merry! merry! everyone!

we had such a great christmas

and i hope you did too!

the room,

after the big man in red came.

griff did not disappoint this year.

he kept oooing and ahhing at everything.

it was so sweet.

he even wanted to wear the santa hat

to open his presents.

sam got this ezy roller from santa.

his bum has not left the seat.

definitley a winner.

good call santa.

griff had an elmo-rific christmas.

jammies, slippers, tmx elmo=happy baby.

my view.

we had a great christmas eve and christmas day.

i enjoyed it all,

but by 10:00pm i was ready to take it all down and clean my house.

so i did.

i make no excuses.

it was one of the highlights of my day.

the kids woke up the next morning, looked around and said,

"so i guess christmas is really over huh?"

yep.

until next year.

it beginning to look a lot like christmas....

when it looks like this outside....

then it leaves us no choice!

this was elizas creation...

she said she really needed snow at christmas,

and i couldn't agree more.

we all had the best time cutting out snowflakes,

hanging lights, spreading "snow", and being bossed by eliza,

all to make it feel more chritmasy to her.

snow angels.

she kept looking around saying,

"its exactly how i imagined!"

so from our house to yours,

may you all have the christmas

that you've been imagining

all season long.

merry christmas.

in case you missed it....

which apparently some of you did.....

i'm not sure what happened

but a few people said they didn't get my card!

what?

i mailed these puppies on the 5th!

it didn't scan so well.

the background is light blue polka dots.

ps. i can't wait to show you more of our pictures,

but my computer freaked and messed up my picture files.

i'm not worried about it right now,

its CHRISTMAS!!!

oh griffin, i know exactly how you feel.

a fine day indeed.

prepare for picture overload.

we started off eliza's day with the usual

"first gift of the day"

clothes, of course!

everyone wants new duds on their bday!

then onto the candle in the breakfast.....

then over to chuck e cheese for the friend party.

chuck did not disappoint.

eliza insisted on this party.

it went against all i believe in for a party.

no homemade table decor, no decorations....

clearly griffin was miserable.

traitor.

eliza was in heaven.

it was exactly what she "dreamed of."

she kept mouthing, "thank you" to me the whole time.

the moment that brought us to chuck e cheese.

the ticket blaster.

it was one of the easiest birthday parties ever.

and not as painful as i thought.

they've really classed up the place.

if that is even possible.

then back home for her family party

where she recieved the long awaited

bitty baby.

i was affraid she was too old for a baby doll

but she really wanted it,

she has absolutley loved it.

we packed up her american girl dolls for now

because she "just wants to be a mom for now." (her words.)

happy birthday lu, again.

we adore you.

to my 4th, on her 7th......

dear eliza.

7 today?

seems nearly impossible.

7 years of joy.

happiness.

silliness.

craziness.

you are a light in our lives.

you are our baby girl.

you are my biggest helper.

you are my love.

happy birthday sweetest peach.

love.

mom.

i know i've been a slacker.....

but to make it up to you i give you......

griffin,

in striped christmas pj's.

oh my.

is there anything better.

"what? these old things?" wink.

the grey stripe detail with wood buttons.

be still my beating heart.

they perfectly accentuate the plump.

oh no, i mean the fluff!

the edible fluff at that.

um.

if you want to squeeze him call me.

i'll share.

and yes, these are the moments

that make me complete.

perfectly, happily, chaoticly....complete.

haul out the holly......

i thought i'd share a little bit of my "christmasy" home.

i love how cozy it makes your house feel.

i also love how clean it feels when its down.

i really scaled back this year.

no individual trees in rooms,

no christmas village,

and its been nice just tweaking what i got out.

i hope you are enjoing the season.

it is busy and sometimes hectic,

but so good, isn't it?

i showed you mine,

now you show me yours.

i have made a fatal error....

i lost my christmas card address book!
i do not know what i have done with it.
so, with that being said,
i am hoping you'll email me your address.
carmacks11@msn.com if you have ever
received or want to receive a card from us!
please, please, please!
it will only take a minute!!!

when they say rated "e" for everyone,

they're not kidding!

especially a little bro that worships

the ground you walk on.

"BOYS!"

huh?!

at least they were helpful

while i cleaned the house and put up christmas

on friday.

they really kept griff entertained.

even if it was watching video games.

and a happy thanksgiving/birthday it was!

the table was set,

the food was divine,

the family was perfect.

{the place setting}

everyone had these little cards.

one that said the above,

and one that said,

"i'm thankful for sam because...."

and then we hung them up down the middle of the table.

{the kids table}

{mom with gma and gpa great}

"who's ready to eat?!?!"

sam's cake.

he asked for a chocolate cake

with chocolate frosting.

nailed it!

the birthday boy.

i think he had a great day.

we tried to make it special for him.

tonight i am thankful for....

(in no particular order)

*a dishwasher

* a wonderful family

*a hardworking hubby

*the gospel

*amazing friends

*my health, you know at my age....

*my cozy home

*taking down thanksgiving decor

and putting up christmas tomorrow!

*the fact that 9 years ago,

at this very minute,

our surprise #3 baby boy entered this world

and it has never been the same.

i love you sam.

happy happy birthday.

and a happy thanksgiving to you all.

back in business and on to....

sam's birthday late night science extravaganza!

or something like that.

i gave sam the option of

1. lots of friends=short party

2. few friends=long party

he went for option #2.

we had pizza, treats, did some fun science experiments,

played ball tag, popped balloons, and watched a movie.

(the ball tag and balloon popping was all them)

birthday boy.

his actual day falls on thanksgiving this year!

pie and cake it is!

{our science set up.}

stuff for slime and diet coke bombs.

{sammy getting ready}

he was really into helping set up this year.

let the science commence!

thats josh's saturday "uniform",

i don't want to talk about it.

you would not have believed my floor when this party was over.

i may have cried a little bit.

sam loved all of his presents.

jack was giving him the low down on this set.

the next day, after opening another lego set from

my dad he said,

"well i better call jack, i'm not as good at legos as i thought."

jacks the pro.

please check out his buddy alec singing.

he was really into it.

that kid is a crack up.

all in all a great night.

3 parties down for the year

and 2 to go.

happy 9th birthday sweet sam.