First of the Handmade Christmas Gifts

This little guy will be placed in the cover of a lovely red leather photo album. The album is for my brother in law and his wife. They went to Amsterdam for Thanksgiving. What do you get for the people that can pretty much get what they need or want? I figure everyone loves photo albums. At least I hope so. I will post a picture of the illustration in the album tomorrow when I have better light. Well I'm off to start on the sketch for the next Christmas gift. I would have started it tonight, but I just looked at the clock. Oh my!

The Most Important Thing

Yes this was one of the most important things I did today. Snuggle time with my Zoe. We laughed and giggled. We made silly faces and when we were done taking pictures we both closed our eyes and took a snuggly winters nap. It was a perfect way to spend an afternoon. How blessed I truly am for moments like these.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree.......

I really was going for one of those classic "under the Christmas tree" photos here. You know the kind you find in your parents photo albums? The little ones are still a little too wiggly. I will try again next year. Although I must say this picture of Sloan makes me laugh. She is such a goof ball.

Aris was mesmerized by the tree. She even helped to put up ornament. I think this is the reason she hasn't tried to take any of them off. They aren't mysterious anymore.

Sloan choreographed a series of photos, this was one of them, "Ok Zoe, now lets do like this by the tree, no over here. Ok Mom take the picture." It was very funny.

A holiday tradition every kid can't resist, the annual shaking of the gifts.

It is silly that it took a Christmas tree to make me feel the spirit of Christmas. There are so many who have so little. I will be working on some handmade gifts tonight. Just a few more days until we leave for San Diego. I miss all of my family so much, I can hardly wait to see everyone on Saturday. Only wish my parents and siblings lived closer. 

Aris' version of Christmas Carols

It's a little jumpy, but you can tell by the look on her sweet little face, she is serious about her Christmas music.

I Found the Spirit of Christmas Folks & all it Cost me was $7.50

Here she is. The tree we weren't going to get. The beauty that we always say we don't "need" because we won't be here for Christmas. Man oh man, may I tell you what a difference a tree makes? Dean found trees at The Home Depot for $7.50. We just couldn't pass that deal up. It was such a treat. Dean took Sloan & he let her pick it out. She did an awesome job. We are going to decorate tonight. It's beginning to "feel" a lot like Christmas. Yes it finally is.