Christmas!

I lovelovelovelove Christmas. It is my favorite holiday. J knows this and he does everything he can to make me happy.

We get a real Christmas tree. Which is always crooked. I actually like it better crooked.

J refuses to give up and thinks it's not crooked this year. But it is.

When it was time to decorate the tree, J put on Christmas carols and made me hot cocoa.

Fancy hot cocoa with cinnamon, whipped cream, and grated chocolate. He made two cups, but knocked one over with his pinky. He grabbed for it and it probably would have been fine, but then I grabbed for it and just knocked it completely over. And the entire thing spilled all over the counter and floor.

Here's to hoping that's not a new tradition.

I was texting my sister, waiting for the lights to be done, when J found me, grabbed my hand, and started dancing to Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You. This guy melts my heart.

He knew I wanted a photo of my babies (the cat refused to be included) but the littlest was too hyped up to sit still, so he sat with them. And tilted his head so you catch the full effect of that heartbreaker dimple.

My Mom has had these reindeer since I was little and I love them.

We also had a Christmas tree like this but I don't know where it is now. I freaked out when I saw it at As You Wish last year, so J painted it for me.

I love this time of year.

Thanksgiving

J's family was out of town, so we didn't have to split time. We hung out with my family.

Breezy is his second favorite Auntie. She was comforting him after he fell down.

Kristi is his number one favorite. 

Two siblings are missing from this picture. 

The older nephew is helping his cousin clean the grass off his hands. It's funny, because when the older one was that age, he didn't like his hands to be dirty either.

It's just not Thanksgiving without dogs staring at me.

My youngest sister Breezy curled my hair for me, which I very much appreciate. Our sister Danielle was hanging out in the bathroom chatting. Danielle recently had surgery and will be having chemo treatments soon.

My phone lit up with a Happy Thanksgiving text from our sister Megan who lives in Texas. Danielle informed me, in a very braggy way, that she had received that message a minute earlier. I texted Megan asking why Danielle was texted before me. Megan said not to read anything into it; she was just texting people randomly. I texted back (and made sure Danielle could see) and told Megan it was ok, I know she loves me more, and that we shouldn't say anything to Danielle since she'd been having a hard time. Then my Mom walked in and gave Danielle a special lip gloss, just because.

I pretended to be upset that Danielle was getting all the love. She smirked and told me that maybe I should get cancer.

Dog Sweater

I was doing pretty well reducing my chocolate intake.

Seriously, it's an addiction. Your brain lights up just like you're on drugs.

But then we had some stuff happen. Family stuff.

I fell off the wagon and my chocolate intake is way high.

So here is something that cheers me up.

My littlest has started shivering. People who live in areas with snow probably aren't fazed with 57 degree weather, but when you consider it was over a hundred degrees a few weeks ago....it's friggin freezing.

I crocheted my baby a sweater.

Look at those little dancing feet! She will dance for a treat and it cracks me up.

I had leftover yarn from crocheting my friend Preeti a baby blanket.

I also made Preeti a little bear hat. Hope I get a photo of that little baby wearing it.

Quinn's Baby Photos

I asked Katelyn if anyone was taking her baby's newborn photos.

Nope.

I have a friend who spent $1000 on photos.

And the photos look AMAZING.

But that's kind of a crapton of moolah.

So I offered to do it.

Because I'm the best friend ever.

I also crocheted that mermaid tail. I have mentioned before that I am mad about mermaids.

We made this moon bed for Jett's photo shoot (found here).

This one is my favorite. Bella the dog is like...that is the weirdest looking puppy I have ever seen.

Also, yes that is a chip clip holding up my background. J was rather indignant because he thinks I've been stealing his clips but those are my special photography-only chip clips. Very professional.

Leaning Tree

Halloween morning J's Dad came over with his chain saw and cut down the mesquite in our front yard. We had a big rain a few months back and it has started leaning. It's seriously a problem. You can see how it's blocking the walkway.

J wants to plant a new tree right there but I really like how it opens things up. We'll see.

Wedding Anniversary and Birthday

This year was our nine year wedding anniversary and my birthday was a few days after that.

I am in the middle of non-stop potty training a three pound dog, so I feel like my life revolves around that right now.

Joseph made sure I had a wonderful anniversary.

He got us a hotel room and put my favorite chocolates on the bed.

Our anniversary always falls on Arizona Restaurant Week, which is just amazing timing. This year we went to Chelsea's Kitchen.

I just realized I have no photos of our desserts. I probably dug right in as soon as they were put on the table.

My birthday was wonderful. For Sunday night family dinner, my Mom made me a cookie cake. And one for my sister Danielle, whose birthday is four days after mine.

My Mom, who knows I loooooove frosting, had saved some in a bag and told me I could add decorations. I wrote "my fav" on there with extra frosting and told my sister that Mom wrote it. My sister crossed it out and wrote "my love" on hers, which I then crossed out.

My sister Stephanie drew me a beautiful mermaid card. It says "Never forget to be yourself" and on the inside it says, "Unless you can be a mermaid. Then be a mermaid." Love it.

Joseph made me a delicious dinner and then cleaned up all the dishes.

This was my Mom's "wrapping" job on my present. It cracks me up.

I really love my coworkers. Jen took me out and treated me to lunch Monday.

Tuesday was my actual birthday, so I took the day off and my Mom treated me. My Mom is so funny, she posted on FB where and when we were going, and then said (in jest, I'm sure) that anyone who wanted to show up was invited.

Well I am so glad Katelyn and Brian took her at her word.

I didn't get a photo with anyone else, we ended up just having a good time talking and laughing, but my Mom and Dad were there along with sister Danielle, her son Jett, brother Mike, and of course Joseph. It was a fun lunch.

Wednesday my team took me out. We went to Ah-So. And sweet Asmahan picked up my tab. I felt so bad, because it was a little pricey. And I remember trying to pick up the tab (for her cheap sandwich!) for her birthday this year but she had a coupon and all I bought were her chips.

They told the server it was my birthday and I got a delicious dessert.

Then Thursday Laura took me out to lunch. Friday was a department celebration because we reached out goal for donating to United Way (they do it every year) so there was a delicious lunch provided. Fabulous way to end the week.

J got me some wonderful, thoughtful birthday gifts (to include an air compressor - I can finally use my nail guns!!!). One of my gifts was going to see the Iron Giant in theaters. It is such a cute movie, I really like it. They did a remastering (whatever that means) and had two new scenes. My brother Mike met up with us and it was a good night.

I don't mind getting older. I wonder if there will be a point when I do.

Next year is my ten year wedding anniversary, and my parents' 40 year wedding anniversary is right behind. We will be on a beach vacation. Oh yes.