The perfect Christmas picture! (Part 2)

In case you haven't checked your calendar, it's December. Time for Christmas trees and Santa Claus. And Mickey Mouse coloring books:



Since Andrew was booted from daycare because of a fever (he's fine, he's got 2 more teeth!) we put up the Christmas tree!

I like this picture because there's one of me when I was a kid doing almost the same thing. Andrew loves the tree. He comes out every morning, points at the unlit tree "Twee!"and demands that I turn it on.



This morning we went to have Breakfast with Santa!
There was a really nice Christmas tree there... since it's at the O Club- it's red, white, and blue.
This one's for you, DaDa:



Maybe this one too. Remember, I said these would be "decent," not good:



And since I am on a quest for the perfect Christmas picture, this one might be in the running. Although, a certain someone isn't in it. Now that I think about it... I don't think this is it. Anyway:



Back to Breakfast-

CHEESE!



No breakfast is complete without a candy cane!


Wait... is that...? Is that him?!


Last year Andrew sat on Santa's lap, but this year... not so much. He sat for about 16 seconds and had enough. Here's the best (okay, decent) shot:



I wasn't really happy with that, so we tried again. This time I gave the camera to a friend so she could help out. And that's when she captured my favorite of Andrew- technically- with Santa 2009. He's in the same frame, so therefore it's Andrew WITH Santa... right?




And since this morning was borderline hectic.... Here's your/my/our "Moment of Zen:"

The perfect Christmas picture! (Part 1)

Currently I'm annoying a photographer/card designer about what I want on our Christmas cards... which photo, what color(s), what font, etc. She's telling me I'm not a pain in the arse, but I'm starting to annoy myself.

Since Andrew was born and family lives far away, I've tripled or maybe quadrupled the amount of pictures I've taken.

"Off the Cutting Room Floor" was the first, and until now only, entry that showed the public what kind of photos appear on my camera. What I forgot to mention was my horrible picture taking abilities- both in front of the camera and behind. And so here's the Holiday edition for 2009.

Ho Ho Ho:


Not once, but twice:


Then there's the "too much eggnog" shots:


"You ghuys high fif, Mama'll haf mo' whissskey."


The child who won't cooperate shots:




...And the child who cooperates a little too much:
"Now take one with your mouths open... both of you!"




Part 2 of The perfect Christmas picture will actually have the GOOD (okay, decent) pictures and a little bit of what we were doing. Not that you can't figure it out from these.

Lots to be Thankful for

Here's a random list of some of the things, in no order what-so-ever, that I'm thankful for.

Friends, old and new. Chinese buffets. Family, to include in-laws. Babies. Getting a job that I like. Tarheel Opry House. Andrew. The United States Marine Corps. Caller ID. My husband, my sanctuary.

I hope everyone had a nice, non-eventful, and safe Thanksgiving. Despite your crazy ass families.

Oh, I'm also very thankful for the internet.

And here's a picture, because I know the real reason you all read this...

Pumpkin Carving Party

Step 1: Get pumpkins from Mike's Farm. (Check.)
Step 2: Carve pumpkins at fun pumpkin carving party (complete w/chili and apple cider)...

On our way! This is also the "before" shot of the pumpkins.


Let's say "during" the carving.


Andrew really had no intention of sitting on my lap.


He wanted to run, hide in the bushes, eat chili, squeal, laugh, dig in the dirt, kick the ball with big kids. Which leads to a dirty face and a runny nose w/dirt in it. Sorry...


Then he got to hang out with the Big Boys.


Andrew with the finished products.


After: a spider and a bat


Lit up!


Step 2: ...(Check.)

Mike's Farm Fun

Yesterday we hauled Team Holt out to Mike's Farm. It was the first weekend they were opened for the fall season, which includes a hayride out to the pumpkin patch!!

And I brought my camera! However, it had a low battery so there are no pictures of Andrew with the animals. He saw chickens, goats, a sheep, a llama, and his favorite: a donkey. The donkey came over and Andrew got to feed him (although the signs said to not feed him by hand) by hand! He was a gentle donkey and just lipped at his hand... I'm not even sure Pedro (the donkey) had teeth.

Okay, so here are the pictures!

Plan of attack:


Andrew's so punk rock.


I'm pretty sure he tried to pick up every pumpkin he saw.


See what I mean:


There was a tractor....


...that I could not get him away from!


Eventually we got on the hayride that took us to the pumpkin patch!

He spotted "this one..."


...and that one...


...and tried to ride this one.


Did I mention he tried to pick them all up?


Success!


We came home with three (3) pumpkins!!

End of Summer

There hasn't been too much going on. Well, okay there's been stuff going on, but I know my audience and I know you all like pictures. So I should say I haven't been taking pictures of what's been going on.

I digress...

Here's what I have taken pictures of. Basically our first/last trip to Onslow Beach and then some snapshots in the yard.

This is for all the Sigma Kappas who might be reading this...
Yes, I still rock this shirt.


Oh, right, you're taking our picture.


Disregard me cheesing it up... this is Andrew smiling/"showing us his teeth."


A GQ moment. This is for you, Alyssa.


Pushing his car in his new shoes. (Thanks Amanda!)


More car...


Mowing the lawn with his FAVORITE lawn mower.


See, nothing too too exciting. There are more pictures that I've taken, but I've got to be covert with what I share with the holidays coming up!

He Bit Me!

It's been raining a lot here, since Bill is/was floating around out in the Atlantic. We've been trying to find fun and entertaining things to do inside.

There's a small plastic lizard that I found/unpacked. Andrew and I were playing with it- I was "crawling" the lizard up Andrew's body and he laughed. This went on for about 5 minutes. Then the lizard slipped between the couch cushions.

Wouldn't it be funny if the lizard "bit" me?



Keep in mind this is probably the 32nd time we did this. Long enough for us to get our laughter under control, long enough to get the camera... and still.

Pirate themed Family Day

Ahoy Mateys!

We spend the majority of the afternoon at the squadron's family day! It had a pirate theme... hence all the eye patches, Jolly Rogers, and such.

Here are some photos:

This is Andrew in a box of pirate beach balls...


Wearing an eye patch...


Another fun give-away, pirate themed toy...


After eating a skull 'n crossbones sucker, which I think resembles a beard.


"What's wrong wif your eye, Daddy?"


Pirate Booty


ARRGGH!


Fun with stickers (pirate themed, of course)


So serious...




After the party was over, we walked home. It's a short walk- maybe equivalent to "around the block" but long enough for Andrew to fall asleep. In a wet swim diaper/swim suit. Normally we'd just put him into bed- but with the wet swim diaper and all, that's just not a good idea.

I put him on the changer, he rolled over and well...


fell asleep.

(I moved him over to his bed once I changed him into a dry diaper.)

We all had a good time today!!