Merry Christmas to you Lavs...and our dear Joseph.

For those of you who don't get it....my mom wrote this poem when she was younger and truly thinks it was one of the best pieces of literature ever. And all my Auntie Laurie wanted for Christmas was hearing her dear sister recite it, yet one more time. I can only imagine the number of times she heard it from the top bunk and am also trying imagine how my mom wasn't beat up more often for coming up with crap like this.

One of (as you can imgine) many outtakes. I was crouching down, backing up (for dramatic effect), and tripped on a sewing machine.

Santa baby.

So Ry picked our Santa picture up two weeks ago and when I excitedly asked how it was, he quickly said 'you're not going to like it.' Oh it can't be that bad, I thought...and to my horror, it was. I simply said 'this won't do'. Ryan said 'well you're not bringing her back.' Oh you wanna bet?! She needs to be actually sitting on Santa's lap and it's my fault she's not. I could tell the Nordstrom Santa was a little nervous holding a back-bending Hadley and against my motherly instincts, I agreed to have her sit on the stupid rocking horse, only to appease a weary Santa and a bunch of annoying elves. When in my heart of hearts, I was just fine having her be a total wreck. Maybe it's because I think crying Santa pictures are a kids hazing into 'Christmas-hood', or maybe because I'm just mean. Either way, we went back....

...and I got what I wanted.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The joy of an apron.

Hadley is obsessed with her new apron she received from Madeline for early Christmas. She calls it her 'neck' and insists it is on her at all times. Here we are about to go out in the snow, the 'neck' properly in place.

Here we are brushing our teeth. We cried and cried for our 'neck' as soon as we were out of the tubby. And then we cried and cried again when someone realized their 'neck' was not going to be joining them in bed. Oh the trials and tribulations of an almost two year old.

Holy snow.

The gingerbread duo after our first big snow...only shin high.

And now up to thier little frosting lined waists. Keep on snowing sky, we love it!

Bring it on.

I'm ready for you Xmas.

HJP.

She's just so fun.

And you wonder why I love presents?

Because people give me the best ones.

JB gave me these cute little flats and absolutely adorable apron...an apron that I have worn everyday since, but never to cook. Don't want to get it dirty! The best gifts are the ones you wouldn't buy yourself, but want oh so bad (which maybe is a little bit of everything for me).

And Maddie gave this to Hadley (along with about ten other things) and I am so in love. It's her newspaper picture bound on hardy board...it's bananas.

Wimpy Wimperson.

It was all knuckle bumps,

and smiles...

...until someone fell in the snow.

A little peak....into a lotta christmas.

Is it any wonder why my favorite place to be is in my house right now? I LOVE CHRISTMAS! Plus, it's really friggin' cold out.

Ho. Ho. Ho.

'Tis the season.

I've only sent about 20 of our christmas cards, the tree JUST got put up, and I haven't wrapped a thing...but we've got what's important.

30+ years and going strong.

Saturday night we had our annual dinner with the Cougan family...and everyone joined the party. Although I didn't take any actual pictures of the Cougs, I promise they were there...and had fun and kept the tradition that I've grown up with (and they have too) alive.

And this edible little gal was all smiles, even though she kept her parents up puking the night before. Oh the resiliency of children.

One of my most favorite traditions. My mom has made homemade gingerbread men since I can remember. And I'm pretty sure it's why I'm able to read words in cursive....so thanks mom.

Love them!

Hadley and Madeline were playing dress up with some hand me down clothes and insisted on having every stitch of clothing on.

Something 'bout cousins.

So these pictures are a tad out of order and it's a 'tad' driving me crazy...but I'll deal and try not to throw my computer against the wall and call 'blogger' every f-word variation I know (which are a lot).

Anyhoo, back to the happy post. The other day Hadley and I got to pick up Tater at the bus stop, play with her the rest of the afternoon, and spend the evening looking at Xmas lights with Logan and Maddie too...and all the adults that go along with the kids. There is just something so fun about Hadley having so many cousins, although, seems like chump change to me since I have something near 32 or so cousins, but exciting nontheless. And this way she'll actually know and hopefully like all her cousins (trust me, I've got some doozy's).

They held hands ALL the way home, and in baby frankenstein steps, that's a long walk.

Oh he's going to kill me.

I just found out our camera has a continuous mode...actually I knew it had it, but I just figured out how to actually use it two months later. So I had Ryan be my muse....or at least 'amusing'. Thanks for your fun little jig and creep-o faces...this is why I love ya...and yes, I will be sleeping with one eye open tonight.

Inspired by MTV.

I got nothing exciting to post, but the fridge is always the most exciting part of MTV Cribs...so knock yourselves out.

New do.

She always hates it when I post a million new posts, but figured she couldn't complain if one was dedicated to her. How cute is her new hair?! Not as short as I envisioned , but she was afraid of getting 'dog ears', can't blame her. And the color is fab, she's a cute little blondie again!

Getting in the spirit.

Grandpa Fred was in town this weekend and Hadley definitely was a fan. They sat and chatted, while stacking and unstacking all the dish towels for hours. Our house is non-stop excitement.

Nana and Pa's for dinner, we were there with bells on...literally.

Oh Rudy.

I do believe.

Christmas has always been my most favorite day of the year...I still can't sleep the night before, seriously. I love all the excitement it creates, the chaos of the actual day, the lights on the houses, the smells of apple cinnamon candles, the annoying music that I can NEVER get enough of, the presents, the giving too, the red starbucks cups...and best of all, the magic of Santa. Every year when we were little my mom and dad would take my brother and I out of school and we would head down to Fredrick & Nelson's to see Santa. I have such fond memories of donning my fanciest, I'm sure, velvet dress, putting gel in my side spike, and thinking of the one toy I wanted more than any other so I could share my secret with Santa and hope, in all my hopes, his elves and reindeer would come through on Christmas day. And now, I get to pass this down to Hadley. This fills me with joy...so much so, that when we were waiting in line to visit St. Nick my eyes welled up with big tears and Ryan said "Are you going to cry, weirdo?" "No", i said, "I'm just so excited for Hads." And then he said "Hey Meg, you know Santa's not real right?" "Oh Ry, I know this isn't THE Santa...it's just one of his helper's...duh."

Hit the 'bucks before the 'big show.'

Ryan and Hadley checking out Santy...he doesn't look so bad.

So proud when she found his stash of candy canes.

Um, Hads, I can guarantee Santa's watching...so probably shouldn't steal one.

We were brave from afar, but turned mighty wimpy once we had to actually touch him.

Right before the giant back bend that made Santa nervous.

She liked this view of Santa a lot better...no actual contact.

And the candy cane made all the heart wrenching trauma worth it.