Advent

The girls and I made this advent calendar out of $.99 mini stockings.  I think I was more excited about it then they were.  I love Advent calendars.  The only real crafting involved painting glittery gold numbers on each stocking, but that it about as crafty as i get.  We agreed that Derek or I would fill each stocking individually on the night before the appropriate day.  There is just no way that the Middle Who would be able to resist the temptation to look in every single one on Day 1. I have 4 small gifts for them to go in those slightly bigger stockings.  The other 20 days are really small trinkets, but they'll love them anyway.

More lifestyle photography.  This image shows:  my horrible family room/kitchen wallpaper, the plastic covered, non-working fireplace, the splintery, faux accent beams in my family room and that wonderful ceramic cat missing an ear that Derek saved from his Grandmother's house (I think) and has always had a spot in every one of our homes (and always will).  This image is cropped funny so that it doesn't show the baskets of crap toys-that-never-get-played-with that are sitting on the hearth.

Lifestyle

I really, really wish that I could tell you that this is a picture of Eli sitting in our dirty laundry pile (as if that wouldn't be bad enough).  Well, it's not.  This is a picture of Eli sitting in our clean laundry pile.  And, all of the laundry did not fit into the frame.  The girls literally paw through it in the morning to find clothes to put on.  I used to insist it stay in one of the laundry baskets, but I lost the battle recently.  With the busyness of the season and all, it's totally out of control.  Sorry, Mom.  

This was my first attempt at french braiding Gracie's hair.  She has been growing it for about 6 months and it is finally a little past her shoulders.  Charlotte and Eli's hair (and mine and Derek's) grows really fast, but not Grace's.  

Eli likes to play games in the studio.  Here, he got Charlotte to tuck him under the blanket for each picture.  Then, he pops up and laughs.  He says, "Charlie's turn!" and makes her do it, too.  I think she likes being the big sister.