Haul out the Holly!

Also over Thanksgiving, S hauled the Christmas decorations out of the attic and we decorated the house for the season. We put way less out this year than most, as I pretty much left the breakable stuff in the box. It was so fun to decorate as a family and start to show LM what Christmas is all about. (Not that decorating is what Christmas is all about - but it's part of the fun of the season. Don't get your panties in a wad, people. Geez.)

LM was super cute, decorating mostly himself.

Last year I bought this really skinny Christmas tree that easily fits into the corner of the den. My other Christmas tree is much nicer and beautiful, but sister, it is HUGE, and a hassle to get up and down from the attic, and it takes up like half of the living room when you put it up. So, until we move to someplace that can better accommodate that tree, I'm sticking with the pencil variety. It's pretty and you don't have to move the furniture! And, since we only used ornaments that weren't breakable, we had plenty of room for ornaments that qualified. 

LM wasn't into the group shot, however...

...unless you count the part where he tried to decorate the dog.

Echo says, "I have no remaining dignity." 

Love this one.

Oh, back to poor Echo's lost dignity, LM also tried to RIDE the dog.

This is where S tried to remove him from her backside. Ahem.

She is a patient and loving dog. 

I love it when we create family memories. 

So fun.

Oh, and then there was this.

LM went over to S and pulled up his shirt (while he was pulling up his own shirt) so they could compare belly buttons. Several times. Each time he would just giggle and giggle. It was totally cute. Totally.

LM and his tongue.

After everything was pretty much up and in place, we tried to get LM to sit in front of the tree for a photo op. Yeah, well that one with the tongue out up there was one of the GOOD ones. Here are a couple more:

Some artists throw their guitars. Some artists eat them.

Some artists channel Tiny Tim.

That look says it all - um, Ma, ya ain't gettin' the shot.

He is teething big time right now...molars...and drooling and a bit cranky, and well, all of this means he gets his pacifier a lot more than he used to. Here's what I'm sure of - he won't go to high school with his pacifier. Ha.

Later. 

See you soon.

Nonna's Birthday and More

We got together last weekend with the in-law clan after Thanksgiving to celebrate Cheryl's birthday and Mark's birthday and also because we couldn't celebrate Thanksgiving with Brooke and Michael. Here are some photos:

The apple spice cake.

I told Cheryl I'd bring a cake, since I figure no one should have to bake their own birthday cake. She was, after all, having us all over at her house again, and cooking again, for her birthday celebration. I was trying to decide what cake to bake, and since I had purchased Granny Smith apples for a pie but didn't make it, I rifled through recipes to find an apple cake. 

Cookies, made by S, because we knew some people wouldn't want apple cake.

I will definitely make the cake again - it was moist and tasty. I had high hopes when I tasted the batter - good batter usually means a good cake, and this one was no exception! It was a Bon Appetit recipe I had cut out who knows when. I used to subscribe to the magazine, back when I had a life that didn't include a toddler. I did a little search for you - here it is, originally printed, it seems, in the February 2007 volume. If you clicked through, you'll see it has a brown sugar glaze. That glaze was tasty, sister. Anyway, I was pleased with my ad hoc cake choice. Maybe if I make it again I'll photograph the process and post it here! On with the rest of it.

I should say I also made macaroni to add to the fare, also because I had purchased ingredients to bring to Thanksgiving but didn't get around to making it - I took a photo, but it's not great. The only reason I mention it is...drum roll please...my Little Man ATE it! He ate a whole plate of my macaroni and cheese! You're probably like, so what? Well, it almost brought me to tears, that's what, because S is such a picky eater, I'm used to cooking something and being the only one who enjoys it. I was SO thrilled when my baby actually liked something I cooked. It is a seriously lovely turn of events. Now, if I only cooked more often...ahhh, details.

Opening cards and gifts.

I won't even tell you what the cards from us said.

Seriously, I'm not telling. S picked them out and they were, well, let's say, not worth repeating. They were vulgar and funny, but not for a Monday morning. Even the one to his mother. His MOTHER! (The grandmother card from LM was G rated, thank goodness.) Oy.

 

And, well, his mother laughs. 

So, it's all good.

Then it was time to tear up Nonna and Papaw's house!!!

I think this is where Alexandra was trying to get all the kids to line up for a photo.

Ahem. That photo doesn't exist.

And, I promise, LM had fun. 

This sad face cracks me up.

Playing with Nonna.

And, of course, playing piano.

Papaw doling out the animal cookies - photo by Aunt Kim.

It was a fun time. See you soon.

The Henrys

I also had the pleasure of taking some photos of my friends the Henrys last weekend. This shoot did not go as well as Ethan's. Let me rephrase that - the shoot was just fine - it was the amateur photographer that screwed things up. I was SOOOO wrapped up in watching the four year old that I often forgot to make sure the parents were in focus. Amateur mistake. There are still some good ones of the whole family, but a ton on the cutting room floor due to my lack of remembering to make sure it was all good as we went along.

That said, this is exactly why I appreciate my friends giving their time for me to take their pictures. I learn something every time, and I enjoy doing it. Here are my favorites from our little shoot last week.

First, of Miss Evelyn, who is TOTALLY four:

I had to make a collage of these...

And then a few of the family:

I know Miss E's eyes are closed, but I love it anyway.

OK, I know, totally cheesy and posed. 

But look at the sweet face on Evelyn! I love it.

And, I really like this one of Evelyn showing us she's FOUR.

She will soon be a big sister. She can't wait.

Thanks Henrys, for letting me take some photos!

See you soon.

Whoo Whoo is the cutest boy around?

I bought this owl hat for the LM at a Christmas bazaar I recently attended. Turns out, he really likes it! Bonus! Funny thing is I was afraid it would be too big...barely - BARELY - fits.

Now, if only...

...I could find some matching gloves.

Now, THAT would be awesome.

Can I get a high five? Thanks, baby.

See you soon.