Christmas is coming!!!

This has been a crazy Christmas season! But we are quickly winding down!

I am done with photo shoots for a while, which will be nice because I have some major catching up to do. I have been finishing wedding photos (almost done Susan!), getting a couple winter family shoots edited, and trying to get Christmas print orders done and delivered.

My kids are crazy excited - like every other kiddo. Kallie really gets the Santa thing, BIG time, this year. She has watched all the shows, she knows exactly what to do on Christmas eve. She has met with him once, during our sleigh ride. And she is going to see him tomorrow at her preschool Christmas party.

This morning, as we got the other two kiddos off to school, Kallie was asking me if I wanted Santa to bring a bird bath for me. (I kinda forget that I had talked to her about that a month or so ago.)

Well, I reminded her that she told me, only yesterday, that I am, in fact, too old for Santa gifts.

She said "Well, Santa is coming to school tomorrow. I will ask him to get me a bird bath and then I will give it to you.".

And my heart just melted.

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Over the river and through the woods!

And that is exactly where we went today!

My IL's decided that this year they wanted to take all the grandkids to a farm about an hour north of us. This farm offers Christmas sleigh/wagon rides in December. Everyone piles in a wagon pulled by two gorgeous Belgian horses, and we take a 30 minute ride through the woods. Each kid has an opportunity to hold the reins and "steer" the way.

First it was Christina's turn!

Then, after being asked about 5 times, Kallie got the nerve to try it!

We end up at a little cabin in the woods. We visited a bit with the horses and got some pictures...

We then went into the cabin where we found a roaring fire, some warm cinnamon rolls, hot chocolate and.....SANTA!!!

Surprisingly, Kallie Wallie, the youngest of the 4 cousins that went, was the first to jump on his lap. I think it was the lure of a bag of candy. Kinda scary if you really think about it!

But she told him all the stuff she wanted, and then her BIG sister got up the nerve!

And then Daddy had to talk to Santa a bit...not sure what that was about...

The wagon then showed up and we made our way back to the cars. What a great time!!!! The kids absolutely had a blast. Kallie's only complaint was that she forgot to tell Santa she wanted a REAL horse!

After the ride, we stopped for lunch and then again made our way "over the river and through the woods" to cut down our Christmas tree! We have been going to the same tree farm for 10 years now. It is out in the middle of nowhere, but we love the drive, the trees are gorgeous, and a HUGE frazier fur cost a whopping 20 bucks!

We got a big one this year, but it is also just perfect. My family room is filled with the fresh pine scent right now.

Tomorrow I was scheduled to take some family photos, but with freezing rain and a winter weather advisory in place for the morning, we decided to just reschedule for a better day. I actually don't mind. A cold, rainy Sunday with nothing to do but decorate my Christmas tree by the fire, sounds absolutely HEAVENLY to me!!!!

Have a good one!

Irene

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What's on your Christmas list?

As we approach the last couple weeks before Christmas, my girls (and most kiddos) continue to expand and adjust their never-ending Christmas lists! Every day I get new and more interesting items added to the list.

Let's start with Miss Kallie!



Since I am home with Kallie Wallie all day, she is probably the most active in adding and revising her list. So far, her list consist of:

• A fish tank - a real one
• Tinkerbell - a toy one
• Peter Pan - a toy one
• A white horse with a pink horn - a toy one
• A jaguar - a toy one
• A horse - both a real one AND a toy one
• A red eyed tree frog - a toy one
• A llama - a toy one

And today, after calling me from across the house in order tell me something VERY important, she announced yet another item for her list:

• A whale

Now would that be a real one or a toy one? Well, she stated, BOTH! So I asked her where exactly would we put the real whale? In the POOL!! (duh Mom!!).

Unfortunately, Kallie probably isn't going to get many gifts that are on her list. The fish tank is still being debated. And a Noah's Ark will hopefully satisfy her desire for a whole herd of various animals.

Then there is Caroline:

Caroline doesn't want or really need anything (except maybe a day at the hair salon). Christina tried to make a list for sweet Caroline, but even she came up short. I am sure whatever Santa brings Caroline will be quite alright with her. She just likes attention and lots of love.

And a sister or two to entertain her.

And Christina?

She has a list a mile long. Being 8, she has one foot in childhood and one foot heading towards teen-ville. This year I am really sad because I know that this may be her last Christmas that she actually believes in Santa. She is asking a lot of questions and having trouble understanding how he can do what he does.

