Christmas music

My absolute favorite part of Christmas is the music. I listen all day while I'm working around the house. I listen in the car on the way to my photo shoots to put me in the Christmas mood. I used to listen to Bing Crosby with my headphones in my bed as I fell asleep when I was younger. My 4 favorite songs are Jingle Bells (Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters), Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (Bing Crosby & the Andrews sisters), The Man With the Bag (Kay Starr) and Sleigh Ride (Andy Williams).

It's all for kicks you know. Puts me in the Christmas mood. But, what really tugs at my heartstrings is my little (but very tall) Paige and 4 of her best little friends singing "Away in a Manger" in church today. Oh, they sounded so sweet!

Then, to top the day off, the senior primary kids (all 18 bazillion of them) sang their little hearts out to "Christmas Bells" and "Stars Were Gleaming" along with the cello and violin. So gorgeous and reverent as can be! I can't wait until next Sunday's program.

What's your favorite Christmas song and artist?

B-day Bash

Paige's b-day was celebrated Webkinz style. We had the party at the park and the day was just gorgeous! They brought their pets with them. We spun the wheel of wow and competed in b-day hat decorating and relay races. We also made little pet collars for their webkins. Throughout the party they had chances to earn their "kinz cash," and at the end, they "brought" prizes out of the treasure box. It was a great party. . . I think I'm still recovering. Man, birthday parties really knock it out of you!

I made webkinz clothes for party favors out of old clothes that we had around the house that were stained. It turned out to be one of those projects that you curse yourself for starting. . . because I ended up making 12 or something ridiculous like that. It would be a great project if you just had 1 or 2 in mind, and something that would be fun to do over a Christmas break, or on a day off of school with your kids. Click on the 3rd picture of the clothes below to get an idea of how to make it. You can make your own pattern depending on what type of webkinz your kids have.

Check this out!

My great friend, Keira, and her sweet sisters have started a great blog showcasing some gorgeous photos and some equally gorgeous hair accessories. They call their blog Vintage Dreamz. Check it out. . . they could definitely come up with the perfect hair accessories for your holiday pictures!

Click on the picture below!

Happy 6th Birthday!

Wasn't it only yesterday that she was 2? I'm sure that it was. She loved her blankie and loved to go on walks. She sucked her little thumb until it was raw and we had to tape gloves on her hands to heal the infection. She couldn't wait until Daddy got home. . still can't! Her favorite thing to do was play the keyboard and swing. . . oh the swings. If you put her on the swings it could be more than an hour pushing and pushing. She would still kick and scream when it was time to go home. She was not afraid to talk to anybody. . and she still isn't. Her favorite food in the world was fruit snacks. She couldn't wait to go to school like Ty Ty. Now, she's in Kindergarten and loving every minute of it! I can't believe how she's grown!

Her favorite color is PINK

She LOVES her music class

Her best friend in Kindergarten is Sean

When she grows up, she wants to be a VET

She is the entertainment of our household with her wit and silliness.

She reads like a pro

She loves swimming, kitties and playing with Tyler and Mo.

She always brings Mo to us first thing in the morning. . .and I do mean FIRST thing in the AM. . I'm talkin' before the sunrise . . . joy of our life.

She learned to tie her shoes

She learned to ride her bike without training wheels. . . only in the grass MOM!

We love you Paige! Happy Birthday!
now, stop growing!

trick or treat!

We Love Halloween! The weather was absolutely perfect and we got through 2 nights of tricks and treats without any crying. . . amazing! Here are the little spooks. Tyler was a "reaper" (a.k.a. mythological creature from the depths of the underworld who doesn't talk or smile. HELLO preteen.) Paige was a black cat. . . and Morgan was the mouse. Shane and I were the King and Queen of hearts. Now, this is the first year that Shane and I have ever dressed up together. This is big folks! Next year we'll go for something a little more moveable, bendable. . . sittable.

the end

Happy Halloween!

pictures

I love having a free afternoon to take the kids out on a photo shoot. I try not to do it a lot, because I don't want them to hate the camera. We found a nice little cotton field just down the street from our house and Thursday night I dressed them up and took them out into the field. They had never seen cotton growing before.

Paige: Where are we going
Me: To this cotton field just up the road
Paige: Cotton?
Me: Yup
Paige: Can we eat it?
Me: It's not cotton CANDY. Well, you could eat it if you want to, but I don't think it would taste very good. . . I mean, don't try to eat it.
Tyler: Paige, you make clothes out of it!
Tyler: Mom, how come we don't wear clothes made out of sheep's fur.
Me: Sheep's fur! HEE HEE!
Me: 'Cause it's itchy, and it's too hot in arizona
Tyler: oh
Paige: is there a playground in the cotton?
Me: um. . . no.
Paige: dang