The Christmas Card pressure!

First of all, I am writing this blog mostly to earn 50 free photo cards from Shutterfly.com who said if I write a blog about Christmas photo cards, then "WAH-LAH" I win! So I said, "Why not?" because we send over 150 Christmas cards out each year anyway, why not get some cha-ching knocked off that price tag, eh?
Second of all, however, I really do love sending AND receiving Christmas cards. We proudly display them at our house (to which is another whole dilemma as we are not sure where they will go at our new house--eek!) and I love seeing each and every one of them when they come in the mail! I really do! Perhaps its because my mother did the displaying of the cards thing, or because she has sent a Christmas card to all our family and friends my whole life (and still does-though its getting harder to cram us all in one picture! haha) or maybe its because I love seeing how much everyone's kids have grown or whether or not they went to the beach that year (when did beach pictures on Christmas cards ever become a "trend" anyway???) or whether or not they send one at all! Either way, I love the whole Christmas card concept!

Then, comes the pressure...

The pressure of taking a perfect Christmas card photo first...oh the stress! Its hard to get a photographer to agree to just let you use their pics instead of ordering cards from them so you have to actually TAKE a good photo. Has anyone else had trouble getting one of these? I mean before I had a squirmy double-chinned baby boy who looks stoned (Hahahahaha, no pun intended! Really! Hahahaha!) in every family pic, and even before I had a strong-willed (to say the least) 3 year old who insists on striking her "Chipmunks Sisters" pose in every shot. Alas, it all started when I wanted to do a Christmas card LETTER (yes, its true) when Micah was 1, that I discovered the chaotic stress of getting a good Christmas photo shot! I didn't have cool photo sites like Christmas photo pics! to go to and play with the cool designs, etc. We had the good ol slow moving kiosks at Sam's, Walmart and Walgreens and I, of course, ALWAYS had problems with doing it, getting my cards, etc.

Now, however, the way to go is go online! I can go to Shutterfly.com  and peruse tons and tons of designs, upload my pics, drag them in and click print. Super easy. And they look so fun!

Obviously I'm adding pics from the past that aren't attached to a photo card, but these are close to the ones I used...I am limited in my scanning knowledge so this is what you get...sorry!

Anyway, I think the pressure comes from knowing that this is your "one shot" to show everyone how perfect and wonderful your life and your family is...seriously. Okay I know that's a stretch, but I recognize that until facebook came along, this was the only time some people got to see us! How much Micah had grown, when I was pregnant with Haven, how big Haven had grown, how hot my hubby is, etc. so I had to make it good!

But you know what I realized? Not only is my family not perfect, nor is my life (I know, shocking, right? haha) but it is only through the grace of my God and King that I even have the life and family I have at all! Awesome! And so humbling! To know that He has given me these treasures to borrow while we're here on this earth, and that they are truly gifts from Him. So no cute cards, no amazingly perfect Christmas photo, not even getting them mailed out before December 1st, is pleasing to my Lord like praising and thanking Him for these blessings! Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2009 (above)
 Stay tuned for Christmas card photo 2010 so you can see how perfect my family and life are! (just kidding!)

The best Book Club EVER!

I don't have many things that I insist on doing on a monthly basis, but one thing I try never to miss is my wonderful Book Club! We call ourselves B.A.B.E.S and for almost 4 years now, we have met every month to discuss a book one of the members picks out. There are 12 of us, so we each host a month, and we each get to pick a book each year. There is quite an age-range (25- *ahem* 50-something) and quite a range of book tastes as well! I look forward to this each and every month and have so enjoyed getting to know these fabulous ladies and reading lots of great (and some not so great!) books!
This past month the pick was Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and Corrie hosted. Kathy, who just can't help it, brought the circus to town (the theme of the book) by decorating Corrie's house. We were welcomed by this:

 And ate our yummy alfredo pasta with capers, grilled chicken, garlic bread, salad, and brownies on plates that look like this:

Which Kathy made and decorated herself! So clever. Here are some shots of our fun group:

The "elderesses" table (I feel the need to point out that that empty chair actually belonged to me who was an elderess this evening apparently!)

The younger gals, still of breeding age! haha. 

Jenna and Corrie fixing their coffee (assuming Jenna still calls her coffee flavored creamer coffee!)

Kathy brought "Rosie" and "Marlena" from the book as decor. Hilarious!

Jessica was holding our special guest Stone, who won't be attending anymore since he is not our kind of "BABE:" but he was a good guest tonight!

Anna has our "microphone" and its her turn to tell what she thought of the book. Stone is asleep until the next time we all burst into laughter! It happens a lot!


Looking forward to next month at Carol's home where we will discuss The Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick, can't wait!

Warming the House

We are loving our new home and have already received our first "housewarming" gifts! I just LOVE this funky owl stepping stone from my sister Jessica and have found it a fun home in the flower beds by the back patio:

 Jessica also gave us a Willow Creek figure with a pineapple that is the symbol of "welcome" which is what I want my home to exude to our guests! I hope that our family and friends will always feel welcome here and that our home is a welcome safe-haven for my children:

Our realtor gave us this super fun piece of EttaB pottery from the Square Cupboard (LOVE that store!) and I am searching for the perfect spot for it in my kitchen, which my mom and sis helped me unpack and decorate:

Aren't presents fun???

We have been in our new house almost one week and I just fall more and more in love with this place each day...but not in a superficial way, more in a sentimental way. Its strange, but I can already envision my children opening their gifts in the living room on Christmas morning...riding their bikes in the long driveway...climbing the trees in the front yard....swimming with their friends in the pool...
I can see Micah reading a book curled up on one of her (two!) window seats and I can envision her room changing with her style as she grows into her pre-teen and then (eek!) teen years. I can see Haven running in our gloriously large back yard and twirling under the trees in her princess dress-ups--complete with tiara and "high shoes" of course. I can almost envision Stone climbing to the tops of the trees and riding his skateboard off the brick steps on the wrap-around front porch (one of my top 3 FAVORITE parts of this home!) and playing pirates in the playset out back. This is the home I want my children to grow up in, that we create memories in, that I grow older with my husband in. I want to watch college football on our couch with Gary, entertain my entire family on Thanksgiving in the dining room, read the story of the Nativity on Christmas Eve with my girls and son, and sit on my porch in rocking chairs with my close friends...In other words, I want "LIFE" to happen in this home...

I feel so blessed and I mean it when I lean back and sigh and say..."Home SWEET Home!"