We went up to spend Easter with my family in Phoenix this year. I just love being around lots of family for any holiday. It's what make it so special for me. Fortunately I have a husband who is willing to go along with my whims :)
Here are some of my favorite photos from the day...
Playing in Grandma Rosie's and Big Papa's (great grandparents) backyard. This yard is a kid's paradise!
A little hunting, of course...not to mention, far more candy than they will ever eat. Seriously, we still had Easter candy from last year!
Colton and Munashe with the bubbles. Colton always looks forward to seeing his cousin.
Look at that her make the connection! That's my girl!! We'll see you next year, Easter Bunny! Shannon
Contest Update: It's not too late to win a blog makeover... read about it here. Heidi from 3 to 5 has five points! Mindi of Part of Me has two points, and Elizabeth of Our Journey Through Life has two points. The contest ends January 1st. I can't wait for one of you lucky ones to be able to work with Jenna at Bloggy Blog Designz. Start getting your new blog look ideas together ;)
I wish I could say I am done with my Christmas shopping, alas it is not to be. I still have a couple last things to get, but I am super close. Fortunately I have wrapped as I have gone, so that part is not looming.
We did take our gifts to the family we adopted (through the Salvation Army) on Sunday. I hope they wait until Christmas to open them, and I hope they like what they received. Seeing the look on the eight year old's face made everything worth it. She looked so happy to be toting the gifts into to her house from my car. Before leaving, she gave me the biggest hug and it struck me that she is a complete stranger... that I will, more than likely, never see her again. But I touched her life. What a blessing for me.
I am doing a melting pot of posts tonight. First, I really want to answer Keely's
Getting to Know You question. What was your favorite gift that you received this year for Christmas? This one is incredibly tough as I did receive some really spectacular gifts. So, I will mention two of them (though there are more that I loved just as much). First, Andy got me a necklace from Lisa Leonard Desings. It has the names of my kids on it, and I adore it (p.s. totally not sponsored to say that or anything...just lovin' the gift I got). Next was a gift that Andy went through a ton of trouble to procure. He registered me for a photoraphy class at a local community college. He actually had to get me accepted to the program they offer first. In order to do that, he pretended he was me to get my diploma, and my college transcripts. Sent them to the community college, and applied/enrolled online as if he were me. Crazy! Crazy that he did all that, and crazier that a community college needs all that when I already have a four year degree (well, it took me five years, but who's counting?). Anyway, I now get to attend the photography class starting in February once each week for, get this, six hours! The class is over three months long. Thrilled. Such a thoughtful gift.
This leads me right to my next segment ;) Christmas. Rather than bore with a lot of details, I will simply say that it was a wonderful time spent with family. We all received some wonderful gifts and the kids had a blast (as exhibited by pictures below). I am not entirely sure that Addyson got it as much as I thought she might. She loved opening presents, but I think the connection between the opening and the fact that they are now her gifts eludes her a little. Though I can't be certain. Colton, without question, had no clue...didn't expect him to. We had good food and good fun, and now I am feeling the "let down" effects after cresting the last peak on the Christmas roller coaster. Sigh. Happens every year. Now...for some pictures ;)
Addyson getting a peak at the loot Santa left behind.
Said loot
Addyson has a thing for Tink.
Turns out all Colton needed this Christmas was a box. Who knew?
My brother (taken with my new lens I might add). Yes, that was another favorite gift for me this year...from my Dad.
Addyson showing off her new shoes.
This is what I get when I ask her for a smile.
My cutest little bug...playing with the window.
This one my dad took...me.
My brother's girlfriend.
So now that I have inundated this one with pictures, I think I am done. The holiday buzz is dissipating (sadly we don't usually do anything for New Year's), and we are getting back to normal around here. I wouldn't have it any other way.
A quick hello and belated Merry Christmas. Coming out of what has been a whirlwind for us, we are back home from visiting family. Unloading the car and filling our house with the things we all received. Looking forward to posting later tonight...I have been jonesing for the blog ;)
I have not even crossed the finish line yet. I still have to get one (maybe two) more gift(s), and I have to get stocking stuffers...I tell you, Santa is a slacker! Isn't stuffing the stocking part of his job?
Wrapping is well underway, however, and that has me feeling pretty pleased. I have been wrapping as I go, so I only have a few gifts left that need their festive skins. Our tree already has a fairly hefty bounty below.
We leave tomorrow to travel far and wide about 120 miles to visit family for all the festivities. I have been delegated to make the Spanish rice for our Christmas Eve dinner. Also, I opened my mouth and mentioned salsa...or something or other. So, I now have to do that too.
