making valentines and messy faces

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope your day is topped with sprinkles too.

christmas 2010

Christmas was so much fun. Emma Kate told everyone, "Merry Missmas" and Ryne enjoyed helping his grandmummer organize the "cresents" (he made Christmas presents one word) around the tree. We were visited by friends, bearing gifts and goodies on Christmas Eve. Later that evening we went to the Christmas Eve service at church. Mom, Emma Kate and I spent the latter half of the service out in the foyer/halls with all the other mommies and toddlers (having trouble sitting still). Alan, Ryne and I stayed up VERY LATE putting together a little kitchen for a sweet little sister, who squealed when she first saw it. Needless to say, Ryne didn't want to get up the next morning, but when he did he was super stoked to see Santa had brought him the school bus he had asked for. ALL. SEASON. LONG. We enjoyed a peaceful morning leisurely opening gifts, enjoying pancakes made by grandmummer and watching the snow flurries outside.

Ryne gets his first non-diet coke, from a super sweet neighbor... which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Hope yours was merry too. :)

the zoo in december

Stacy called me Monday with a CRAZY idea, "let's take the kids to the zoo". The zoo in December... why not? There was baking to be done and a few gifts left to be wrapped, but all that could wait. We needed a break from being "shut-ins". As it turns out the weather was actually nice that day (in the upper 50's). There was hardly anyone at the zoo (they were all at McWane). It was great!

Ryne (3), Will (5), Emma Kate & Leah (almost 2!)

christmas cards

It's that time again... for Christmas cards. I love receiving cards. Seeing the photos of family and friends. Reading the letters. Just knowing that someone is thinking of us. As for sending cards, that's another story.

First you have to decide on the type of card. Photo or the "old school" non-photo(yeah right, you want to brag about those babies). Where to take those photos? Who takes the photos... use a tripod(I think not). What printing press to use? Google holiday photo cards. Oh my goodness! Do you write a letter to be included? Sorry guys, not this year. So many decisions and sooo little time. Seriously.

For our Christmas card photo(s) this year, I knew exactly where I wanted to take them... Morris Ave. And who better to take them than my friend Stacy. So on a beautiful afternoon in November we met her downtown for our photo session. She got some great shots, even with a 23 month old who couldn't sit/stand still for long.

I designed, then re-designed (of course) and ordered my cards and they are now in transit as I type. Yay! I can't wait to get my hands on them. Soon they will be headed to a mailbox near you... hopefully YOURS. Anyway, here are a few pics that didn't make it onto the card, but I thought you might like a sneak peek.

Thanks, Stacy!