Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is a macro lens. However, I need it right now! Sorry I didn't ask sooner. I had no idea that we were going to have perfect snowflake snow. Do you think you can make that happen? If not, keep it in mind for my birthday. Thanks!

Love, Mignonne

Please click these pictures and look at them in the larger format. All the spots you see in the next three pictures are perfect little snowflakes.

They are piling up on the older snow.
It's magical. Really.
Each one, a perfect little flake.
WHen the sun hits them they glisten.
I had to share with the kids.
Simply amazing.
December, near Christmas, is the only time snow is acceptable. I hope it continues a little bit longer.

Finally!

Could we have waited any longer? I guess, technically, we could have but I'm glad we didn't. Here it is. Kids with Santa 2009. I can't wait to add it to my collection.

A quick update while I have a minute...

My rolls are rising, Paul is doing all the last minute grocery shopping and things have been getting checked off my list left and right. Unless I am forgetting something we are in a really good place right about now.

It's funny. We were cleaning last Saturday and Paul found a calendar from 2004 in a stack of my crap. I didn't want to throw it away because 1) it was a temple calendar and the pictures are gorgeous and 2) it had what we had been doing written all over it. It was fun to look back. We did toss it, and sadly enough I didn't make any notes so those memories are all gone. This blog is now my "calendar" of what we do on what days.

We have been busy of course, who hasn't? Here is a quick list of what's been going on.

After it was determined that Emma did not break her elbow her recovery was almost immediate. She was able to perform the next day at her ballroom dance Christmas party. This was last Wednesday. She did a really really good job. It was so fun watching her and seeing what she has learned.

On Thursday Paul took my car and went skiing for the first time this season. He went with Colby and Dave from work and had a great time. Here's Colby.

Here's Paul.

And here's Paul's skis.

He promised me a full tank of gas and a car wash for letting him take my car. We still love going through a car wash. Honestly, does it ever get old?

Once my car was full and shiny we drove through Taco Amigo. These shakes are a little bit of heaven. I wonder if I should get one today? Hmmm. Maybe.

Okay I am tired of moving pictures. Let's do this the easy way.

Monday (the 21st) I took some pictures of our favorite ornaments. Here is just a few. I might blog about more later.
This one is by far our most expensive. It was the only one I like though while we were in Chicago. It cost about a quarter of what the whole fake tree cost. Eeek.

This is one of the squishy stress block. I had my heart set on a cheese ornament so I bought this and just sat it in the tree. Paul and I love it!

This is what the "G" looked like on the first day of winter. Dec. 21st
Tuesday (22nd) was the last day of school for the kids. This is what we did for teacher's gifts this year. There were two cookies and a loaf of pumpkin bread.
The tag I made. I found the quote online.
Aren't these cookies cute?!?
I wish I had a loaf of that bread right now. Gee, I think I'm hungry.
Monday night (21st) Emma had her piano recital. She played Away in a Manger and a Jingle Bell duet with her teacher. Once again, she was awesome.

I found these really cute, thick, embroidered oven mitts at Jo Ann's Fabric. This one has a little penguin on it. Once again I found the quote online and this is what we gave Holly this year.

Tuesday was not only the last day of school for the year it was also pajama day. I dropped the kids off because they had the gifts and Emma had two dozen donuts for her class party.
I had to help carry stuff in so I went in my pajamas. Some people wanted proof, here it is. I saw parent's, student's and teachers Oh My! Last night there was a gentle snowfall. It was nice, not too much, just enough. We drove around and looked at Christmas lights. We love the houses that have them set to music. It rocks, no pun intended.

Friday (the 18th) was a quiet night at home playing games and eating cookies with cocoa.

Marius joined us for our family time.

He got more attention than I think he wanted.



Saturday (19th) night Paul took the kids to a BYU basketball game. I had four hours of beautiful silence. I made cocoa, ate butter cookies and wrapped presents.
Marius tried to help.


Frisky little boy. So that's a brief update on what we have been up to.

Christmas Tree Pictures 2009

I ask myself why do I bother but then I see these little precious babies and think "it was worth it." Even if the pictures aren't great it's fun to have them. Maybe with a little editing they will be better?

Emma and Andrew before church in their new Christmas clothes.

He's already getting bored.
This is Emma's new "pose". It beats the heck out of her wrinkle nose grin so I didn't say anything.
Andrew is always lifting his chin like this and when we ask for him to put his chin down he glues it to his chest. I can't win.
Paul and I after church. I like this one the best. I should scan in our first christmas picture in front of our tree and compare it to this. I wonder if I can find it...

My two most favorite boys in the whole wide world.
I hate that you can see part of our couch. There is another couch directly in front of us so we have to be at an angle. There isn't enough room for the tri-pod, couch, us and the tree. Otherwise I like this picture. I will try to crop it down.
Same complaint.
I got up to make an adjustment and Andrew grabbed the remote. It's all downhill from here.
"Crap, I wasn't ready Andrew."
"Stop being so giddy!"
"Dang it boy!"
"STOP IT!!!"
Emma and I tried to go at it alone. I forgot to ask Paul to sit down to take these so we are looking up at him. Sigh.
Maybe my other side is better?
Andrew was ready to cooperate, on his terms. He wanted to kiss me.
He was *really* kissing me. (I thought if I acted goofy he would behave better)
Nope.
I got him back.
Me and my babies. These are some of my favorites.

My kids can push every button on me, but I love them.