With all the craziness that is this season going on, I have not taken much time to sit back and enjoy it, or even think about enjoying it. Today's the day. I will get my last items scratched off my list, and will finally sit back (with a glass of wine perhaps) and revel in the completed tasks.
I honestly can't wait to see what Addyson will be like this year. I do think Colton will just be all about tearing the paper, but Addyson may finally "get it." So it should be fun.
In any case, since we are leaving, I probably will be M.I.A. for a little bit. Maybe not though...there is always the chance that some creative surge will occur and I will be able to get some posts done and scheduled. We'll see. Whatever the case...Merry Christmas! Happy every other holiday too for those of you that are not Christmas celebrators (is that a word?). Here's to great food, fantastic family and friends, lots of laughs, and being able to wear your favorite pair of shoes without a swollen foot (that one is just for MODG).
Growing up, my brother and I were never those kids that got spoiled rotten for Christmas. Oh, we received plenty, and were always grateful for what we did get. In fact, I remember the year I got my acid washed denim jacket, walkman and New Kids on the Block tape. Wow! Did I just say all of those things in the same sentence? I loved that jacket! I wore it all of the time. That walkman was played so much that in the first few days I already needed new batteries. The tape? Please don't tell anyone that I had posters of them plastered all over my wall...absolutey sure that if Marky Mark ever met me and really got to know me, that he would fall head over heels. Pft. Right.
Fast forward to last night. My husband and I were talking about the kids (ours not New) and their gifts. We have decided not to go crazy on them. The reason simply being, we don't want to instill in them at such a young age, a gluttonous attitude. Certainly they will not be deprived...they will all receive plenty, but not so much that they don't appreciate the things that they do get. I long for them to look forward to the celebration with family and friends. I want them to cherish those times as much as I always have. Presents were nice, okay...awesome...but they were not everything. I want my children to look forward, with anxious anticipation, to giving someone that perfect gift just as much as they look forward to getting it.
Just like I mentioned in this post, I believe my kids to be blank slates, waiting to be marked. It's my desire to teach my children at a young age about the many joys of Christmas. My daughter already has a giving spirit, and I intend to nurture it.
When asked what she wants from Santa this year, my daughter's reply is "candy and a radio." Truly if that were all she received...her Christmas will have been made! Now, don't get all in an uproar on me, we are totally getting her more than that. Just not so much more that next year the greed will overtake her. As for Colton, I have an inkling that he will be enthralled with simply tearing open the packages...and Drew, he made a list, and between us and family, he is pretty much getting everything on it. So before you go feeling all sorry for our munchkins, rest assured that the visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads will surely become a reality.
So spill it. Do you go crazy with gift giving for the kids? I started a discussion about it in my new Blog Frog community...would love it if you found time to come over and join and jump in the discussion. You can reach the community through the widgit down on the left of my sidebar. Oh, and of course I still would love to have comments here. I know, I ask for the world.
Keely is hosting another "getting to know you," and so I thought I would join in. This time we are asked to post a favorite Christmas picture, and tell a little about it.
This is Drew, my stepson last Christams. First, I just love this picture of him. Second, it was taken with the camera my dad had gotten me for my gift. I LOVE the camera! I hadn't a clue how to use any of the settings yet (still am not great, though better). It's my Canon Rebel Xsi, and this year I am hoping that Santa finds me deserving of a new lens and some other accessories.
If you have some favorite Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/whateveryoucelebrate pitures, post them and link up over at Mannland!
It's December 5th and the only person guaranteed to get a present from us as it stands is my sister in law. Yes, M...you are loved. I have been so bad about getting my butt in gear to do shopping. It's just hard. I don't get into the spirit doing my shopping exclusively online, and I can't go out during the week because I have the little ones with me. Sigh. So I have to wait for the weekend when Andy can be here with the kids, and I can go get my shop on. Today is the day.
Another problem...I am fairly stumped. I don't like to just get things for others just to get them. I love seeing the look on someone's face when I got the right something. Nothing better. There is honestly only one Christmas where I know I got it really right with Andy. Isn't that sad? I'd love some suggestions. What are you all getting for your spouse? How about siblings? Kids? How about I send you some money and you just shop for me? No...I suppose that wouldn't be right. Not to mention it would be a sure fire way for me to not get in the spirit at all.
My jolliness will kick in when we get our tree. First things first though...I need to clean this house. I don't like to decorate my mess. Not cute. If only the layer of dust would pass as a snowscape for our Christmas village!
