Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

This is what I get when I ask my kiddos to pose for our Christmas card... Notice the nudity! Thank God for creative cropping!

:)

Christmas Decorating -- The Lights

I wasn't able to get many photos as our area went through a few doozy storms and we managed to get the outside lights up just in time for a nasty rainstorm to hit annd send us running inside :)

Been far too long...

It's been a while huh? This time of year is always so nuts for my family with all of our birthdays, our anniversary, as well as the holidays to contend with... Looking forward to breaking out the Christmas decorations this weekend and decking our halls. Hopefully the rain will hold off for a bit so we can go and find the perfect Christmas tree. I'll post a few pics once we get it all set up :)

That Time of Year Again

Anyone else heading into the busiest time of the year for their family? In the next 4 months, we will celebrate all 4 of our birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve, 8 close and extended family birthdays, and the birth of 2 close friends' babies. Stress and anxiety abound :)

Luke's B-Day is up first so I've got invitations ordered, waiting on arrival to mail out ASAP, the bounce house place booked, decor ordered, his birthday boy T-shirt is ordered, and I'm scoping out presents on my lunch hours. He made me a pretty good list this year, so if you need any ideas, feel free to ask.

Did I mention that I LOVE this time of year (since fall only really last here in CA for about 2 months if we're lucky!), but who the hell decided it was OK for it to be 95 degrees outside?

Planning ahead is key; if only I could remember to plan ahead?

:)

Where We've Been....

I am so blessed and there is no other way to say it.... I can't even remember my life before my babies.

Good Deeds

What is it with people?

In an attempt to do something merry and generous this morning, I decided that I would pay for the car behind me in the Star.bucks drive through in addition to my own cup of goodness. I've actually done this a few times before and it's a really simple way to make someone else's day and fill your Karma cup all at the same time. I mentioned to "Christina" while ordering my coffee that I wanted to pay for the car behind me and that all I asked was that she tell the woman behind me in the shiny BMW SUV Merry Christmas and to pay it forward. When I made it up to the window Christina told me that she attempted to tell the woman behind me twice that I'd payed ahead for her coffee, but that the woman cut her off while trying to speak twice. I payed for both of our coffees and headed out of the drive through with no wave, no thank you, no nod, no nothing. Really? Did she think it was appropriate to ignore the nice gesture or was she just such a crabby grump that she felt it beneath her to acknowledge that someone who didn't even know her just payed for her morning cup of coffee?

Anyway, enough ranting.... Off to see beautiful Christmas lights in Rocklin tonight off of Stanford Ranch and Sunset Blvd. This will be the 2nd year we've gone to see them and they are absolutely amazing. It's an entire neighborhood of about 100 houses that go all out with full yard displays, wooden cutouts, life-size Santas and everything else Christmas you can think of!

Merry Christmas All!!!!!

Jared Box Build Day Approaches!!!!

I am so excited that our Jared Box build day is this Saturday! We gathered all of our goodies/toys/activities for the boxes and it looks like we will be able to build 50 or so for sure with the supplies we've amassed. My mom and sister, as well as Lukey Duke, will be helping me build the boxes this Saturday and we will hopefully be able to deliver them to UC Davis sometime next week. It's kind of amazing the amount of support we received from family, friends, and coworkers which is making this entire project possible.

What charitable deeds are you doing this holiday season? Has the economy greatly affected the amount of money you were able to raise to support your cause?

Good luck on all of your fundraising efforts!

Love,
Mommy D

Dream of Whirled Peas!

I set myself a goal this year of not letting myself get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and let the stress cloud my vision of what this time of year truly means. It's very easy, especially in this economic meltdown that we are in at the moment, to let yourself lose the spirit of Christmas, making the entire month seem more like a chore than the one time of year where you should strive to get lost in the moment.

We've spent lazy Saturday afternoons decorating the house, the tree is flodded in lights and ornaments, Christmas parties have been RSVP'd to and I think we are actually ready for Christmas.


Wish us Luck!

Lukey's Christmas Wish List

I have set a goal of churning out Captain Duke's Christmas List by the end of this week... It might be tough as EVERYTHING he sees on TV he has decided he MUST have.... I love toddlers =)