You call that a blizzard?!

A week ago, W and I headed up to Wisconsin to meet Tyler at his parent's house to celebrate Christmas.  While it was a short visit, it was not lacking of quality time.  We had a Christmas feast, went to see over a million holidays lights in downtown Lacrosse, exchanged gifts and shoveled the snow from the "blizzard."  Perhaps, I lived in Minnesota to long, where blizzard was code for it is acceptable to be more than a half hour late to work, but it really did not feel like blizzard was an appropriate term for the cute sprinkling of snow.  The following is our photo highlight reel:

Peeking on Santa

Booping Grandma's nose

"I will get just close enough to reach the candy cane."

I will give you a high five and that is all.

Above and Below: Do it Myself, "I fix it."

Maybe following in Uncle Joe Joe's footsteps

Hijacking Mommy's gift

Take that blizzard

A Rachel and Cece Visit

A Rachel and Cece visit is really the best kind.  So I am so glad that I was done with school and a majority of my holiday preparations by the time they arrived!  What can be better than a little time with your bestie around the holidays?... Time with your bestie and our babies that is what!  Unfortunatley, our time ended to soon and they are heading home. 

Gasp! It cannot be time to leave yet!

While our friends were here we managed to exchange gifts, make cookies, have a slumber party and all around enjoy time together.  W and C grow to be more adorable with each passing visit, and this time was no exception.  The moment C walked through the door she was excited to see her pal.  After every nap, there would be a sleepy, "Where's C/W?"

We colored often and our official cookie testers had more than one Christmas cookie!

In between crayons and chocolate, C enjoyed trying to tickle W's tootsies and W enjoyed crawling on the table.

W really enjoyed being the older kid at a play date for once and took a lot of time showing C the ropes.  If she stood on a chair he informed her to sit, if she needed a toy that was out of reach he would grab it, and he would turn on the ornaments so they could dance to the music. 

We miss you already and you probably have yet to cross the boarder!  Thank you so much for visiting and we cannot wait to see you again soon!  Although parting is such sweet sorrow, it is nice to know we will be seeing them in about a week when W and I head up to the frozen tundra aka Minnesota!

And C rejoices! (So do we!)

A parent and tot holiday party!

There have been many aspects of class that W and L have enjoyed.  The crafting, the snacking, the kitchen and trucks, the Halloween and Thanksgiving parties were big hits as well.  So when it came time for the end of class, big to do, holiday fest I thought for sure we would go out with a bang.  There were cookies, cupcakes, juice boxes and presents. Santa even made a guest appearance. 

All the parents were hoping Santa would be a big hit; alas he was not.  It was even uncertain whether any of the kids would sit with Santa long enough for a picture.  L really had to put some thought into this decision and when all was said and done, I am not positive he felt he made the right choice. 



Unlike last year, W did not immediately burst into tears, but he was by no stretch of the imagination pleased with being forced to sit on Santa's lap to receive his present and candy cane.

We managed to get a majority of the kids from class to stand close enough to Santa in an attempt at a group photo.  The result was no Mona Lisa, but no one is in hysterics. 

Santa's visit did seem to spoil the remainder of class, but at least the candy canes were a success.  Farewell parent and tot class, we will definitely miss the juice boxes... uh, I mean, the socialization and benefits that come from an intro to preschool.



Tis the Season... to find the most decorated houses!

One of my favorite traditions when I was a little girl was driving around to look at the lights.  Back then my grandma still lived in Burbank and there were about 3 different blocks that were filled with lawns full of reindeer and wise men and more lights than an airport needs to land planes.  I remember driving up and down neighborhood blocks oohing and aahing at the Santa that would wave from the sleigh on the rooftop.  If it was nice enough out, my parents and I would get out of the car and walk the block to see the rows of houses sporting their spirit.  I remember being so in awe of the twinkling lights and standing on the sidewalk looking up at all these decorations and thinking to myself, "Wow, it really is magical!"

As we grow up, we realize it is not quite magic, but more appropriately a lot of work climbing up on the roof and hauling out all the decor from the attic and crawl space to create this magical time of year.

