baby J. ;)

The first shot is for Macro Monday. 

Check out more shots at Monday Rewind.

Life Lessons

My hubby is a huge fan of Oreos and milk. He eats them almost every night, and it's something of a tragedy when we run out of either one. And he must have the Double Stuf Oreos. He thinks the normal Oreos are kind of a waste of time. I prefer the golden Oreos, honestly, but have never turned down a cookie that I can remember.

I decided the other day, as I was attempting to sneak Oreos while the kiddos were eating lunch, that it was time to introduce them to Oreos and milk. Ya know, since I had been caught eating them myself. I swear I could wait until they were napping in another room and they would still figure out if I was eating something I don't particularly want to share. They are kind of like sharks or something, they can just smell it.

After they finished their lunch I let them both have an Oreo to dip in milk. It was pretty much a disaster of black soggy crumbs when they were finished, but from the chocolate in their teeth and all over their hands I'm pretty sure they approve. I mean, it's messy, it's sweet, and mom was trying to keep it from us. It must be good. I wonder if I can get this tactic to work on vegetables?

The third shot is for Paper Mama

Not Gonna Complain

Recently we've had really weird weather for this time of year. It's been really warm. If you know me, you know I hate the cold...so I am loving it. I mean, it does make it a little hard to be in the Christmas spirit, but I think that's a job I can handle. Ya know, listening to Christmas music while it's 70 degrees outside.

I said recently that I haven't had any motivation to actually pick up my big girl camera, as opposed to my iPhone, and take a lot of shots this season. I did get a chance to take some pictures the other day while the kiddos were napping though. I spend so many of their naptimes doing things that need to be done, or cleaning up/doing chores that it was nice to just piddle around and forget the list of things I have waiting for me to do. 

I've really enjoyed decorating our "new" place this season, chilly temps or not. We actually have a good spot for the tree this year, as opposed to our bedroom like last year. It may be a fake tree, a bit on the Charlie Brown side, but I figured with these two kids (and potentially a baby before time to take down the tree) a tree I need to take care of would wait till next year.

I'm also pretty sure that next Christmas, about the time Baby J could be walking, I'm really gonna appreciate the shatter-proof ornaments we got this year. ;)

The first shot is for YouCapture, the second shot is for Texture Thursday, and third is for This and That