Friday, December 30, 2011

Caught red handed.

Or chocolate faced as it may be.

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"What? What chocolate?"

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"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Saturday, December 24, 2011

From Us to You.

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Wishing you the merriest of holidays!

Friday, December 23, 2011

Anticipation.

The lead up and anticipation of this most-special-of-all-holidays has been wonderful this year. Parties, gathering, more parties, more gatherings, annual gift exchanges, traditions continued...all the things that make this holiday so very dear to my heart.

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Christmas program



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Girls weekend 1



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TAS 1

But the anticipation is over. The Christmas celebration has officially begun.
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Merry Merry everything.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Santa.

I am a believer.
I've always been a believer.
One of those who believed in Santa way past the time when most kids had figured out it was really just mom and dad.


I distinctly remember a time in the 3rd grade when my best friend insisted that she knew it was her parents because she had found the packaging to the Barbie doll house that Santa brought her in, of all places, her basement.
I of course had a logical explanation to that:

well, Santa just didn't have time to set it up, and left everything in the packaging for her parents to help set up (I realized he had a LOT of houses to get to!) Simple as that.
I eventually did grow up, and through reading a very special book...accepted the fact that Santa had many helpers...aka parents.
Knowing that the wonder, the excitement, the awe and the belief are all coming for Charlotte brings me such happiness.

I will do whatever it takes to keep her belief in him alive as long as possible.

However...next year we might just take a baby step and work on liking him.

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The red cup.

For Christmas we got Charlotte's teachers each a Starbucks gift card and wrapped them in the iconic red cup. Who doesn't love a little warm treat? IMG_2061


Only problem was we didn't have something convenient to carry them in.


No worries, problem solved!


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A little dig through the recycle bin can solve that.

Just stick them in the leftover six pack of beer case.


Handy, green and now representing all of our favorite vices.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Notice anything different?

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It's me.
Minus my appendix.


Yep...certainly not on my list of holiday plans, but after a night of horrible stomach pains, I went in to the doctor on Wednesday to learn that I would in fact be heading into surgery that afternoon. Bye bye appendix.
The one up side to spending the night at Swedish hospital?

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Another chance at their chocolate milkshakes! Yes please!

I'm taking this time to rest up, watch some Hallmark holiday movies on the iPad in bed and address our Christmas cards...I suppose there could have been worse times to get my appendix out!
Thank you to everyone for your sweet thoughts, calls and texts. And especially thank you to my girl Michelle for coming to hang with Charlotte while I was still in surgery, to Paul for hanging with her this afternoon when I really needed a nap...and to my wonderful husband for taking such good care of me and loving me so perfectly.
I love you.


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Monday, December 12, 2011

My itsy bitsy baby.

Is not so itsy bitsy.
She had her first Christmas program tonight. A Christmas concert! My girl! I actually got a little choked up as we pulled into the school parking lot.


With Martina McBride singing "Oh Holy Night" on the radio, the trees for sale in the parking lot lit by the big old school holiday lights, and the parking lot packed with parents coming to see their kiddos perform...I was momentarily overwhelmed.


How lucky I am that I get to be a mama...and go to such darling events as these.


Untitled from Courtney Juhl on Vimeo.


My love of all things Christmas just went to a whole new level.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The tradition continues.

Bake Off 2011.
I made my come-back appearance after a few years off (the weekend falls the same weekend as "The Messiah" concert that I used to perform in)...and I'm so glad I returned.

Guidelines for the weekend:
Remain in Christmas pj's all weekend. Only exceptions are for swimsuits for the hot tub.

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Make and consume many different Christmas treats.

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Go on a walk to try and walk off a few bites of said treats.

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Work on Christmas crafts, while Christmas music and Christmas movies play continually in the background.

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Dream up our "Million Dollar Idea"

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Play games, continue to eat some more, drink some more...

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And laugh non-stop all weekend with girlfriends.

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Bake Off, you make this Christmas loving girl so very happy.

Any my girls? You are the best.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Bookworm.

Somebody is a big fan of books in this house.

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Happy girl

This is our typical morning routine...very first thing when I come in to get her in the morning, she reaches and asks for a book- usually this one, "There Were Ten in the Bed" (she's quite particular about her first book of the day)...and then we can proceed with with the wet diaper.

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Reading with daddy...

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Reading with friends...

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Last year we bought her one of those recordable books for "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and had different family members each read a page. Without fail, every time we get to Rick/Poppie's page, she squeals with delight at his animated voice. We can't wait to show him how happy she gets!

Now if we could just get her to stop eating all the books at school. Hmmmmm....

Thursday, December 1, 2011

It's heeeeeeere......

December.
And Christmas.

Christmas


I've been waiting all year for you sweet season.
And I'm bringing my A Game this year. Just you wait...