I don't remember when I stopped believing, but I do remember pretending I believed for a (what seems like) a long while. I remember feeling really bad that I knew it wasn't true any more.

On the good side, this year Kallie REALLY gets the whole Santa thing and talks about him all the time. So we have a few more years of the wonder and incredible excitement about Santa.

It must be so sad - for parents - when it is all over!

This weekend, however, will be filled with Christmas activities. We are going on a sleigh ride (actually a wagon ride) to see Santa! After that we are making our annual trek to the tree farm to cut down our Christmas tree!!!

I am as excited as the kids! This is going to be such an exciting Christmas for us all!!!!

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Well, Hi!!! ....a month and a half later.....

I can't believe it has been that long since I posted!!!! I have been thinking of combining this blog with my photography blog and making my photo blog more personal. And I think that is a good idea - making my photo blog more personal - but I am not sure I want to officially end this blog! So the jury is still out on this thought.

Today's post will feature our favorite four year old....Kallie Wallie!!!!



Kallie is as crazy as ever. She is in preschool 2 days a week. At first she was very unsure of it, but then she decided she liked it.

But then she got sick so she was off a week and, when she returned, she again decided she didn't want to go.

And then she liked it again.

And then she hated it again.

Luckily, this week, we are in the "I like it" phase.

Two days a week isn't a lot of time, and I do LOVE having a few hours of kid-free quiet time a week.

But some days, this little one of mine is so damn cute, that I wonder how I could ever "wish" she was in school a bit longer some days.

Take today - she was being goofy as I tried to get her dressed.

I told her "you are a goof-ball!"

She replied "No I not!"

So I asked "What are you then?"

She answered " A sweetie pie!"

--

A few days ago, I put my girls to work sorting socks. I told them I would pay them to do the job. Christina took about 3 hours to do it...and did about 99% of the work.

Kallie sorted about 3 socks.

After they were FINALLY done I paid Christina 2 dollars (granted, there were a LOT of socks). Kallie also wanted a dollar. (Christina immediately handed her one of hers - so sweet!) But I gave Kallie a quarter.

Later that night, I was getting Kallie ready for bed and she was, again (surprise), being goofy.

I told her "Kallie you are a crazy lady!"

She repled "No I not!!! I have MONEY!!!"

--

And then there are her constant requests for my attention to see her "cool tricks".

They usually consist of her lying on the couch with her feet up. Or her jumping off 2 steps into the family room.

Yeah, they may not be too "cool" to the average joe, but I am pretty happy I can spend most of my days with such entertaining company!!

--

Soon enough, my wish for "kid free" time will be granted more than I ever will want. And I will be re-reading these posts and just wishing for those days back....

well...except for maybe the early wake-ups on weekends after a late night...and fighting over who goes FIRST (among other things)...and running crazy through the house while I am on the phone...and, well, maybe a few other things....BUT I will miss MOST of it!

Until next time!! (and hopefully it won't be too long this time!!!)

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I know - things COULD be worse!

I am really trying to keep things in perspective - we are all healthy and happy, we aren't facing an major financial crises, things are actually pretty great.

But I have spent the last 2 days AGAIN messing with a computer that is all screwed up!!!

A couple months ago I got hit with a bad virus. A bunch of money later, the virus is fixed. We think.

A month later - more problems - new (or was it the same) virus! Instead of calling Dell (aka New Delhi), we called a local technician. He recommended a complete strip and reinstall. The only definite way to clean a computer of a virus. A bunch of money later, the computer is fixed and actually working MUCH better than it has for months.

A month later (today) - BAD NEWS. I was trying to edit photos in Lightroom, the computer kept locking up, I had to keep restarting and I then I got some crazy warnings about Windows not able to load correctly. I eventually got it running but continued to have problems with Lightroom.

I called our local technician, again, he said "Doubtful it is a virus again based on the type of problems you are having (phew). But bring it in for a quick diagnostic". So Kallie and I took it in this morning only to have him *try* to turn it on But this time he gets some horrible booting error and NADA. A few tries later, his diagnosis -

YOUR HARD DRIVE IS DEAD.

I am sick.

Good news is it is under warranty so Dell will be replacing no charge.

Bad news, I lose EVERYTHING on that hard drive unless I want to spend $120 to recover it.

Good news, most is backed up.

Bad news, not EVERYTHING is backed up.

Good news, I have an external hard drive with all my photos.

Bad news, my (brand new) external hard drive is also acting wacky and may have a problem.

