88/365

The mommy and her cookie-faced princess.

87/365

When we were planning our wedding, the cake was almost an after thought. I remember telling my wedding planner, "I don't care. Charles likes chocolate cake. Just make sure it feeds 23 people." I had no idea what it was going to look like until I saw it. A few weeks before the wedding, I realized I hadn't even thought about a cake topper. One day, while out Christmas shopping I found these two little ornaments. A snowman and a snowlady. They were perfect. They sat upon our wedding cake and hang in the very prominent front spot on our Christmas tree each year. I love them.

86/365

Merry Christmas!

85/365

Christmas Eve!

For as long as Charles and I have celebrated Christmas together, we've gone out for a very nice dinner on Christmas Eve with his family and then to BIL's or SIL's house for some family time. This year was the first year we all decided it was time for a change. Finances being one reason, but this is the first year that none of us live near the restaurant anymore. And now that there are 4 kids in the bunch it's not as practical as it once was. So, we all decided it was time for a new tradition. We just went over to BIL's house for heavy hordourves, and some good family time. The kids had a blast.

For the 3rd year in a row, we were honored to have Santa Claus stop by! And BOY were we surprised! It's his busiest night of the year! Just as I was serving up a plate of food, I heard a knock on the door. I looked over and there he was!

He stayed for about an hour. He sat by the fireplace and read us T'was the night before Christmas. He had some cookies and milk, and gave out presents to all the kids. Then he spent some time with each family.

For my 365 entry, I'll add this:

84/365

This is a typical scene in our house on any weekend morning. This morning was no different. Kisses, cuddles, hugs, and tickles. The girls love it. Everyone does.

83/365

Elizabeth really needed a trim. Her ends were a mess. I started out by only taking 3 inches off. That quickly turned into a lot more. Oops! Even as an adult, I struggle with cutting even hair. Oh well. She looks adorable and aged two years in an instant.

82/365

A haircut! Finally! I needed one so bad!

81/365

Our friends Jim and Diane give is the coolest gifts each year. This year it was the traditional chocolate house (per request from Elizabeth), and this really cool canvas checker board. The pieces are painted wooden flowers and watering cans. The reverse side of the board is tic-tac-toe. BIL got the same gift from them, but their pieces were painted wooden bumble bees and lady bugs. SO so cute!

80/365

Elizabeth was going through the ornaments when she saw this one and asked what it was. I said "Oh, honey, that's Isabelle's ornament." Elizabeth said "Oh..." (Isabelle suffered from kidney failure and passed away back in June). After a long pause she said "We can hang it on the tree right here mommy, so she can see it from Heaven." :(

79/365

Yeah, that's right...

78/365

Not many things in life say 'comfort food' like a nice hot cup of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Mmmmmm!

77/365

76/365

Baking Chirtmas cookies at BabaDar's house!

75/365

I'm so over today, it's not even funny.

74/365

First of all, Happy Anniversary to my parents. Today they celebrate 37 years of marriage. Yay!

Today is the Annual Christmas Performance! :woo: I took today off to be absolutely sure I'd be able to pick my kids up at a decent hour, bring them home, feed/bathe them, dress them, take some pictures, and head on over to the high school auditorium for their big night! My mom and I spent the day shopping. We went to lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant, I stopped by TJ's and picked up some flowers for the girls. It was such a great day!

This picture was taken before we left the house for the show.

73/365

72/365

71/365

Today was a Monday, alright. I'm so ready to go home!

70/365

I took a picture of an onrament today.

It was Christmas Eve, 2003. I had been recovering from my ectopic loss/surgery and still had Christmas shopping to do. It was Elizabeth's first Christmas. She was 5 months old. Because of everything, I hadn't had a chance to much at all, let alone even think about taking her to get pictures taken or anything. It was closing time at the mall and there we were, in the center of the mall, with only two people in line to see Santa. Charles and I looked at each other, looked down at Elizabeth who was sleeping, and quickly walked up the ramp. Within seconds there we were placing our little baby girl on Santa's lap. She woke up just as the picture snapped. She didn't even know where she was. LOL! I LOVE this ornament and it gets hung in the front/center of our tree each year. :)

69/365

Dinner at Five Guys. Elizabeth slipped and fell on the floor. In an instant someone was at our table asking if everything was okay. Then someone brought her this little styrofoam cup with a tinfoil statue on it. One of the kids in the kitchen made it. Elizabeth kept calling it her trophy. She loved it. LOL!

68/365

This is the photo text I sent Heather when she annouced she got her new job! Whoo Hoo!

67/365

Some things are better left unexplained. It was one of those things where we were getting ready to go out, Charles was still loading up the car, the girls were tired, hungry, and cranky... I already got them strapped in their car seat. There I was, there she was.. it was dark... whatever. I got her to stop crying. I don't know what's worse, the fact that I actually did it or the fact that I took a picture of it. LOL!

66/365

My half bathroom. We just re-did it this summer. I kept the Christmas decorations very simple.

65/365

We took her bear to Chick-Fil-A to meet up with some friends for dinner.

64/365

Elizabeth had a Flat Stanley type project with this bear. During her stay, we decorated a gingerbread house. Elizabeth is telling everyone it's a Ninja Bread House. :lol:

63/365

This is a picture of my little table in my front entryway. The lamp was a gift from my MIL from Coldwater Creek. It makes me happy everytime I turn it on. The picture was taken 12/24/99, our first Christmas together.

62/365

My December Desktop!