Swing and a Miss, Volume II

Today is our last Sunday in Bozeman before heading to Utah for the holidays so I wanted to take Henry and Ruby's picture in front of our tree in their Christmas clothes. We had just gotten home from church and the timing (I thought) was perfect. I had this adorable vision in my head: Henry and Ruby, side-by-side (maybe holding hands), smiling beautifully for the camera (that would, for once, actually focus like I wanted it to), with the Christmas tree lights twinkling lightly in the background. Heck, maybe if I was lucky I could prop the camera up and take one of all four of us.

Well, Ruby wasn't having it. Here's the first attempt:

I didn't like where this was going. (Earth to Henry!)


After a few more shots, I finally get an okay picture of Scott and the kiddies:



But apparently I was just pushing it WAY too far when I tried to get one with Ruby. Where's your Christmas spirit Ruby? Geesh!

A Swing and a Miss

Our ward had its Christmas party last week. I was so looking forward to having a picture with my kids on Santa's lap (I even put them in matching colors, you know, to make my adorable Santa photo as cute as possible) as Henry has never been brave enough to get near the bearded fellow. But we've really been coaching Henry, preparing him for the unequaled joy of whispering your innermost desires into Kris Kringle's ear, hearing the Ho Ho Ho while his belly shakes like a bowl full of jelly, etc.

So, Santa comes into the cultural hall and Henry reacts positively (meaning he didn't burst into tears and run the other way, which is practically what happened at last year's Christmas party):


We wait in line for almost 15 minutes (our ward is not that big so there must have been a few little kids with quite a long list of desired loot) and we get up to him (oh! the anticipation!) and ...



... this is as close as he would get. At least he was sort of smiling. Maybe next year he'll actually sit on his lap. Or at least not make his mom hold him.

My Funny Little Parrot

Tonight I was giving Ruby her medicine and surprisingly she took it eagerly (she must have been thirsty or something because that is RARE!). I said, "Good job Ruby!"

Henry came running over, hugs her, and says with the most dramatic exaggeration, "Oh! I'm so proud of you Ruby-doo!"

He is such a goofball. Here's the proof (as if I haven't provided enough already):

Yes, those are salad tongs. He thinks they're the greatest contraption ever.

My Guilty Christmas Pleasure

Okay, so I love this song. I admit it. Please enjoy, courtesy of the legend, the one and only, George Michael.

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful

It has been an icebox up here in the frozen land of the north. Okay, I guess it's not as bad as the Midwest is right now. Aren't you glad you don't live in the ice storm-prone Midwest? (Sorry Nikell and Cody!)

Anyhoo, we've been decorating!! I love decorating for Christmas (taking it down as an entirely different story). We actually decorated about two weeks ago but I've also been baking, much to Scott's dismay as our kitchen looks like the Midwest after a tornado (aren't you glad you don't live in the Midwest?), so I'm just now getting around to it. Here are some of the latest happenings and seasonally-appropriate decor additions:

One of my favorite decorations -- a limited edition Norman Rockwell plate given to Scott by his Grandma Mary in 1980, when he was but a wee lad.

Look what I found -- a darling little decoration left over from last year!


A few of our Nativities


The Marvelous Moose Mantle


A pleasant surprise was that Ruby was afraid of the tree. She sat on the couch for the first 20 minutes of the tree decorating (only after crying and "running" away from the tree when we got it out of the box). She's still somewhat leery of the tree. I think it's great -- her healthy fear = not having to re-decorate my tree every day when she rips everything off.


Our camera sometimes gets a little temperamental about focusing. If it doesn't feel like it, there's nothing we can do about it. And I'm okay with that. (Santa Baby, oh hurry down the chimney tonight ... with a freaking normal camera that will actually focus when you want it to. For the love!)

Here are Scrooge's (aka Tau's) thoughts on all the activity. I think they speak for themselves.

It was so fun that Henry is big enough this year to actually participate in the tradition of putting the star/angel on the tree (and don't be hatin' on my tree topper -- I've been looking for a new star but haven't found one that speaks to me).


Mele Kalikimaka everybody!