More bad news, SOME of my photos are not backed up on DVD yet (i.e. the edited photos) so I may be re-editing.

Some glimmer of hope - if the external hard drive is bad, I may be able to recover the data for not a huge amount of money.

The worst part of this is that these last few weeks have been my busiest yet. I have 4 unedited photo sessions and 2 more coming up this weekend. I have quite a few print orders I expect to receive soon. So this is the absolutely worst time for this problem. Although - what is a good time?

I hate computers. I hate how you get crazy errors, how you often can't even explain what your problem is or when it started. And I hate how much we (me) rely on these unreliable things during our daily lives.

OH - and completely unrelated good news - little white kitty is going to a new home in about 30 minutes. A co-worker of my husband's wants a cat. So I will be delivering the new bundle of joy quite soon!!!!!

Here's hoping for more good news soon!!!!!

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Have I got a deal for you!

One sweet, all white, kid-friendly kitty cat can be yours for the low- low price of ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!

About 2 weeks ago, this little white kitty showed up at our door, hungry and begging to come inside.

Of course, I gave the munchkin something to eat and drink. And expected he would be on his way.

Not happening.

Apparently, this little guy thinks he is home. But the only problem is, THIS home has 2 BIG things standing in his way.

One is this guy:

And the other is this guy (actually girl):

So I have been asking and begging anyone and everyone to please give this kitty a home as apparently ours is off limits.

This little kitty is amazingly good with kids. He will snuggle in my girls' laps, he is docile, sweet and absolutely does NOT want to be an only outdoor kitty. He is begging at my door day and night. We have given him a temporary home in our garage, but he is eying the woodstove and comfy couches.

Anyone?? Anyone? Bueller??? Anyone????

(free delivery!!)

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Fall???

Yes it is early fall - and we had SNOW today!!!! NOT good (although I do have to have to say sitting by my woodstove all day was quite nice).

But it is kind of depressing when you consider we have been known to have snow until May. That is EIGHT more months for anyone counting. I don't really mind it now actually, but by January/February I will be aching for a bit of sun and warmth.

I expected to have a busy weekend with 3 photo shoots - but with snow and rain predicted for tomorrow, one of two sessions was rescheduled and I am doubtful the second will take place either. No biggie. I would much rather do a photo session when the weather was in the 60's than in the 30's and dark and dreary. Yuck. I also have another session for Sunday morning, but hopefully we will see a bit of sun by then.

In other photography news.....I got my new D90 yesterday. Thanks to the lovely weather, I spent more time inside keeping warm than taking photos. But I did snap a few of my youngest. She wasn't too keen on the whole thing, but I didn't care. I jacked up the ISO to 1600 - which was almost unusable on my D80 and got this!

Not bad! Not a very cooperative subject, but only a trace of noise. Whoooo HOOOOO!!!!

Even though I am glad I am not taking photos tomorrow morning in the dark, rain and snow - I am looking forward to really trying out the new toy!!! I may have to torture the young-uns tomorrow.....

Oh and tomorrow night is an unexpected date night with hubby so that is WAY cool!!!

Have a good one!

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Happy 8th Birthday Christina!

My oldest is 8 today! Oh my. She was my little pumpkin with strawberry blond hair and blue eyes. She can be so sweet. She can be so smart. And she can be just a bit trying at times. Which is scaring me a bit as we quickly approach the pre-teen years.

This year it was a low key affair. I was never into the big HUGE birthday thing. Yesterday, we invited family over for cake. We all enjoyed the Steeler game, some snacks, some cake and had some fun. And we gave Christina one of her gifts - a new 4-wheeler!

Although "new" is an extremely relative term.

This 4 wheeler is probably one of the first EVER made. It most likely can be classified as an antique as it is actually about 25 years old. My husband got from a neighbor for $50. He got a helmet, had the frame painted and detailed at work for free, and Voila! One person's trash is another little girl's treasure!!

Christina doesn't know how to shift, so she can only go in first gear a few miles an hour. And she WON'T be learning to shift for a long while. I am terrified about what "could" happen on these things. But she will be riding with her dad for a VERY VERY VERY long time.

But it was a bittersweet birthday. Christina got a lot of clothes this year and wasn't disappointed one tiny bit. In fact, she was REALLY happy about that! She got this outfit from her Mimi and she was thrilled to wear it to school today.

I guess my little girl is SO quickly growing up!!!

Happy Birthday Tina-Wina!!!!!!

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