Taken for a Ride

Santa House 2012

Merry Christmas!  Since you've been fretting, your card is not lost in the mail. I didn't send one this year.  I feel bad about this every day when I open my mailbox full of cute families immortalized on cardstock.  Oh well.

We did make it to see Santa.  This is what a one year old looks like when you make him wait outside for an hour and half, to see a man with a big white beard, 2 hours past his bedtime.

Thanks aunt Alison for the reindeer sweater!  Fisher's worn it every day this week. . .literally.  It makes me feel better when at least one of the two of us looks like we got dressed in the morning.

Thrilled. . .

Critter Barn

The "Critter Barn" was all fun and games. . .

Who knew there were so many kinds of bunnies?

Until the ducks came after Fisher . . .

I think he set a world record in the one year old sprint.

Run Fishy, Run!

You can never be too careful at a Critter Barn . . . that's for sure.

Our county has many working farms. . .I really do live in the country

Christmas Fail

Just when you think you nailed Christmas. . .

Your Christmas tree falls over. . .

sadly this is after I tried to pick it up and put it up straight . . .again

Your snowmen cupcake toppers look like The Joker . . .

super scary

Your Gingerbread house was condemned. . .

Sometimes I really put the "plain" in Jane

And the Santa House is closed . . . Again.

That's right Fisher you have to wear your dweeby Santa outfit one more time. . . Third times the charm!

Christmas Tree Tips

There are many rules to decorating a Christmas tree.

1.) The more lights the better

2.) Weave said lights in and out of the tree, wrapping branches individually from trunk to branch tip. Yes you need lots of lights.

3.) Small ornaments on top, big ones on bottom

4.) Interesting and or sentimental ornaments should be showcased in prominent spots (Obvi)

5.) Big glass balls are great for adding shine and look
particularly pleasant in the middle of the tree towards trunk

6.) Themes aren't necessary but a few of the same ornament spread throughout the tree will add visual consistency

7.) Red draws the eye first- distribute red ornaments throughout workable surface evenly

8.) A little bit of fantastical whimsy is always a good thing.

9.) Hide the best presents in the tree to open last. As an added bonus when you take the tree down in January you will have a surprise present or check to open that was forgotten.

10.) Don't listen to anything I say. This is our tree. Ugliest tree ever. One year olds are Christmas Tree game changers.

I pretty much hate this tree . . . everything about it

Holidazzle

We kicked off the holiday season a with the Grand Haven Jingle Bell parade with the Schaals.

It wasn't clear who had more fun the adults or the kids? And it had nothing to do with our coffee tumblers full of wine.

Double Fisting

Leave it to Julianne to teach Fisher how to double fist. She may have taught me too.