What A Disaster!

I have been waiting for weeks to get the kids' Christmas pictures done. But it seems that every opportunity was taken away by something like an illness or the wrong type of photo package on sale. Well finally I got tired of it. Even though we all still have a cold, I decided that the kids were well enough to get a portrait done. We had originally planned on doing it last night, but I called the studio about 7 times and they never answered the phone. Bug was very disappointed! First thing this morning I called the studio to ask about an open appointment. I called a studio that was a little further away, because we had plans of buying the photo disk so that I could make some address labels. We dressed the kids and when I tried to curl Bug's hair, it failed miserably. So I fixed it the best I could, and off we went.

We arrived at the studio and I signed us in. I asked the lady if they had the disks, and sure enough, she said "NO". Oh wonderful! That was the whole reason for coming to this studio! We went ahead with the appointment. We had to take the first picture about 6 times. After all, your first accepted pose is the one you get in your package, and I wanted it to be soooo cute. Unfortunately my kids had other plans. They would not smile, or if they did it was one of the cheesy teeth grinding fake smiles. Finally we got one that looked "ok" so I said yes to it. We then took the other 6 poses which of course turned out better, they always do. The studio changed their package this year, so instead of paying the sale price, we had to pay 20 extra dollars because the package didn't include the 10X13 that we keep for ourselves.

Usually I leave the studio so excited for the pictures to come back... This time, I don't really care all that much. They didn't turn out that great. And I didn't get my disk. I actually suggested that we take them to a different studio and just do the regular package again so I could get the disk, but I don't think Jeff will do it. I hope he at least considers it. I'll even call it my "Christmas present" from him. After we got home, both the kids decided it would be fun to get an attitude from Hell! Bug was screaming at Bear, stomping her feet, slamming doors and trying to tip Bear's chair over. Bear is breaking toys, shouting, and just being a rowdy little boy! To top it all off, I still have a severe cold and I am so tired if it. I can't breathe, or sleep, my throat hurts, and I can't stop coughing. I am so ready for tonight to be over now!

Turkey Dinner

Our Thanksgiving was great! We had way too much food, which is how it should be. There was turkey, and pies, munchies of all kinds, and even homemade eggnog! Yum! Everyone had a nice time, and the weather was great early in the day. The kids got some sunshine. It was just REALLY cold. The only bad part is that Bear and I are both sick with a bad cold. That was no fun, but at least it wasn't the flu!

Holidays = Family

I just wanted to remind everyone that the Holidays are for spending time with your family. Everyone needs to slow down, take a break from the chaos of the season and enjoy the people that you love, and whom love you as well. We know all too well that everyday could be our last and how tragic it would be if we missed it! Leave the shopping for another day and spend a nice evening inside a warm house, with your loved ones and some yummy food! Don't let life pass you by. Happy Holidays everyone, I love you!

Holiday outfits

Today we went shopping and we picked up the kids' outfits for Christmas pictures. We always get them a new outfit a couple weeks before we get the pictures done. We found a cute 3 piece outfit for Bear right away, but we were having a little trouble finding one for Bug. I was planning on getting her a nice sweater, but when we went to buy one, I found one I liked but they didn't have her size. They had cute little sweater dresses, which I'm sure she'd be adorable in, but they weren't really festive. So we went to another store and we found some fancy little dresses for not too much. They had one which I loved! It was a red silky dress, no sleeves, and it had a red velvety jacket that just covered the chest and it has white "fur" on the cuffs and collar. I wanted her to get that one, she would have looked like a lil Mrs. Claus. But instead we let her pick it out and she didn't pick that one... But she picked a beautiful Burgundy dress with a sash and a "diamond" buckle on it. The bottom of the dress has a sheer burgundy overlay with flowers on it. She looks gorgeous in it. Bear's outfit is tan khaki pants, a cream colored turtleneck and a blue zip sweater that goes over it with snowflakes on it. Very handsome! Now I just hope that they cooperate when we get the pictures done so that it will be as cute as they are! To be continued...

I WANT THAT!!!!

Bug and Bear are getting very excited for Christmas this year. Bug has Christmas music playing in her room all day everyday! She woke up yesterday and looked out of her window. Suddenly she came running out of her room yelling "Mommy it snowed!! Can we go outside and make a snowman?" I was a little confused, because although I didn't doubt that it had snowed, I highly doubted that it had snowed that much. I took a quick look out the window and there was no snow on the grass, and only a teeny tiny dusting on the ivy in the backyard. I explained to her that there definitely wasn't enough snow to make a snowman or any other type of snow creature.

Lately the T.V. has been playing all the new toy commercials trying to give the parents a hint of what to get the kids. When one of these commercials come on, one or both of the kids will yell out "I want that!". At first it was kinda cute, the way they'd get all excited and their faces would light up with the biggest smile. Okay, cute, yes... But after 5 minutes straight of listening to "I want that Mommy, can I have it, I want it." It get's kinda irritating. My reaction is the same everytime. Maybe if you're good, Santa will bring it for you. Then they got smart on me... "Mommy, if Santa doesn't bring it for me, will you buy it for me?" Are you kidding me?!?!?!?! They're not even 5 years old yet and they know that old line? Man, I'm in big trouble! So then I take a look at the toy in question, and usually it's something either not age appropriate, too big to fit in the house, way to expensive, or just plain useless. I usually tell them that they don't need it, they already have something just like it, I don't have that much money, or "I'll think about it."

I think this Christmas is going to be alot of fun though. Bug is now at the age where Christmas really is magical and she can understand the whole plot of it now. Bear isn't far behind though, he's been running around the house, dancing and singing "Santa Claus is coming to town." Christmas is my favorite holiday. It always has been. I think it was a little annoying to everyone around me when I was younger, and even now. I am always the one that pushes everyone into the holiday spirit, even when they want to be scrooges. I decorate early, and leave it up late. And my kids are just like me! I brought their little Christmas tree in from the garage. I had no intention of setting it up for display. However, the kids were playing with it so I moved it into the livingroom and up a little more out of their reach. They asked me to turn it on, so of course I did. They enjoyed the pretty lights for one day and luckily I have kept it off since then. I'm not quite ready yet!

Trick or Treat!

The kids brought home a bucket full of candy last night! We only went out for about an hour but their buckets were so full that Bear had Daddy holding the bucket because it was too heavy, and Bug was saying "Please, no more houses, I'm too tired." After that, Bug helped Papa hand out some candy. They did great! Both of them knocked on the doors and yelled out "Trick or treat!"