It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Happy Holidays everyone!! As I write this..."Jingle All the Way" is on the tv, (It is Cassi's all time favorite Christmas movie and I get a kick out of our governor in red tights!) the cookies are baked, all the presents are wrapped and I am ready for the partying to start!

I am posting a ton of pictures from around the house. Cassi and I have many special ornaments on our tree and to us it is the most beautiful tree ever. It is artificial and has two different areas that don't light up so we had to wrap lights around it this year and it's a skinny little thing but it's ours!


Rudolph in his teens...

Santa sure looks tired!

I am especially partial to homemade ornaments. Cassi made this a few years ago and when I brought it out this year...the clay is still wet. This is probably my favorite ornament on the whole tree!

Another homemade ornament from Cassi's preschool days.

I had to explain to Cassi that this is an ornament from when I used film...and then had to explain what film was...go figure!

Since we are huge Disney fans...Disney is represented in a large way!

I took the next two images while we were decorating the tree. Unfortunately, quite a few of our ornaments were broken because of poor packing last year so I need to be a lot more careful this year. There is something pretty about all that broken glass to me.

I love the snow and so we have many snowmen on display.

I love shallow DOF and spent some time playing with the lights from the tree and decorations hanging from the chandelier.

I was afraid the princesses would fall off our flimsy tree so they are above my computer desk for now. They might just have a permanent home there.

Angela buys me the annual ornament from the Hotel del Coronado every year and each year they get prettier and prettier. This year's hasn't arrived but I can't wait to add it to the tree!

I always joke that we have a "boy" tree because it is predominately covered in balls...so I decided to make her a little more feminine by adding Cassi's bright pink Santa hat to the tree as a tree topper. I think it is the perfect touch!
Each year we buy ornaments from the "St. Judes Foundation." I can not even imagine how the parent's of sick children deal on a day to day basis and so I try and donate when I can to St. Judes. I am truly blessed to have a healthy child and thank God everyday for it.

Another Cassi handmade ornament made with her hand print in first grade.

Last year's Hotel Del Coronado ornament.
Our stockings are hung...

We have been blessed to have the real Santa come to the studio every year to visit and Cassi has the same pose with Santa since she was 2 (7th year this year!). I am amazed at how much she changes...and how little he changes. He really is timeless and I love these pictures each year!

I had to share my guinea pigs with all of you. This is Daisy Rose and we have had her for 2 and a half years. She is such a blessing to have around. I did not want a pet at all but Cassi really wanted one. I told her she had to be good for one month in class (She is a real talker!!!) and I would consider it. And she actually accomplished it. AND I think I love this pig more than her!
This is Sugar Baby. Cassi and I stopped at the pet store and absolutely fell in love with it. I couldn't resist but did not want another pet because I couldn't afford to buy the stuff required to bring another pet home so we went home without her. I could not get her cute face out of my mind and I asked God to give me some sign that we should go get her.

That day...I was cleaning my car and found $200 in a pocket behind the passenger seat. I know it sounds crazy but we were doing proms week after week and I must have taken my earnings and stuck it back there. And there was my sign.

I called the store and we went and brought her home with us that day. She is a complete stinker and has such a great personality. Sugar has cowlicks all over her body and her crazy hair goes with her disposition.

I probably will not post again before Christmas so I hope you all have a blessed Christmas and Santa brings you everything on your list!!!!

Enjoy!