picture time: 2012

Every year for the past 5 years, we have done fun and quirky Christmas photos. Getting all stressed out trying to get that "just right" photo when the girls were smaller was no fun at all. NO MORE! we said. It has become a tradition with a ton of belly laughing. What a blast we have. It's now a holiday memory that will hopefully continue for a long time.

This year we went to a couple of our favorite parks. 

Not having any plan AT ALL.

We started on some rocks.

Boring.

Then to another park.

Another rock.

Still not happening.

Why don't we jump off the rocks holding hands?

Started with one set of rocks.

On top of a large hill, by the way.

(Look at the air Josh is catching!)

I/we could not stop laughing.

Forget the holding hands. 

We tried another rock.

Falling on our faces every time.

Did I mention.....DOWN the ginormous HILL!

Check out Polly!!!! 

She was like..."whaaatever, people..."

Um, do you see Josh's jeans? Ripped! Grass stains!

Poor guy... his is usually the "photographer". 

One more time. 

1-2-3-JUMP!

okay...ONE. MORE. TIME....

No really....ooone moooore tiiiime.

We are serious now.

okay, maybe not.

pre-Christmas happenings

Got our Christmas Operation Child box all ready to go...

to some sweet 10-year old girl in some country somewhere

The folks came to visit in the last minute- we did some Christmasy things with them

blasted the Christmas tunes and decorated the house (finally!)

put the tree up...

went to a huge, delightful Christmas service at a community church

watched our nephews sweet singing toddler program at church

(and Santa insisted on hugging Hannah, and giving her lessons on love and life! Ha-- seriously!)

Holiday par-tey's: 

neighborhood,  Josh's downtown company party,  cookie exchange (mmmm, dangerous)

Josh got this blinged-out dress for Polly that says "Santa Baby" on it.

Uh-huh. Josh did.

Polly turned THREE. We had a little birthday party for her.

She had anxiety or stressed with the candle in her sausage/bacon pizza.

Made a puddle in our kitchen.

(Maybe she just had fear or embarrassment about wearing her holiday diva dress.)

snow.

It's been pretty mild here- although when it finally snows...

(do you see the cutest snowman ever on this car?!)

we can go to bed at midnight...and at 6am wake up to this.

Hannah and Lauren got on their skis with Daddy and "skied" down our street!

Goodbye volleyball. Hello skiing.

                 
                                       Polly getting all ready to make yellow snow.

Black Friday weekend. 

I. GOT. SWAMPED.WITH. ORDERS.

Aaaand busted my painting thumb!!

I'm still in some pain. grrrrrr. bad timing.

This is some of the 15+ orders from that weekend.

(and a very very sore throbbing thumb!)

....along with single-Mommying it while Daddy is gone all week, all the holiday happenings, holiday shopping and keeping up with THIS HOUSE 

(and the mounds of laundry every week!..... I had to take a pic.)

Yea,  I had to put my shop on "vacation" for a couple weeks.

I felt like I was going bonkers.

ArT GyPsiEs GrOuP

In November we painted all sorts of creative tea towels. We all came up with different designs (simple stamps or hand drawn) using different stamps, paint, letters, paint mist...etc.

They all turned out super fun. Sorry I don't have individual pictures of any of them!

Here's the Christmas party this month. Gooooood food, good fun and creative juices at a high!

There were many "stations" of art we all taught.  

We did a lot of ornaments....forever keepsakes.

wrapped balls... and colorful paper ornaments made from recycled Christmas cards (no pic)

Santa ornaments...

water colored ornaments on paper using different painting techniques...

traditional handmade German stars....(yea, it took some German engineering for this one!)

fancy ornament...

beaded cookie cutter ornament...

                                  
                                                   cute Christmas terrariums...

ThankFULL

Dear Lord,
On this day we are so thankful for toddlers, tweens and togetherness
For new jobs, new adventures and new landscaping
Etsy orders, extra kisses and entertaining smiles
For insurance checks, imaginations and idle time
And finally for friends, family near and far and fabulous food!
(My Mom's prayer for Thanksgiving. Love it!)

This is my car totaled.

It was hit going 78MPH on the interstate.

This is what was hit in a split second.

This is who walked away without a scratch on him.

Miracle.

This is what I am thankful for.

Thanksgiving 2012

I am thankful for:
~The taxes that I pay because it means that I am employed.
~The clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.
~A lawn that has to be mowed, windows that have to be washed and gutters that need fixing because it means that I have a home.
~The spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am healthy and can walk.
~All the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
~The lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means I can hear and worship freely.
~The huge piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved one's are nearby.
~The alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I am alive.

Saw this on Facebook and thought it was so great!
We very often take for granted the things that come so easy for us.
The simple things: food, clothing, housing, health.

Oh how perfect it is being content with those things and overall thankful for being loved and being able to love others.

Afterall, it's all that matters.