Meanwhile...

While the girls and I were at the Nutcracker, Landon took Colton for some one on one male bonding. They went to the shooting range! I can't think of anything Colton would rather do than shoot guns with his dad!

The Nutcracker

I use to go to the Nutcracker every Christmas with my Grandma and all the girls in our family. We always got dressed up, went out for lunch and then onto the ballet. I use to love that day. It is one of my fondest memories of growing up. Today I took my own girls to see the Nutcracker.

We got all dressed up and went out to lunch before.

Waiting for it to start!

At the intermission we went out to stretch our legs and the girls each picked out a nutcracker to take home. Kennedy told me that was the only reason she came. She thought we were going to the Nutcracker store, so she had agreed to come to get a nutcracker. Gotta love that kid.

We had a lot of fun, and I love spending time with just my girls. I hope this is a tradition I can keep up with my own girls.

Gifts Gifts Gifts

As a child, Christmas was magical. Not a care in the world except for what to put on your Christmas list, and then hope to heck you'd been good all year to get what you wanted!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas morning. I love to see my kids faces light up when they open up their presents. It's the 30 days or so before Christmas that gets a little stressful. I try to be on top of things, and get started early. I do pretty good with my family gifts. Every once in a while I get hung up on a sister or nephew. It's the little gifts, the ones that you don't want to spend more that $5-$10 bucks on, but look like you did more, that are hard for me. I'm talking about neighbor gifts, VT gifts, and of course teacher gifts.

I think I pretty well have everyone covered with the exception of Colton and Whitley's teachers. They are both men, and to me that makes it harder. You can always do Bath and Body or something for a girl, but men are different. Last time Colton had a male teacher, the class went in and got him a Home Depot gift card which I thought was great. Neither of my kids classes are doing a group gift-I'm on my own.

So help me out. What kind of fun, meaningful, look like you spent more than you did gifts do you do for your kids' teachers???

Colton's First Band Concert

Colton had his first band concert tonight. He is playing percussion and loving it. He did an excellent job.

Stroll Down Memory Lane

When I was pulling out all of my Christmas decorations I came across some old Christmas pictures. Man they grow up fast!

MerrY ChrisTmas!

A Year Since I've had a Haircut...WOW

*WARNING* This post is simply a journal entry that my family and I can refer back to, and also a reminder of the kind of person Landon is. (plus it's long-feel no obligation to read)

When I was younger, I took much better care of myself. Not that I don't do an okay job now, but not like when I was 17 without a care in the world except for if I was going to get asked to "the dance". I had my hair done, did my nails, and went tanning like crazy. I was a cheerleader and had to wear that teeny tiny skirt, and my legs had to be tan-like duh!!

Fast forward 15 years. I haven't had a hair cut since last December. That's right, it's been a year. Why, you ask? Lazy, I lived in the Moe Hole, don't know who to go to, can't decide on a style, who knows. I've been dying my own hair for about 6 months, much to the dismay of my kids. They HATE the color (sorry guys). It's been way to long since I had my nails done, and I haven't been tanning since before I had Colton. YIKES.

Today, today was the day for a change. At yoga a couple of my girls friends and I decided that we were going to go get pedicures Friday night. I also got a referral to a great beautician (do they even still call them that) that I think will do a great job. I have taken an oath to stop dying my own hair (what made me think that was okay anywhere but the Moe Hole?).

Nails-check Hair-check

All that was left was the tanning. For some reason I was really nervous about this one. I knew the girl working at the tanning salon was going to be young and cute and tan, and I WAS NOT. I also new that the tanning world had changed sooo much since I tanned that I was going to have to ask a lot of dumb questions. I braved it anyway, for beauties sake. The girl there could not have been nicer. She answered all of my dumb questions and didn't make me feel old. Then she talked me into spending an obscene amount of money on a tanning pass and lotion. Let's just say that the 13 oz bottle of lotion I bought was over $100 dollars. Yes, that says $100!!! I did say obscene, right??

So I tan, and now I'm stressing out. I know that Landon is going to kill me for spending that kind of money, especially this time of year, especially on a tanning pass! He was in meetings all morning long, and I had worked up several stories and explanations of how I would reimburse him with whatever Christmas money I get. When he finally called,I told him my story, and explained that I felt better about myself today from that one little tanning session than I had in a long time. (Pathetic right?) I'm expecting him to rant about the money, but he doesn't. He tells me that hearing me say that is worth more than all the money in the world. That he would never take my Christmas money from me, and how it was my job was to feel good about myself so I could take care of the kids. (I am in tears again just typing this).

He is the sweetest, most selfless man in the world. He cares more about my happiness and well-being than I could ever ask for. I was reminded again today how blessed I was the day we found each other, and how grateful I am to get to spend eternity with him. Lucky Me Lucky Me!

Joy to the World

Last night for Family Home Evening we watched this DVD. I thought it was the perfect way to kick off the Christmas season. We talked about the true meaning of Christmas and made a family goal to be more focused on Christ this year. It's a great DVD and really set the tone for our holidays.