Preparations, to be followed by a brief vacation.

Day 181 - 21 December, 2009

A Real Tree!

I have waited since I lived with my parents to have a real Christmas tree again. We purchased this beautiful little guy, and I am in love with our new Christmas Eve tradition.













Day 182 - 22 December, 2009

Early morning decorations

Our Christmas Eve tree has LED lights, and bubble lights, fun plastic ornaments and tinsel, and we've already picked the gifts we want to open early.








Day 183 - 23 December, 2009

The last minute

S H O P P I N G

Here comes Christmas vacation!

Getting in the Mood

Day 171 - 16 December, 2009

Olive on my Finger

Dinner time with olives means playing with your food.

It was funny to me that Mac figured this out on his own first.

I suppose all kids do.

We both had olive hands by the end.





Day 172 - 17 December, 2009

20 Weeks

So, I did it! I have no idea what gender the baby is, and I didn't peek once. We are eagerly awaiting opening it for Christmas. It will be a thrill to watch the ultrasound, now that they do it on DVD. There are no red flags, which means everything is good (so far as they can tell).





Day 173 - 18 December, 2009

Christmas Cards

I'm a little disappointed about the way Christmas cards are going. I always get and send a ton of Cards, but this year's batch that I've received has dwindled immensely. I can't help but be a little sad. They are one of my favorite things of the season.











Day 179 - 19 December, 2009

Christmas Party

This is the latest photo of me and my expanding waistline. I played a couple verses of Away in a manger with the primary kids at the church Christmas party.

I got a lot of "I didn't know you played the cello."

I should have said, "I don't, I just teach it."

It was that bad.



Obligatory Santa Picture












Day 180 - 20 December, 2009

Blizzard

While everyone all around us got huge amounts of snowfall, we managed to get a minimal dusting. I am ok with that as long as it's made up to me in February. I want 3 inches for my birthday. We'll see.

The Last Dreary Week of the Year...

Day 166 - 11 December, 2009

Late Night at the airport.

This is a shot of the parking deck from afar for the Norfolk Airport.

So, I got to pick up a friend, and I thought it looked rather festive for the holidays.





Day 167 - 12 December, 2009

Cookies!

The last treat I was going to make for my primary class, these chocolate chip cookies were fabulous.

Oh, I do love a good cookie.

They were almost as good as having a sparkling clean kitchen afterward.



Day 168 - 13 December, 2009

Straight Tired.

After a long week, my boys were rather sleepy on this lazy Sabbath day.

We are big fans of having a day to relax.

Can't you tell?



Day 169 - 14 December, 2009

F.H.E.

We went to the Botanical Gardens with the Haines for our family home evening this week.

We loved this festival of lights!

There were so many good displays that it was difficult to pick one, but the dragon definitely made it.

RaWr!

Day 170 - 15 December, 2009

Mama! Mon-tee Hat.

My little man is so sweet in his monkey hat.

He only seems to want to wear one if mama is wearing one, but I am glad he doesn't take it off once it's on.

He does look so sweet in his monkey hat.

and the Geese are getting fat.

Day 161 - 6 December, 2009

A rock and a hard place.

Poor Malcolm, it can be so hard to find a comfortable place to sit with such a lumpy couch.

But, I think he managed.










Day 162 - 7 December, 2009

Christmas Cards

I love Christmas cards! It is one of my favorite holiday things. I already have mine addressed and ready to send by black friday every year, and can't wait for the first of December to mail them out. Jenora Weedman sent us our first of the season. I can't waitfor more so that I can hang them up around the house.

Day 163 - 8 December, 2009

Good morning Mama

The good thing about being too exhausted to get up at 430 in the morning and work out, is that I get a little more time with family.

I love the little moments.

Malcolm is such a ham. And such a little parrot.

We are trying to instill good habits into him. I sure hope it works.



Day 164 - 9 December, 2009

Bearded Dragon

No, they do not breath fire. But they have a vicious bite.

Last week, I got to help force feed this little guy after my piano lesson with this little tyke proudly displaying his pet. I have never been a lizard person, but he is an interesting specimen.

The dragon, not the boy.




Day 165 - 10 December, 2009

Christmas at the Y

They have the place decorated up quite nicely. This is still a favorite hang out of ours, though Tim is more tired than ever with his schedule, and my fitness level is steadily plummeting to its demise. It will be a while until I can do an 8 minute mile for 6 miles again. Oh tragedy. It's a good thing I like being pregnant.

Christmas is Coming

Day 155 - 30 November, 2009

FHE

Though we have opposite schedules for most of the week, it is nice that we have a family home evening on Mondays. Today was 3rd Thanksgiving. We had one the day of with a ton of family, then one on Saturday with Tim's family, and since we wanted our own leftovers, this left Monday with the proverbial fatted calf.




Day 156 - 1 December, 2009

For the Birds

In an effort to get outside in spite of the cooling weather, we set off to the park.

Apparently the birds half not gotten the migration memo yet, as there were THOUSANDS of them just chillin' at the park.

Until we started chasing them.




Day 157 - 2 December, 2009

White Trash

The only thing trashier than leaving your decorations up until July, is having them halfway hanging around your house.

The rain made us those people this week.

For the whole week.









Day 158 - 3 December, 2009

Buffet

I love Indian food.

I love Rajput.

In fact, I love it so much that I can only go there when they have the buffet, because I just can't choose.

During my seasonal shopping I noticed that the buffet light was on, and so I became a vegetarian for a day. Oh Curry, Oh lentils, oh delicious nectar.

Day 159 - 4 December, 2009

Getting the Oil Changed

As you can see, the Mazda dealership decided to celebrate the occasion that we finally had the time to come in for an oil change. (haha!)

Although that is not entirely true, I am grateful that they decided to decorate so lovely for us, and that they thought my kids was cute enough that he could charm a balloon or two off them.

Balloons can keep a toddler entertained for hours.

One and a half to be precise.




Day 160 - 5 December, 2009

Christmas Party

This is a terrible photo of us as we are dropping the kid off for some babysitting.

We were forced into these coats because mama Banks needed to assert her motherly goodness.

I am unsure what the threshold is for needing a jacket, but can I just say that I am ever so grateful for that charitable donation, our teeth were still chattering in spite of our cozy outerwear.