If You Blog it....

they will come.

Merry Christmas and blessings on the New Year from our Gaggle to yours!

True Story

So the other day I'm sitting on the couch with Emily watching Curious George Christmas again doing flashcards when she started to pick her nose. And then she held her treasure out for all to see. The following conversation was direct result of that action.

The Mama
Emily, please do not pick your nose. It's so gross.

(And then she made a motion that signaled she was planning on putting said treasure in her mouth.)

The Mama
Emily! Do not eat that! We do not put boogers in our mouth!

(She then redirected and stuck her finger right back into her nostril.)

The Mama
Emily Faith! I just said don't pick your nose!

The Emily
I not, mama. I jus puttin it back in der.


The end.

Christmas Card Photo Shoot - 2011 Aka I Don't Know Why I Do This to Myself

They say everyone has a love language.

Mine is Christmas cards.

I adore them. They are one of my favorite things about Christmas.

I run to the mailbox every day in December.

Thankfully it's only about 20 feet from our front door.

I wouldn't want to over-do it, you know.

My philosophy is that if I send oodles of cards out, I will in turn receive dozens of oodles back.

It's in the Bible somewhere.

This year has been a little slow. My coat closet door is only about 1/4 covered with smiling faces of friends and family. Even Andy has noticed the drop. Yesterday he looked at me and said

I can feel it. Today you're gonna get four cards. Four.

Bless his heart. He knows me well.

But today I mailed out our cards. And according to my fool-proof strategy that means that more should be flying our way soon.

With that I bring you

CHRISTMAS CARD PHOTO SHOOT 2011

Let me start by saying we did not come in strong to this shoot. Our camera lens is broken, so I had borrowed my friend Courtney's to use for Lainey's ballet recital with the promise of returning it the next day.

Which meant there was no time for baths.

They do say dirty hair styles better..........

Yes, indeedy.

So I announced to my brood that

we're gonna make our Christmas card so find your best dresses and let's get crackin'!

According to Anna Grace, Lainey's ballet clothes and old holey ballet flats are the best thing going.

So she wore it.

Battles. You've got to choose 'em wisely.

Also Lainey decided that she needed pig tails. For the first time in nearly three years.

Pig tails.

This from the child who cries every time I brush her hair.

And here we go.....

Um girls, this isn't a show. There's no need to curtsy. Emily, stand up child.

Okay, let's make a no visible tongues rule, and Anna look at me please. Lainey, since when do you have a double chin?

Let's try outside, shall we?

No. That's not a bug. It's a leaf. Really.

Emily Faith. It's still a leaf. Please look at mama.

Annie Bananie, we aren't curtsying outside either. Nice try.

Come on now, mama needs real smiles. Because WE ARE HAPPY, RIGHT CHILDREN!?!

Lainey, as proud as I am, this is not the time for the C-A-T-S cheer. Littles, there are still no bugs. All insects have left the building. Really.

Em, didn't your just hear me inform you of your happiness? Tuck that lip, girl!

Then Daddy stepped in and used the oldest, most effective parenting tool out there.

Bribery.

It's in the Bible somewhere.

Did someone say Christmas Tree Cakes?

And finally, thanks to the good Lord, Andy Green and Little Debbie we got a decent shot of all my lovelies, including Buike Boy who decided to pop his sweet little face in the window.


Merry Christmas to all of our blog readers.

All two of you hold a special place in my heart.


Update: As I typed this the mailman came and brought FIVE Christmas cards for me us today. See? IT WORKS! Send your cards out, oodles or five come flooding back to you! Tomorrow I'm mailing cash......

Lainey's Big Ballet Debut

This is being posted by Lainey's boring dad. There will be no witty banter or funny stories but only a video of a beautiful little snowflake who makes all of us proud.

We love you Lainey Hope!