Look what I can do.

Photoshop really is a cool thing. There is so much I could do with my photos if I only had the patience to figure it all out. Luckily I have a friend who does have that patience and also some natural talent. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge and new-found "stuff" with me.
Look what I did.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Christmas cuddles.

Every year I feel overwhelmed by the number of Christmas photos that I take. The job of going through all of them to delete, edit and then finally post them on here seems to big to take on, so often they never make it. By the time I do got them all edited the way I want it's potentially March and then I feel that I should be blogging Easter, not Christmas.
So they're not all edited and I'm not completely happy with the quality but I am finally posting a few of my favorite Christmas hugs and cuddles. But even though the quality of the photos aren't technically right, the quality of the love was just perfect. Aaaaaawwwwwwwwww.

Christmas elves.

A recap in mostly photos of what the little elves have been up to this week:

Baking elves. They look cooperative here, but minutes after this photos was snapped the biggest elf quit as his work wasn't quite up to standards and he didn't want to take any advice from Mama elf.



Teacher elf. One helping the other with reading new words in a Christmas story.


The laundry elves didn't show up as requested so that tended to pile up a little.


The decorator elves. A fine job that Santa himself would be proud of.



The wrapping elf. The one and only. Working some serious overtime until the wee hours of the morning.


The excited elves. Lots of energy today. They were all sort of bouncing off the walls. The tree, and what was under it this morning, was the cause. Also, the place to hang out and check tags, count, re-count, speculate and wish.

Visit to Santa

Went to the mall the other night for our visit to Santa. Went around dinner time so the line-up was not too long. While in the line-up I mentioned to Tony that I wondered how long that Cooper would still do this. Cooper overheard and said he's still totally fine with it. Tony said he'll do it as long as he's asked to do it. Time will tell, I guess.
They were all very cool when it was their turn. Quietly getting into their spots for the photo. After the photo was done, Santa asked them all what they wanted this year. Reagan and Hudson both asked for a board game. They always seem to ask for very generic gifts, making me think that their faith in Santa's ability is not too strong. Tag asked for a monster truck, something that unfortunately he has never mentioned to us. Cooper asked for a girlfriend...Santa's face actually changed expression then and he politely said he would do his best. This is our Cooper.

This is a photo of the photo.
We ended the night with a snack at the food court.

Crafty, crafty

Lots of crafts going on right now.
Lots of help needed in classrooms for all these crafty projects.
Monday we were sewing stockings in Reagan's class.

Today we decorated gingerbread houses in Tag's class.

Tomorrow is school wide craft day.
Four out of five days this week I am in the school helping. I'm thinking I should get on the payroll.
Really though, I'm thankful that I am one of those Moms who can be there...with the glue gun...with the icing...with the glitter... and of course, with the camera. Documenting all those fun December days.

Through Reagan's eyes

The other night as we were decorating the Christmas tree Reagan took the camera for a while. Here is what she captured:






Can you guess which one is our favourite?

Loving

Loving these cute Santa suckers I found today to give the kids a little treat after school.

Loving this view from my kitchen. The twinkling lights and the Christmas tree all in my line of vision, as I check the kids planners after school or prepare dinner.


Loving these tags I have added to the tree this year. I love text and the way it looks as decor in our home. These are perfect, simply clipped with a tiny red clothespin.

Loving that I have had two days in a row to be mostly at home. Getting a few things done and a little time to relax before the kids get home.

Loving that my laundry is caught up today (well..almost).


Loving these little beads I found earlier this week while in Langley with a friend. Not really knowing what I would do with them at the time but I've tucked them into the greenery above the fireplace and they remind my of icicles hanging down.


Loving that Taggart runs straight down to Nana's after school without even coming inside first. He does it at least once a week and she is always ready to see him and pamper him a bit. They have a whole routine going, I think. He sits in her recliner while she serves him a snack and he watches a little TV to relax and then they "play". Usually his choice is to play 'house', which Nana does with a smile. He is so blessed.

Loving that Hudson has had a great week at school. After going through quite a few rough weeks, things seem to have made a turn. So thankful for a smile on his face these days.

Loving that I know what I'm getting Tony for Christmas. Possibly the hardest person to buy for.

Loving that we have no plans this weekend. None.

This week...

Again I am way behind in my posts so a quick re-cap is the way to go.
On the weekend we headed down south to Bellevue Square to do Christmas shopping. Tony and I do this every year together but this year we decided to take Cooper with us.
He was super excited to go and be the only one that was going.
I don't think he completely understood how exhausting a whole weekend of shopping can be, but he did well and pushed through.
We got lots crossed of our list, with a few Starbucks, dinner at PF Chang's, and a room service breakfast to keep us fueled.
I missed the alone time for Tony and I, but I know this was a memory for Cooper, so well worth it.


The week has been busy with lots of odds and sods, but Reagan and I were able to take a step back in time on Wednesday as we visited Burnaby Village Museum with a school field trip. A really good day.

Last night Tony and I were entertained by a short little show done by the kids. Have you seen the Reitman's TV ad? Well, Cooper does a pretty good impression. So they decided to do a fashion show of do's and don't's of what to wear to school. Taggart came down wearing a dress, a bra over that and a pink cowboy hat. Reagan came down wearing a bikini, socks on her hands and a duck hat. Unfortunately I wasn't quick enough with my camera to catch those two before they burst into a fit of giggles and ran back upstairs. Hudson was the one "do" and the other two were obviously the "don't's". Quite funny and it doesn't seem too often anymore that all of them find something to do together.


Finally, a shot of my desk. It's a good representation of what's in my head right now. Bits and pieces of things that I am working on and trying hard to get done. Looks like a mess, which I suppose it is. But it all makes sense to me.