Hannah got this fabulous light up boa, with matching tiara, AND tutu that plays music. What more could a girl want? 
How about a little not sharing with your little brother. 
We had Christmas dinner at my parent's house this evening
Jeff and Henry playing
Oh, and did I mention that we reenacted the nativity scene? Here is my dad helping Jacob get dressed as a shepherd.
He looks pretty thrilled considering he spent the last 36 hours insisting that he was going to be dressed as a train (you can imagine how frantic that made Hannah). I chose not to publish any other pictures (except I didn't get one of Angel Hannah, blast), just picture a lot of towels draped about.
Helen with her baby bump!
Jacob really excited about his big nerf gun. 
Stephanie helping Jacob open a train and Jason, uh, apparently right in the middle of saying something.
This is my favorite picture this season! Hannah and Nana looking festive!
Amy and Eliza came over to decorate gingerbread houses with us and Hannah made a princess apron out of a coloring page. Huh.
Lucky for Amy and me, the kids tired quickly of the fun and began playing with princesses so that we could decorate how we wanted to! Yes, the houses are really just cubes but those peaked roofs are darn irritating to make! 
I have a new addiction and it is remodeling/decorating blogs. It is so very very bad. I have always wanted to put up Christmas lights and in 6 years of marriage I have never done it. Until this year! I put a lit garland around the door and then colored lights in the tree which look very pathetic but will be easy to top next year. I figure I will do a little more each Christmas until I have it how I want it. I also planted ranunculus bulbs ( my favorite flowers) with pansies on top in the pots on my porch!
I don't think I had changed my mantle display in over a year or maybe even longer, not sure. I know it is Christmas time but I am waiting for the after Christmas sales to get things for next year. ( I may be an addict but I can still be sensible). Anyway, I love these colors and it still needs work because it doesn't feel quite right yet (I think I need to lower the sign a little, any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated) but it makes me smile everytime I look at it.
Here are the little buckets I made for Hannah's two teachers. A school themed bottle of hand cleaner, gingerbread candle, and a Christmas themed display tile. Oh and did I mention that I am redoing my bedroom and master bath? When I am finished I will post the before and after pics. I am willing to start a support group if there are any others out there with this same problem. we can take turns meeting at each other's houses ( and bring a paintbrush).
Ah, the Christmas tradition of pulling out Martin's baby swim trunks. These pictures have made me realize that I need to work on my photography skills. (Sorry about the missing heads). Usually I try to just take a lot of pictures and get lucky but I was having so much fun at our annual ornament dinner that I didn't take very many and I apologize to the innocent bystanders who may be inaccurately, blurryly, or incompletely portrayed on this blog.
Dad opening one of his ornaments.
Jacob passing an ornament to Uncle Brian while wearing his new Thomas pj's. My mom buys them new pj's to wear Christmas eve night but Hannah had a pj day at preschool coming up so the kids got them early.
Mexican food is always part of ornament night!
