Happy Wordless Wednesday everyone! My first since the holiday break started and I wanted to share a photo I snapped on Christmas Day of KG and her cousin Baby A (not such a baby any more though).  KG and Baby A have a special kind of relationship, one where A leads and KG follows. Both of my girls love Baby A as though she were their sister as well.  I hope that never ends. I love these girls. All three of them.

And Baby A’s mama too, I guess.

For more inspiring photos be sure to check out: Better in Bulk, From Dates to Diapers, Not Your Momblog, The Divine Miss Mommy, Colorado Moms, Rajean Blomquist, BrainFoggles, The Centsible Life, Rachel Ferrucci, Lil Kid Things, Resourceful Mommy and Zensible Mama and don’t forget to link your own photo stories.

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The H family & Poppaw

This photo is happily shared at 5 Mins for Mom and Wordless Wednesday HQ.

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As I’m sitting here soaking in the joy that is Christmas and my first (okay second) cup of coffee this morning I am left to reflect (since Picnik keeps crashing Firefox) on the last year.

2009 brought with it the birth of my first nephew and the loss of another. It’s brought cuts and scrapes, laughter and tears, lessons learned and never forgotten. This year I have met friends whom I am certain will be lifers and people who made me wonder.  I’ve had knock down drag outs with my parents and been there to pick them up when they got knocked down.

2009 brought the celebration of recovery and the shock of reoccurance. This year brought with it the opportunity to see parts of this country I had never seen and parts I hope to never see again.

2009 has brought sorrow and pain at the loss of some of our community’s children as well as hope and joy at the ongoing recovery of a dear friend and sister.  This year brought opportunities I have only dreamed of and the repercussions of those same dreams.

We’ve had fought illness and enjoyed good health, we’ve had to tighten our belts and budgets with the rest of America, and we watched with our daughter as the first black President took office. Now we watch hoping Congress will make the right choice for our children’s future.  We’ve watched our nation sink ever further into massive national debt and watched as people just like us rallied to help those in need.

2009 saw me jump full on into Twilight madness and sink countless hours into Pride and Prejudice.

I’ve laughed till it hurt and cried more than I’d like this year…but I wouldn’t trade a minute of it.   I am unspeakably grateful for all I have seen and done this year, what it has taught me, and who it has made me.

Now as the first waking sounds can be heard from my small people I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year.

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Last Saturday we braved the cold and wicked wind to attend our town’s Christmas lighting festival for a chance to see the jolly man.  Our flyer said nothing of when Santa might appear only that the festival would run from 4-10pm.

We waited until 5:30 to head over as were were hoping to beat the hordes of obnoxious squealing kiddos (a little back story: last year we waited until 8pm to head over and ended up spending a good hour waiting in line in the below freezing temps surrounded by crying cold children to see the big guy only to find that Smalls wouldn’t sit on his lap.)

This year was different, turns out Santa didn’t arrive until 6, so we spent the next 30 minutes trying to occupy the small people.  The upside is we were second in line so no waiting outside this year.

Once the ol’boy arrived and it’s our turn, Smalls hops right on his lap (no hesitation), looks him right in the eye and tells him “I want Orange Baby. You bring me Orange Baby.”  She proceeds to repeat herself about five times never once looking at the photographer who is desperately trying to get her to look over so she can get a good shot of her…but Santa continues to ignore her.  He is focused on getting the picture over with.  Bigs, meanwhile, is ever compliant and is patiently smiling for the camera.

When we finally manage to get Smalls to look at the photographer  She. Is. Pissed.

Here she spent all day talking about telling Santa just what she wanted (and Daddy reminded her to tell him just before getting on his lap) and the guy doesn’t even have the courtesy to look at her.

After the one shot is taken with her looking pissed, she whips her head back around and restarts her barrage of demands. He finally catches on and tells her if she’s a good little girl Santa will bring her Orange Baby, all the while he is looking to me pleadingly because there is an ever growing line of whiny cold kids behind us.

Satisfied with this answer, Smalls hops right off his lap and looks to him expectantly, she must have thought he meant she would get it right then.  I manage to shuttle her off before she can get too irate all the while reassuring her the guy in red would deliver on his promise on Christmas morn.

All the while I am chuckling to myself. Serves him right for ignoring her.

Yep. She’s mine. Total one track mind.

Have you got any funny Santa/Holiday stories to share? If so I would love to hear about them!

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Spooning into this cool, sweet treat is just what is needed to finish off an amazing Thanksgiving/Christmas/Easter meal.  The color of Pink Salad is perfect for Christmas and looks great up against a fat turkey.  It’s super simple to mix up (takes less than 5 minutes) and then you just allow it to set in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it.  You know what that means right?

You can make it the day before and pull it out just before dinner or dessert.  Major time and sanity saver!

Pink Salad Recipe

Ingredients

1 can Cherry Pie Filling
1 can Crushed Pineapple (drained)
1 cup Chopped Pecans
1 small can Eagle Brand Milk (sweetened condensed milk)
1 average size Cool Whip

Directions

Mix together and store in refrigerator.

Yep, that’s it. If you mix this in the pretty bowl you are planning to use for the meal you can also save yourself some time with dishes.

Do you have a favorite holiday side?

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When a friendly cabbie (Danny DeVito) tells two young sisters the story of a boy named Leo who moved to Manhattan with his family, a magical adventure begins. While adjusting to the big city and enjoying the days leading up to Christmas, Leo accidentally loses his dog Ramona in Central Park. Leo is devastated by his loss until a magical creature named Little Spirit appears. Leo and Little Spirit venture out on the journey of a lifetime, taking in the festive surroundings of the city and meeting people from all walks of life.

If you enjoy sweet, heartwarming Christmas movies that will bring tears to your eyes, Little Spirit: Christmas in New York is perfect for you..or a small person you know!

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Do you know someone how has everything? Like your father in law? or that aunt who seems to have too much of everything? Why not provide $325 worth of necessities to an impoverished child in New York City in their name? I hope that this year we are able to touch someone’s life in a positive manner rather than only padding the pockets of credit card companies.

While you’re at it take a few minutes and scan these websites for other great gifts that go along way to helping others.

Worldvision.com

The Hunger Site –With this site, Starting on November 12, 2007, and for a limited time, every completed Hunger Site order will provide eight meals through America’s Second Harvest — at no additional cost to you!

Edited to add: For a limited time only The Hunger Site will feed a family of four with every order placed in The Hunger Site store through the work of America’s Second Harvest-The Nation’s Food Bank Network. Offer Good until Monday, November 19, 2007.

SaveDarfur.org

Just one click here and you can donate 1 cup of food.

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