Red and Black

Ready for church the day after Christmas. And we didn't even plan it.

One of the Differences...

...between sons and daughters--


You'll probably never have to say to your boys: "Please don't do ballet on the step stool while dusting."

Happy Camper

If you had just come off of "Nutcracker Weekend," which also happened to be "Move Allyson" weekend and "Stay Up Really Late to Watch a Movie Weekend," and then you spent three hours at church and then got woken up from a nap for family photos...


...you might look like this too! Thanks for the cooperation, Dad! (He really was a good sport. In all the REST of the photos. You might see the finished product before Christmas, if I get on the ball...)

I Won!

My friend Michele had a giveaway on her blog and I won!
The package arrived today and it was filled with all kinds of fun retro Christmas items. I felt like a kid!


The stocking is made from an old table runner she got at a yard sale. She is always collecting vintage and retro items, and I am the luckier for it this time! The ornaments are on the tree and the stocking is on the wall already!

Thank you so much, Michele!

Merry Christmas, Mom!

Two years ago Mom and I tried to go to Disneyland together and it never worked out.


When Amy and Lamoni forgot their tickets when they came to our house on the way to the happiest place on earth we bought them new ones and said "SOMEONE" would use theirs before the expiration date. What a sacrifice. But SOMEONE had to do it.


So Mom and I went. We visited, took our time, and did just what we wanted to do. It was nice to spend time together and enjoy each others' company.


The castle was so beautiful at night...

Three New Posts

I'm blogging out of order again...

Puttin' Up the Lights

Happy Thanksgiving Birthday

Our Beautiful Ballerina

Puttin' Up the Lights

Last year we had no lights on the house. No work, no money, no time. Lack of Christmas spirit, I suppose. I did put 17 strands of lights on our 7 1/2 foot tall Christmas tree, but it didn't quite make up for the dark house every time I come around the corner.

This year we started early. The day after Thanksgiving, Ally, Amy, Maddie, and I put up lights while Lamoni mowed the lawn to get ready for the sidewalk-lining little light-up trees.

Continuing her new tradition of always wearing heels, Ally climbed the ladder to the roof wearing her high-heeled boots.


We made her throw them down so she could climb OFF the roof in them.

The girls wound the lights around the railing and outlined the balcony too. Jeff is still supposed to outline the tall roof, which is why I was waiting to take a picture of the finished product, but I'm thinking it might not happen.

There are few things that make me happier than coming up the street and seeing my house all lit up for Christmas! Happy holidays!