sorry for the big mess of this and that post.  i am just all over the place lately!

all signs of christmas are lng gone here, but i thought i’d finally share some pics.  we had a prety low key day, and the kids made out like bandits.    p.s. that is not norah’s bike. 

john got to watch everyone unwrap on the webcam.  it was really nice, but not the same as him actually being here.

charlotte’s slide was a hit!  she’s gone down that sucker probably 200 times by now!  it has taken up residence in my living room, lol.

watching … elf, i think?  kayleigh using norah’s new camera.

it was beautiful, so we spent a bit of time outside, and at the park.

i think my kids will hav ea hard time parting with clancy this weekend.   i am trying to be strong and wait until we move to get a dog … he’s such a sweet dog, though, makes me want to run out and adopt a couple!

a couple silly shots.

i am not a big fan of words on shirts, but picked this up at target a while ago.  i usually only wear it to bed, but it cracks me up.  i reversed the picture in photoshop so it was the right way for the pic.  it says “and that’s when  i snapped.”  and we’ve got another little nudist on our hands.  if she hears the words “bath” or “shower,” next thing you know – naked baby butt!

oh, oh, i forgot – it’s FINALLY snowing!  it didn’t snow much today, but i tried to catch a couple snowflake pics.  hopefully it will still be snowing in the morning and i can try again.  i sold my macro, so these are just with my 50mm lens reversed on my camera.  i almost passed out from holding my breath to try and get it in focus, lol.  snowflakes are so neat!

as i wait for my kids to get up ….

well, i didn’t get to send cards out this year, just not enough time in the day … but here is the picture we took for it anyway.  hope you are all having a great day! 

…and to all a goodnight!

so tired.  glad i wrapped early.  it’s times like these i really miss john.  wrapping, assembling, santa’ing, eating cookies. ….. ut’s so much more fun when you aren’t doing it all alone!  but it’s done, the kids will be so excited!  they opened some gifts from family today.  got some things they really love!

it took me about two hours tonight to get ready.  and i had everything wrapped already!  the stockings are on the landing on the steps to try & slow the kids down.  john will by calling to video chat around 7:30  & unwrap with us, so i need to keep them busy until then!  i stuck to my goal of 5 gifts per kid this year.  it was hard, but look at all that stuff.  and most of it was gotten through some great deals!

i got the breakfast made & in the fridge … along with the dancing fridge snowman.  thanks aunt lois, lol!

holiday crackers from world market at the kids’ seats.

and had a quick snack before heading up.

john read us the night before christmas as usual, but this time via a hallmark recordable book.

now to (hopefully) get some sleep before the big day tomorrow!! 

happy holidays all!

this cracked me up!  ethan made this SAME face at this age.  i’ll have to dig up a pic tomorrow.  charlotte got to finish off my cake (from kayleigh’s 1/2 birthday today!), and …. she enjoyed it!

we went to a christmas party friday night on base for the deployed spouses.  it was really fun.  we almost didn’t go, but i am glad we did.  the kids and i all got gifts, they were thrilled & it was very generous!  plus, they got to sit on santa’s lap!  norah was a litte upset that she got moon dough and not the pink stuffed kitty she asked for, lol.  it was an hour past bedtime, and trying to convince her that she will be getting gifts form santa in a week was not working.  she got over it, though, and happily played with the moon dough this afternoon.  she’s not forgetting about that pink kitty, though.  luckilly, i am pretty sure it will be here on christmas morning. 

have you sen the GIANT marshmallows out right now?  they are fun!  at least, if you like marshmallows (i don’t!).  we covered some in melted ghirardelli chocolate chips and then dipped them in some green and red nonpareils.  gave them to friends and neighbors, and to teachers with their gifts.  norah loved the dipping!

we have family coming in this week, which should be fun.  and a dog, not to keep … the kids will have a blast, they’re really looking forward to it.  i just steam cleaned the carpets and couch.  i feel like i have a new living room!  that is a great way to end the night!    that and this sweet baby sleeping in my arm. 

i used to pop in here frequently, but have been such a slacker lately! can i blame it on my fourteen kids?  christmas baking?  my house that is always a mess?  the husband that just up & left me for a year long sunny beach desert vacation? lol!  how about all of the above?    as usual, it’s so busy around here!  today is the kid’s last day of school until 2011!  ethan’s ona  trip to the children’s museum today.  i’m so bummed i couldn’t go.  this is the first school trip of his and kayleigh’s that i’ve missed!  i will make it up by bringing some goodie bags and drinks up to school later for his class.

a couple days ago it went up to 65 degrees!  we walked up to the kid’s school early and spent some time at the park with friends.  of course, i had all the pictures in this post a week ago, without text, so none of these pictures are from this week, lol!  i am getting really sick of this colorado weather.  where is my snow?  i am so ready for it, as are the kids.   it’s not fair that is is snowing in north carolina, but not here!  /whine …. i’m sure we’ll get a blizzard in april to make up for it, though! 

there are good and bad points in having a house full of windows.  good – the heat doesn’t kick on much in the winter.  bad – the ac does, lol!  okay, so the ac wasn’t really on, but i did have our front and back doors open to get a breeze though here after we got home and it was so steamy in here!

i’ve been having fun messing around with the christmas lights.  i feel like i’m finally getting to the point where i know what to do to make my camera get the results i want out of a photo.  it doesn’t always work out in my favor, but it’s becoming more regular. 

this just cracked me up.  i have a (mildly) better picture of her in front of the tree, but i had to post this. 

my little ham steak.    she just loves the camera.

some mroe ttv.  ethan gets “screen time” for 30minutes at a time a couple times a week.  he can get seriously attached if you don’t set a timer for him, but he’s great when he knows there is a limit.  norah loves to try to play with him, although it usually annoys ethan since she gets him stuck by not really going anywhere, lol.

little miss is blowing kisses now.  too cute!

*my* new ornament this year.  very appropriate to remember this year by.  it’s been a very sleep deprived year.  some mornings when john would get home at 5am from working nights, i’d be waiting at the door with the baby, already awake for two hours, and run out to get some coffee to help me make it through the day, lol.  it’s getting a little better, but starbucks is still getting way too much of john’s pay.  and i actually like the hot drinks best, but the cold cups are cuter, lol.

some more christmas tree bokeh fun!

had to do a ttv tree pic.  hard to tell it’s even ttv, but it is!

and see how high tech i am with my photography?  lol!