Home-made Christmas

This year I made the kids one present each. To see the items up close, check out this link.

So they wouldn't get over-shadowed by other presents, they got to open their gifts from me Christmas Eve.


                                                                waiting to open the gifts--->

Naomi named her doll Sally. She takes very good care of her. And this morning, when she walked into Debby's room, she told Debby that, "Momma made this doll for me." (worth every hand stitch in that doll right there, peeps)








Gideon named his Super-hero Monkey Friend, Nick. He is already asking me to make more costumes for him.









I HIGHLY recommend making at least one of the gifts you give your children for Christmas. My Christmas was complete before the day even began.

Merry Christmas 2010!

Funny New Friends

Since we were "in the area", we got in the car on Monday and headed out on the __ hour trip to visit my friend, Emily, and her kids. This was the first chance we have had to get our kids together and a good time was had by all. We enjoyed our visit so much! I wish we'd done this while we still lived in the same state. :)

Can you tell they enjoyed each other? :)

Silhouette Project

 

Traditional silhouette of Gideon

 

And two modern variations...

I wanted to experiment with these to see if I'll be offering silhouette sessions this coming year with d'Lifeful Photography.

What do you guys think?  Cool idea?

Trimming the tree (pre-fall)

First REAL Tree

This Christmas we have a real tree FOR. THE. FIRST. TIME. EVER!

JR has been talking about how great a real tree is SINCE. I. MET. HIM! (you like my new trend? No? Ok. Sorry.)

This year Christmas Day is with Debby and she agreed to a real tree. Today we went and got it.

The following slide show (71 photos) documents our Tree-getting adventure. Within the next few days I hope to pick out some of my favorite photos, edit, and post them on the photography site. So, if you don't feel like viewing all of the photos... wait for that post. ;)



***UPDATE-- Less than 10 min. after I published this post, JR and I heard a crash. The tree had toppled over and water and ornaments were everywhere. I think artificial trees are easier. ***

SNOW!

This morning, as Kristen and I stepped out to go to the next building to pick up the little kids, we saw that it was SNOWING! The Mosiers, having lived their whole lives in Florida had never experienced something like this. We rounded every excited person up and headed back to the house. We snapped some photos in the "snow" and then went on about our day.

After playing with some adoptable pets, the kids got all snugly while watching a movie.

I took a photo of the 4 kids in front of the tree before the kids exchanged gifts.

And Brian asked me to take photos of his fire. JR and Brian have been playing with the fire and chopping wood all weekend. :)

Enjoy the slide-show.

Playing with the Mosiers

The beginning of our break. Rest, relaxation, and rambunctiousness. We are in Carrolton, GA visiting the Mosiers!

The kids enjoyed time out on the trampoline this morning. Can you believe how big Hudson and Madison are!?

Grandpa Bob's 80th Birthday Party

Family, I have posted these photos to flickr so that you can download and share whichever photos you want. Following the links and prompts. (Go to "view all sizes.)

Gideon's 4.5 Interview

2010 Status Updates from facebook...

I usually post the funny things the kids say over on facebook. I was wishing there was a way to go back and get some of them to bring over here, and then facebook went and made it easy for me.

Photos from Thanksgiving Week ...

My mom sent my forgotten camera cord! I got it in the mail on my way out the door. But since the kids are in bed and JR is in the library studying for his Greek final (next week), I thought I'd get to a few of them. (There are hundreds!)

There's no rhyme or reason to the photos I've chosen to go ahead and edit.

More will be appearing here on the blog, my web-site, and facebook over the next few days, I'm sure. :)

1.  This year I am making most of the gifts.  I'm a fabric junkie and have boxes and bags of fabric under my bed.  So I decided to make my kids and my niece and nephews "softies".  (Apparently, they are called "Softies" now instead of stuffed animals.  I don't know why.  But since Naomi's isn't an animal, I'm going with it.  I'll post the photos of the ones for my kids after they get them.)  The first pair are for Rachel and Simon.  ~I made these 3 without a pattern, but they were inspired by several cute "softies" I saw all over the web.~

...and for "Baby Tay-din" (as Naomi calls Kaden)...

2.  Typing of Kaden...

 Here he is on his 5th Monthabirthday.  (This was during Great Bob's 80th Birthday celebration in Springfield, MO.  It will get it's own post.)

3.  And speaking of monthabirthdays... (see my segways, people?  I'm seamless.)

GIDEON TURNED 4 AND A HALF!!!!

I have more shots of him.  But he looks so grown up in this photo.

4.  AND... speaking of being grown up... (go with me) ;P

Can you believe she let me take her picture?!  (me either)  My mother has run from the camera, or more accurately-- put her finger in between the camera and her face, her whole life.  But prepping her all week that I was going to take her photo, talking about Photoshop, and letting her know that the light was going to be behind her worked. :) I think this photo captures her warm, caring nature.  What about you?

Did I whet your appetite for more?  Good!

I'll be back later with more photos.  I've got lots to blog about.  After all we had Stockstill Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Great Bob's birthday (in that order too!). 

Cutest Jumping-Jacks EVER!!

We have been without a working video camera since Naomi knocked my camera out of my hands that fateful day back in the spring of 2009. :)

Well, for Christmas, Debby gave us a video camera. Here's the first video I took with it. (Don't worry, the quality will only go up from here, peeps!)

Thank you, Debby, for the early Christmas present. And prepare yourself for more videos of the kids.

Up first: Gideon's 4.5 interview (as soon as I shoot it)

Now, enjoy!