Family Pictures 2012...sneak peek #1

We had an amazing time (sans millions and millions of mosquitoes) yesterday taking pictures with Alisha of Leeshy Lou Photography  .  She was very sweet and good to work with.  The boys did AWESOME!  Total cooperation.  I thought I had died and gone to heaven (again, sans the mosquitoes).  Her "magic potion" (besides being cute and fun)?  A Phineas and Ferb Pez candy dispenser attached to her camera which she would randomly open up and disperse among the restless natives.

Here are a few she has finished editing and posted on her FB page for those of you non-facebooker's to see (grandma's and grandpa's and a few uncles and aunts).

Ewwwww.....their kissing.  Get away as fast as you can.

See...told you they were cute. 

Can't wait until she is ALL done and we have 30 FABULOUS edited family photos.


 

Better late than never...

Yeah...we did have Christmas at our house this year.  You would think we didn't...because I haven't blogged about it yet...but, yeah....we did.

Here's the proof.

But first....our visit to see the reindeer.

BTW, did you know Santa's reindeer like raisins?  I had no idea.  

G-McBabe informed me before we left...so we brought 

some along and...sure enough....

I'll have to remember that for next years "reindeer food".

Now for the main event...

  
Christmas Eve Photo's

(my parents used to make us take these on Christmas morning...

pure torture if you ask me.)

"Hey...what are you guys smiling at?"

"Come on [Mr. Golden Locks]...smile!"

Pretty typical going ons at our house.

"Okay....FINE.  I'll do the monkey face."

Christmas Morning

Notice how tired they are?...yeah...cuz it's 6:30AM

G-Mcbabe came into our room twice in the middle of the night.  "Is it time yet?" he would ask.  "NO!....go back to bed!!!!!!" 

Oogling over Pokemon cards...

and...my "supers" in their "CTR guy" capes

(that I spent hours and HOURS and lot of

in-the-head swear words on)

yeah...that's the best on I got.  Don't they look ecstatic?

(and they've barely worn them since....sniff, sniff)

I didn't take many pictures.  But...lucky for me the kids got a camera of their own and took plenty (mostly Little Red....over 250.)

Mr. Golden Locks "playing" with the angry birds

Little Red's feet...Mr. GL's new baby doll. A baby doll?  Yeah...what of it?

our breakfast...SO YUMMY!

Our new game....angry birds

Mini Rob's new "Batman" (Super Hero Squad) movie

We played it pretty low key this year.  We forgo-ed our annual "invite a few neighbors/friends over for Christmas Eve soup night" and ate pizza instead---just the 6 of us.  We stayed home all Christmas day (besides the 1.5 hours spent at church services) and made Christmas dinner all on our lonesome--just the 6 of us and then Skype-d with our Utah family that evening. 

Was I sad?  Lonesome?  Not really.  Not as much as I thought I would be.  In fact, it was quiet and relaxing and just plain nice.  We left for Spokane the next day to spend time with our Washington family (and friends) and that was really nice too. 

I'm kinda sad it's over.  :( 

However...there is ONE thing I am not sad about.  Saying "goodbye" to "Homer Clause" for one more year. 

 (although I can't complain too much this year...Roberto took him to work and left him there for the "season".  I only had to endure him for one day.  The kids were bummed but I was VERY happy.)

Just one easy click!

I've been playin'...

Okay...so I have been a bit busy playin' around with my new found hobby (as in, I was in my flannel jammies until after 4:00PM yesterday. Whoops!) 

I'm quite enjoying myself (although I did tell Roberto LATE last night that, "I don't need a new hobby. I can't keep up with the ones I have." True story.)  But...sigh...it's too late.  I'm hooked.  (I got several Christmas gifts brewing up top.) 

All I need to do now is to exert a little restraint. 

I've been rehearsing some self-given commands..."MELANIE, STOP!"...."TAKE A SHOWER"..."FEED THE CRYING CHILDREN"..."USE THE BATHROOM", etc.  You know...just the basics. 

Sigh....

I'll get a handle on it.

So, for now, let's just forget about my compulsive behavior and self reprimands for a minute....

Look-y what I made.

(Remember...I'm a total novice at this. That's how easy MMS software is.)

Background paper is from North Pole Express Pack
embellishments were included in the My Memories Suite v3 software (Holiday Snows)

All page elements from kit Comfort and Joy, designed by Jenn of Dancing Princess Designs.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS KIT!

Aren't my kiddos so cute (and crazy)?

If you are interested in this digital scrapbook software, first, check out my GIVEAWAY (ends December 10, 2011) or visit you can visit MyMemories.com and check the software out HERE.  Use the code STMMMS10850 at checkout, giving you a $10 discount (making it ONLY $29.97).  Plus the software itself comes with a $10 coupon to use at the MyMemories.com store.  That's like a $20 savings.  Awesome, yes?

"Thriller Flash Mob" Zombies and my little crew, too.

I'm still "geeken'" over how much fun I had last night.  These ladies ROCK!  If you haven't seen our "Thriller Flash Mob" video yet, be sure and check it out HERE.

"Thriller Flash Mob" Ladies

L to R: Amy, Jauna, Brandaige, Melanie L., Melanie G. (me), Jeanne

"Unleashing the inner Zombie"

Amy, Jauna, Brandaige, Melanie L., Melanie G. (me), Jeanne

Me and my follow dress-er up-ers

G McBabe (ninja), Little Rob (Sulley-from Monsters Inc), Mr. Golden Locks (froggy), Me (El Zombie), Little Red (Darth Vader)

Where's Roberto?  Being a party pooper.

He told the kids he dressed up as "a dad with four boys".

Clever Rob...real clever.

Happy Halloween!

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