Tradition

 We started a Christmas tradition the year Noah was born... having the kids' picture taken with Santa.  Let's take a look back...

2004-It started out great.  Noah was so happy! What a great tradition we've begun!

2005- Jonah was content, but Noah wanted out of there!  The tears begin!

 

2006- Jonah is still content, and Noah is giving it a noble try, but the tears are right on the edge.

2007- They both cried...

And why did Santa think hugging them so tightly would make things better?

2008- They said they wanted to see Santa, but the tears still came by the time they were in his lap...

At this point, I realized that someday I'll most likely be paying for some counseling to help them get over the Santa trauma I have repeatedly caused!

 

2009- They wanted to see Santa again.  Noah went with his list ready, and although they were apprehensive, there were no tears!  Maybe this really is an ok tradition, after all!

So here we are, Christmas 2010, and the boys both were asking repeatedly to go see Santa.  They had their lists ready and I had my camera ready (you see, I had not paid the "Santa people" for the professional pictures since Noah was a baby-  I preferred to have my own digital copy without paying $30 for it).  So, last Monday we headed to the mall to see Santa...

Santa asked us to wait until the photographer was ready before we put Olivia on his lap.  Little did Santa know that I was not planning on paying the photographer.  I was just snapping my own photos (this year they limited you to only two photos from designated {aka far away} place if you were using your own camera).  Yes, it is a scam.

Olivia started our tradition all over again... the crying in Santa's lap tradition, that is...

Then, the professional photographer says, "Do you mind if I take a picture, as well?"  I laughed and said, "Of course."  I knew that I wasn't paying money for a photo of my baby screaming on Santa's lap.  The photographer immediately brought out a huge string of jingle bells, shook them and yelled, "Smile!"  He showed me the picture he got...

And yes, I paid $15 for one 5x7 photo of my baby girl not screaming in Santa's lap.  Jason says I'm a sucker... I say, yes, I am... a sucker for tradition!  Merry Christmas!

Snow Day!

It's not every day that you have to shovel your trampoline!

Here are some pictures from last night around 11:00- they're a little blurry, but this is without a flash- it was so bright outside in the winter wonderland! (Pay special attention to the amount of snow on the trampoline and the patio table.)

This is with a flash last night.  I love how you can see all the flakes falling...

 

Then, this morning:

 

 

Yikes! So, while this Little Miss was napping,

  

Noah and I worked on a project...

   

It started as one snowman, but grew into our snowfamily!  

  And this was just with the snow that I shoveled from part of our driveway!

 

 This momma needs a nap now!

And for those of you wondering where the adorable middle child was during this project?  Inside watching a movie.  He told me he doesn't like the snow!  Evidently, he has some of my Southern blood in him!