Calm before the storm....

I've told friends when I've mentioned this blog, that I don't use it to run on about my feelings, but on this rainy Sunday, eve before I go back to work and just on the edge of the next three weeks, I can't help but admit, this time of year always make me feel a little depressed. I'm making a great effort not to get caught up in all the stress this year and to enjoy the memories that make this time of year (and everyday) so special. I've been inspired by the blogs I follow daily, especially Ali Edwards who creates something called a "December Daily" for this time of year. Well, it's too late for me to keep one probably for this year, but if I did, I'd say ours actually starts just before the 1st of December. Here are some photos I might keep in a DD that capture just a moment or two of our busy days during this crazy, wonderful, hectic and beautiful time of year.

Wednesday, November 26th:the day before Thanksgiving, the girls helped me make the traditional pumpkin pie. Also keeping to tradition, the girls never had a bite. Good! More for Scott and I.

Thursday, Thanksgiving Day! McKenna's place was set and she said the blessing for us. No photos available, but guests at our table were my mom and her husband :)


Thursday, we also got to visit with many other loved ones at Aunt Ellen's house. (Skip to here for other family photos. ) Jeremy was able to visit after just returning home from his 3rd tour in Iraq. Here is a photo op with his two sisters. I loved this picture.

Friday, November 28th, meant another tradition - shopping! It was about 4 years ago that Andrea joined our shopping tradition, and this year McKenna did as well. Here she assumes the proper "shopper's walk"!

Friday, McKenna also got to have the all too brief, but oh so important visit with Santa!

Saturday, November 29th, I had to be back at work by 7:00 am, for what I hope doesn't become tradition, to hang a student art show. Just as we were leaving the newspaper photographer asked if there was a student present with their art in this show....what, are you kidding? I just happen to have her right here! Hopefully, her picture will make the paper.

Saturday evening, we made it to EPCOT for a revisited favorite tradition to see and hear the Candlelight Processional, beautiful.

And finally, Sunday, November 30th, we got to put the tree up complete with our traditional Disney's monorail instead of a train!

Photos compliments of McKenna!

Okay, three weeks to go until Christmas break, 6 days until Christmas day after that....it's gonna be busy, and I probably won't get to post much. I'll continue to try to enjoy the moments and not stress about money, cleaning, what has to be wrapped and if my kids are happy. It's like that song says, "you're gonna miss this", so I'm going to do my best to enjoy it before it's gone.

Peace.

more blessings....

Yay, I finally have pictures to post that aren't just my family!

I had the fortunate opportunity to photograph these beautiful children and wonderful family today - thank you Kendra :o)

Sneak Peak...

I finally had an entire weekend off and I did nothing but loads and loads of laundry and sat at the computer working on photo stuff. (I did also do the grocery shopping, which I hate, on a sunday, with all the after church crowd and on the last weekend before thanksgiving.) It was wonderful, so why do I feel guilty? Well, in order to curb that feeling, I have created 12 layouts for next year's calendar, I'll give these as gifts to a few loved ones.
Here's a "sneak peak" of one or two....

Blessings

Last night we celebrated Dad's 65th birthday with a "surprise" party! He says we might have pulled it off, except he got suspicious when no one called him all day to wish him a happy birthday!
I titled this "Blessings", because all my blessings are right here in this photo. I fortunately have many, many more, but right here, in this photo, is all I ever prayed for as a child; a wonderful family and beautiful children.
Happy Birthday Dad. Last night Scott said you were is friend and mentor...thanks for being mine too.

Halloween Revisited...

I never got to take pictures of Andrea on "all hallo's eve", long story - not important now, but she did dress up for me again the next day for her own "photo shoot". Here are a few, I thought they were pretty spooky!

It's not the quantity but the quality....

We had a chance to head down to disney today and after a fun morning on a few new attractions at Hollywood Studios, a picnic lunch in our Santa Fe with the sunroof open (the weather was perfect today), we were off to complete my "prime directive" of visiting the "Disney's Festival of Masters" Art Show. I totally thought is was an art show either by disney artisits or of disney art - no, just a regular (huge) art show. A place I'd like to wonder through by myself, but not a place for my hubby. He was a trooper (although he would have rather had a root canal) he hung in there :o). The girls did get to have their face painted by the Cirque De Solei makeup artist and did chalk drawings on the sidewalk. That was fun, even I couldn't resist a little sketch!

Stitch says, "Aloha, Cousin!"

Simba says, "I just can't wait to be King!"

my "masterpiece" LOL

Seeing Spots!

Before,
during,
after
At our school we celebrate our love of reading w/ "Book-o-ween". Since this will be my last one with one of my own children, I begged McKenna to chose book characters where we could be partners. We were pleased with her idea of 101 Dalmatians. :)