One of the things that I am most grateful for is being able to experience that magic again through W's eyes!  Watching his face light up when he pushes the button for the singing Mickey on the tree brings back wonderful memories of when I thought it was the coolest thing in the world to be able to hold the strand of lights for my Dad while he decorated the tree.  Listening to him talk while he is in the backseat as we drive home at night passing house upon house covered in lights and hearing him say, "Wow!... Wow!.... Wow!" tugs at every one of my heart strings.  It reminds me of a time when I believed in magic and miracles and really genuinely believed that Rudolf's red nose was that blinking light in the sky on the way to Nana's for Christmas eve.  (It was not until I was about 10 that my Dad broke the news that it was not Rudolf, but the light on top of the water tower... I was truly heart broken.)

Although W was not as impressed as I was with the idea to ride around in the car looking at lights.  My parents and I still managed to enjoy a half hour or so of oohing and aahing at lights before W's protest forced us to go home.  Unlike when I was young, we went straight home without stopping for hot chocolate, but the experience brought back a lot of happy memories for everyone involved. 

Let Your Heart Be Light!

In, what can only be called, a mission to drive myself mad, I have become slightly obsessed with capturing the perfect holiday card photo of W.  He not only does not care to be a part of this mission, but I believe has begun taunting me with pleasant smiles and steady posing when my camera is no where to be seen.  If I am lucky enough to be able to keep him in the room after strapping the camera around my neck the best I am able to catch is a glimpse of W turning on some of the musical ornaments.

I thought for sure that bringing out some lights and his new favorite blanket would only tip the scales in my favor, but alas he down right refuses to look longing into the glistening bulbs so I can photograph that "oh so perfect" pinterest shot I have been hoping for. 

You may notice that his head is not in this photo and that is to preserve the holiday magic.  For if it was you would surely see the distraught toddler look that conveys utter disbelief that he has been removed from his nightly reading to be asked to help untangle the lights.

After bringing in an assistant, I did manage to snap a few creative framing shots, but seeing as how this mission is designed to, as I said, drive me mad none of them quite hold a candle to the image I have in my mind.

Even after I proclaimed that I would send out this years holiday card with a photo of our new friendly bear, W would not change his mind.

After exhausting all other options, I bribed suggested that if W just sat down and held onto one of the lights for a moment, I would let him hold the phone and call GG.

In all fairness, he did exactly what I asked.  He sat there for exactly one moment and held one light and then proceeded to get up and grab the phone and place it promptly in my hand demanding I hold up my end of the deal. 


Although I may still send out a card with a teddy bear holding a strand of lights, I have fully enjoyed experimenting with the new camera, and for now will take comfort in the fact that W is not going to tear apart the Christmas tree, in an attempt to use lights to set the house on fire.

My body is betraying me

Apparently I am aging, and not in the good way like wine or cheese.  My back has decided to go on strike until further notice, leaving me with a wicked spasm and a muscle relaxer that relaxes my consciousness along with everything else.  I took half a dose yesterday morning at 7 and woke up at 3:30 in the afternoon completely unaware that the day had disappeared.  All of this bed rest has given me the opportunity to catch up on some reading for school and organize about a zillion photos. 
Here are a few black and white photos that were taken with the new camera before my back gave out. 

I am sure I am far more excited than I should be, but I think it is pretty great that this camera has a black and white photo setting!  I just adore the look of black and white photos!

Do not tell Santa, but I found my Christmas Gift... and I took pictures with it!

In all fairness, I knew what I was getting for Christmas, so when the UPS guy dropped it off, is it really considered snooping to open the box, charge the battery, put the lens on and start taking pictures of W in all our Christmas glory?!  I do not think so.

After a lot of research, consumer reports and scoping the internet for deals on camera bundles I pleaded and begged with my parents, grandma, and Tyler to all go in on one extra special gift.  Technically I am not supposed to be using my soon to be Christmas gift until well Christmas, but I just could not help myself.  It is so shiny and new and takes truly amazing photos!

I cannot wait to experiment with every setting and essentially drive everyone I know batty with my, "stand here," "wait, just one more," "hold still... okay turn slightly this way."  Thanks in advance for putting up with me!