Christmas 2008

The Fat Man was good to us this year...most of us that is. Despite Jonah's fervent prayers that "Daddy won't call Santa different words," Josh still didn't get the boat he's wanted for the past three years. That's what you get for calling Santa names at our house.

Jonah and his pirate ship

Ellie and Char got a dollhouse and Ellie has hardly stopped to play with anything else.

And a stroller for Charlotte. She loves it!

Christmas Eve with the Allreds/Porters. We decided to share the kids' pipe talents with the family.

Jonah was the Drummer Boy in the Nativity.

Ellie was an Angel, though as I recall, the angel bit was strictly an act. That's what you get when you drag your 3 yr. old to party after party with ne'er a nap.

The whole crew.

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!!

Char Pictures

Gotta love this girl!

Because I know you don't already have plans for this Saturday afternoon...

Bring the Family! Dec 20 @ 2:30pm Mesa Arts Center

An Afternoon of Christmas Delights

Featuring Handel's Messiah, Greensleeves with Youth Symphony of the Southwest & Interactive Christmas Sing-A-Long Adult Price: $27 & $17 Child Price: $10 Our Gift to You! Your Adult Price: $17 & $10 TO REDEEM USE PROMO CODE: PARENTS & FRIENDS To purchase, call 480.644.6500 or click here

Holy Jolly

We've been having fun with Christmas carols this year. I'm pretty sure Deck the Halls has most of our 5-and-under-year-olds slightly confused. I've heard several variations, all very amusing. Around our house it's "Deck the halls with holy jolly..." (not to be confused with holly jolly) And Ellie...well, she has the "fa la la la la" part down. Heck, what am I talking about? Five and under? I can never remember all the words to that song. But then I'm notorious for making up words. It's good to know I've passed something on to my kids.

Here's the kids' recent favorite. Jonah on lead pipe. Ellie on back-up pipe. Charlotte, prima ballerina extraordinaire and occasional jingle-beller. Mom, up and coming director, producer and photographer.

Note Jonah's concern for Ellie's "form".





Other fun/funnies...

Making forts

Sleeping in tents

Being prepared for "bad guys" at all times

And Santa's Little Helpers

Tagged

Tiffany invited me to bold what I've done on her list...

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (Tiff...if I remember correctly, we actually did this together. Hawaii! Remember???)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung Karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance [not the patient]
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check [not on purpose]
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

I think I'm boring and need to be more bold!

You're all tagged! Ha!
Just paste this list into your blog and bold the ones that you have done, and unbold any you haven't.

Awesome pics

My friend Jill is a great photographer. Here are a few she casually shot, testing out the location, lighting, etc. I think they're amazing. Of course the portrait subjects may have something to do with that :)





Thanks, Jill!