so phil got us new phones a couple weeks ago.  here’s mine: i held out as long as i could and hung on to my free phone (which incidentally is the same one richard blais used to call his wife to tell her he was top chef- see? i’m in good company) but finally caved in with the masses of smart phone users when the thing dropped one call too many. so i figured i’d try out this newfangled phone over new years.  by taking it on our latest trip and using it as my only camera.  *gasp*.  as both a challenge and as a way to be more present…

some highlights from this past christmas… seeing these precious handmade ornaments year after year.  look at my little buddy!  i think he will look exactly like this to me the day he leaves for college. and i’m instantly feeling very sad about that very thought.  take it back!  take it back! a new one to add to the collection this year.  🙂 taking my girls out on a special date to the angel breakfast. seeing my baby celebrate his first christmas. by trying to eat the magnet advent pieces every. single. day. making eight dozen mini sticky pecan buns.  from scratch. and then driving all over town to deliver them…

hark the herald angels sing glory to the newborn king peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled joyful all ye nations rise join the triumph of the skies with angelic host proclaim Christ is born in bethelehem hark the herald angels sing glory to the newborn king God and sinners reconciled.  <—- this is why we celebrate and make merry on this very special day.   the most precious and best gift ever given in the form of a newborn king.  this is why we make much of christmas.  this is the reason for our holiday traditions.  this is the best. news. ever. and so, with joyful hearts,…

finally!  moving on to christmas posts! pretty much as soon as the last bite of thanksgiving dinner was eaten, mikey asked when we were going to get our christmas tree and decorate the house. he’s down with doing holidays in order and doesn’t get why stores put up their christmas stuff when we’re still shopping for halloween costumes.  but he figures it’s all fair game once that turkey leg is put down. in years past, we’ve always tried to get a tree sometime during the thanksgiving weekend.  unfortunately for this year, phil had to work nights for most of the weekend and was simply too tired to do it.  so…

this is my baby jonah. i think i’ve talked about him once or twice here on this blog. we like him a smidge around here. yeah, he’ll do. but it’s been brought to my attention a time or two that the boy could maybe use a trim. i just couldn’t bring myself to do it though. i couldn’t cut those sweet little baby hairs off his sweet little baby head. except that those sweet little baby hairs were beginning to stab his sweet little baby eyes.  and sweeping the pesky hairs off to the side wasn’t cutting it anymore since his hair has decidedly settled down from before.  you remember. …