Where Did the Time Go?!

Wow!  I knew it had been a little while since I last blogged, but I didn't realize that it's been three whole weeks!  (It's a little sad when your grandma calls to check on you because you haven't posted anything to your blog or facebook for a while.)  As I mentioned before, I started a new job mid-November.  This new job (teaching at the OSU Child Development Lab-Rise Program) has taken A LOT of my time recently!  Since I started, we have had a parent night and 19 parent teacher conferences (for which I had to complete assessment packets beyond any I've ever done... luckily we team teach and I only had to do packets for half of the kids).  I felt like I was in college again staying up until midnight or later to complete paperwork in preparation for everything.  That being said, I have thoroughly enjoyed being back in the classroom!!!  It's so nice to feel like my life has a purpose again.

OK, OK, enough about that.  Since I haven't posted in so long, I will be posting a few times over the next few days trying to catch up.  First up, we have some Christmas decor pictures.

For the last couple of years, we have put up outdoor lights.  Last year, we bought white LED lights that ended up looking blueish on the house.  This year, we moved last year's lights to the trees and bought multi-colored lights for the house.  I seriously love them!  (Sorry for the not-so-great picture.  I was trying to take it quickly so my neighbors wouldn't think I'm nuts {as if they don't already}.)

Sam finished this nativity scene a few days before Christmas last year.  It was so nice to have it out for the entire holiday season this year. 

After Christmas last year, I made this wreath using $4 worth of ornaments from the clearance aisle.  It might be one of my favorite Christmas decorations!

Another post-Christmas purchase from last year was this nativity set.  I honestly forgot about it until I found it while unpacking the decorations this year.  I think it is a great match with this printable featuring Luke 2: 13-14.

Here is the obligatory tree picture.  Notice there aren't any presents under it... I didn't wrap any presents until Christmas eve eve.  Who am I kidding?  As of Wednesday of last week I had only bought three gifts!  The tree skirt was my Great-Grandma's.

Last, but definitely not least, here is our Christmas card from this year.

Pictures That Didn't Make the Card

Every year, Sam and I (mostly me, Sam just plays along) have his mom take some pictures of us and the dogs while we are visiting for Thanksgiving so that I can use one for our Christmas card (we have to have his mom do it because Sam says he's not paying someone to take pictures of us and our dogs :).  I thought it would be fun to show you some out takes from the last few years.   

2009 ~ We were trying to capture a beautiful sunset.  Too bad Bella didn't appreciate it...

 

Here's the one we settled on.  At least Bella is in the picture...

 2010 ~ Even though Sam felt horrible and had been getting sick off and on all day, he still agreed to come outside and take some pictures with us.  Rufus was obviously very concerned about the approaching horse (yup, we have city dogs).  Bella was just being Bella.

 

 This picture was a Christmas card contender, but we decided to go with another one.

The winner!  I couldn't believe that she actually captured both dogs looking at the camera!

2011 ~ I can't help but laugh when I look at this picture!  If it weren't for the fact that it's a little blurry, it would hands-down be our Christmas card choice.  I like to think that I had just said something witty that made both of us laugh causing the dogs to look at us.  I'm sure that wasn't the case. 

I love this photo!  If you are ever at our house when Bella is feeling comfortable (she gets antsy when people are there), you will see that she loves to lay her head on Sam's lap!  The reality is, in this picture she is actually pouting.

This is why she was pouting... she got in trouble for not wanting to sit close to us.

Seriously, doesn't this look like a newborn pose where all of the family is looking at the baby?  I believe it was taken while we were all watching Bella slowly move closer to us.

And the 2011 Christmas card photo is...

???????????????????????

Did you really think I would show the picture before Christmas cards went out?  (I do have to warn you that I made the cards myself this year, so expect them to look a little homemade.)

Stay tuned!  In a future post, I will be showing you the awesome gift Sam orders me every year!  Hint ~ It involves our Christmas card picture!