This will not be our Christmas Photo

Tis' the season of trying to get a decent Christmas photo of us. Each year it gets harder, and now with a 3 yr old and an almost 2 month old it is almost impossible. This year we had to ask for help (Thank you Sara!) and I won't blame Sara if the next time we ask for help she says she is "busy". :)

So far we have marked off the Yule Tide list:

Christmas Tree (check)

Christmas photo (check)

Letter to Santa (check)

Miss Greta is learning to write just in time to write her first letter to Santa. Coincidence, I think not......She has already written various letters like "Santa, Presents, From Greta" and just "presents!" with help from mommy on the exclamation mark. When asked what we should add to the Santa letter for the rest of us she said "underwear for daddy, a scrapbook for mommy and gingerbread houses for Fieldin" The gingerbread houses are really for her, she's got this big sister thing down.

What are you all asking Santa for Christmas?

Mr. Hanky The Christmas Poo

**Warning- Potty Humor Below**
So all South park fans have to know about Mr. Hanky. Jeff and I used to watch South Park years ago before we even got married and had munchkins.....when we still had time to watch the tube. Our Mr. Hanky was created by me about 10 years ago for a joke but some how it is still in our Christmas decoration box and has followed us to every new home. It has spent the last 7 years at this house spending the holidays in our downstairs bathroom. I never imagined he would become a tradition or that I would ever introduce him to my children, but yesterday Greta found him. She is very much into potty humor right now, so there was no better timing. She had me repeat his name over and over as she laughed uncontrollably and then had to ask "Does he jump out of the toilet?" giggle..giggle. I apologize to Future Greta for this warped Holiday discovery and to my future grandchildren who will hear about it ( I am sure of this). So with that.... Happy 10th Birthday Mr. Hanky.

I would like a BIG tree without any animals in it, please!

This was the first thing Greta said to the tree farmer when we started searching for our Christmas tree. When I mentioned that I would like a blue spruce, Greta said "No we have one in the backyard, we could cut that one down" I like how this girl thinks. We found our tree (the one in front) and so far the only critter we found was a large stink bug that Greta had Jeff catch "before it attacks mommy" Nice to know she has my back.

We picked a tree that will last, since we are getting it so early. Hopefully it doesn't become a brittle fire hazard before Christmas Day.

If you plan on getting a tree, grab some hot cocoa and find a tree farm and make a day of it. Support your local farmers.

Turkey Ogre

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our Holiday plans didn't turn out as expected. So we are left home with no Thanksgiving treats except rolls which was our contribution to the feast we were SUPPOSED to go to. So instead of the smell of turkey throughout the house we smell Austrian potato soup made by Jeff. Maybe it will be a new tradition?? At least we have this great turkey centerpiece made by Greta.