...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