A bit of randomness

I just uploaded (is that the right term?) some pics from my camera - 59 to be exact, and exactly 37 of them are worthless. That's what happens when mommy does not monitor the children's use of the camera, and the children use the camera liberally! On Saturday, the girls had their last bball game of this season (more on that later). Well, Jagger and his little friend got a hold of the camera and proceeded to take pictures of everything - each other, the court, the kids, the floor, fuzz from their hands being to close to the lense. Emma must have also had her fun with it, because I found several self-portraits, which are no big surprise, her favorite! Then back to Jagger this afternoon, the result of which included about 8 shots of Shawn on the couch, one very close close-up of a football, and either the couch cushion or the carpet; along with many many "thumb blocking half the shot" shots. Hee, hee, hee. I probably should set more defined boundaries on camera use, but that's one where I go back and forth between thinking it's okay for them to use it, and then thinking it makes me really irritated when they use it. I suppose that's one of those things that falls under the category of "Is it eternal?" Thanks to my wise friend Robyn for that little barometer!


So, here is my best attempt at capturing the peace and loveliness of my sweet little Christmas tree:

I have seen enough beautiful pictures of sweet home Christmas trees lately to know that this is not one! How is this accomplished? I even fiddled around with the settings on my camera, and still couldn't make it look pretty. Come on, I know I have some photography-lovin' friends out there - help!!

And how about this one - is it New Year's card worthy? (Best of intentions indicate that I actually WILL get cards sent out this year, if not a wee bit late)!

I actually think this one is cuter, but I don't know, do people want to see the kids being wiggly and trying to run away - what do you think?

I have done so crappy with posting my blessings (52 Blessings project), but tonight I am thankful for a warm, safe home, and boys who love their momma!

Merry Christmas, friends. I hope this blessed week brings you peace and joy.

So far, so good

We're off to a good December in the Williams household. Well, I guess I'd better go back to November, with Shawn, Bella, and Kole all celebrating birthdays. It was the usual merriment, EXCEPT, never have I seen a one-year-old enjoy his cake like my little Kole. The pictures just do not do justice to how delighted he was with his 1st Birthday cupcake! He really dug in, and kept digging and digging and digging. I had to pry the paper out of his hands, then hurry and give him another. By cupcake #3 I figured I had better cut him off for his own good - off to the bathtub! It was a fun night and a joy to watch my baby having so much fun!

This weekend, the girls and I went to The Nutcracker, at the Colonial Arts Theatre downtown. I love that theatre, its so old and pretty. Bella had performed in The Nutcracker before, but she isn't dancing this year, so I thought it would be fun to go and actually get to watch. The dancers, both local and professional, were beautiful, and I love the story. Time spent with just my girls is precious to me, and this was a perfect night!

This was the whole group of us, except me:

Also this weekend, the girls performed in their very first piano recital. They practiced and practiced, and I have to say, it paid off! I was a litte worried when we first started talking recital, but my worries were unneccessary (aren't they usually)! They each performed their song PERFECTLY! Seriously, no mistakes! A proud moment.

The past several years have found me not only dreading the onset of the Christmas season, but drudging along through it with less than gleeful enthusiasm. I hate all the commercialism, the pressure, the stress I put myself through to have a perpetually clean house (because all those decorations in a messy house...please)! Plus, I always end up doing my shopping at the last minute, agonizing over what to get everyone. This year, I decided NO MORE! First of all, the house is going to be messy. If I'm lucky, once a day, after dinner dishes are done, laundry and toys are put away, and kids are ready for bed, it will be clean and I can enjoy it. That will have to be enough. I have finished most of my shopping already because I made lists and went out on Black Friday to get most of it (no, I did not get ANY great deals because I am not CRAZY and did not go out at 4am to wait in line or spend my Thanksgiving day in a tent outside of Target). The rest I have ordered online or will be exchanging/purchasing this Thursday during my annual birthday dinner/Christmas shopping night with friends Jo and Hil (Jolene's birthday, not mine). AND, it's a simple Christmas at my house this year. I have made sure the distribution of wealth, so to speak, is equitable, of course, but I have NOT stressed over each kid getting the EXACT SAME number of gifts, or spending the exact same amount on each. I finally figured it out - THEY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH STUFF COSTS! And I think they will be really happy, they are each getting what they want, but not so much of it that they will be overwhelmed. And Shawn - one thing! No stress, no trying to find the PERFECT THING for each person. Why now, you ask, why the turnaround? I don't know. I think it is part of a bigger effort I am making to be nicer to myself, to do my best, as always, but to let it be enough. To try to build some healthier habbits back into my hectic life. It seems to be working, though. I have read to my kids more in the last week than I have in a long time. We will be making and distributing neighbor gifts this year for the first time in a long time (hopefully). And I am not hating the Christmas season. So far, so good.