AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

I just returned from taking my kids to have a "portrait" (blah!) taken..it's the ONLY thing my mother-in-law requested for Christmas...you know, the kind where everyone does a fake smile looking right at the camera (again, blah!)

This pretty much sums it up....I think each of the boys has a bruise on their upper arm from being grabbed/pinched by me in order to get their attention; Lizzie found the light switch in the portrait studio..enough said; there may be more pics of the ugly white bear that Sam kept throwing in front of the camera than of the kids fake smiles; Lizzie kept doing her ultra high-pitched scream while I was attempting to pick out which pics I was going to purchase; It was the last day to have portraits taken in order to get them by Christmas...IT WAS A ZOO!!!

I need a nap...

Cookie Exchange...

This is for you Lindz!
So, my neighborhood had a cookie exchange this week and this was my donation. I spent two days, yes, two days making these bad boys and just before the big event I got sick and had to stay home. So, I sent my tainted "sick" cookies with my friend (thanks Jennie :)!) and got TWO plates of very YUMMY cookies in exchange! The cookie party is a great idea, I have always wanted to host one...maybe next year. For you serious cookie baking addicts you can log on to http://myrecipes.com and you will find a new cookie recipe for every day of the Holidays! I've seen some pretty good recipes on there. If you try any, feel free to drop by with a plate of cookies...you may even get some in return ;)!! (not tainted, "sick" ones!)

I don't get it...

What is it about a coat, boots, snowpants, etc., that can throw a 4- year- old into a full-blown, knock-down, drag-out fit???????
I don't know either, but it happened today. Sam (A.K.A. Captain Underpants) just won't go for the all too confining snow gear...even if it means missing out playing in the snow with his best bud.

GO COUGARS!!!

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cute movie...

We took the kids to see "Mr. Magorium.." this weekend and I have to say, it is a winner. Other than Natalie Portman's bad hair, it is a really cute movie. I always hesitate pushing a movie but this one is a pretty safe bet. It is full of uplifting and good messages...and it just makes you feel good. My favorite line was "Your life is an occasion...rise to it."

Even more exciting was the preview for...



My ALL TIME FAVORITE Dr. Seuss book. The message from this movie "Be kind to your small person friends" is a motto in our home (that I KNOW my kids are sick of hearing), when I say it they know I am referring to "small person little brother..." Anyways, two great movies worth your dime! Look out Gene Shalit, I may take over your movie reviewing job on the Today show...again, more bad hair!!!!!

Can you feel it?

Have you been bitten by the Christmas bug yet? I've been waiting for that "I'm so excited for the Holidays" feeling. I LOVE Christmas time. It is my most favorite time of the year. My mom always made Christmas so wonderful for our family...almost magical (at least for me!) She baked, she wrapped, she decorated, etc...she was truly a "Martha" in her day! Anyways, something about this time of year takes me back to the excited feelings I had as a kid and I am always anxious to recreate those moments for my family. Well today it hit me. I was grocery shopping, of all things, and those (sometimes obnoxious) cinnamon pine cones penetrated the air, and I finally got that "yeah!!" feeling! Usually by now my Christmas shopping is well under way, if not finished. This year, however, I am a little behind...so I need to get busy. I can't wait to get out my decorations, shop, wrap, listen to Christmas music.........! YEAH!!!

So hard to understand...

Sam: "Mom, I want to be a vampire for Thanksgiving, Liz told me she wants to be a bunny, Matt could be Airy Potter and Zach would want to be the Screamer."
I think he really just wants to do the whole trick-or-treating thing again...who wouldn't?