Christmas... with a throwback to June!

The tree is decorated.

The presents are wrapped.  (Not sitting under the tree, of course.  We live in fear of the Husky peeing on them down there, so they are wrapped and sitting on an ottoman.  Makes sense, right?)

The kids are on vacation.  (Which means I'm on break, too!)

And the Christmas cards are in the mail.  The fun part about the card is coming up with just the right pictures to include.  Because as we parents all know, you have to make sure there are an even number of pictures of each kid, or there will be hell to pay.  Just as I had suspected, the first time each child saw our card they started counting.  Noelle felt a little cheated because one picture barely shows her.

I guess she's right.  Clearly we don't love her.

Never mind the preciousness of the un-staged photo.  *sigh*

I also wanted to show my wedding dress off because....well isn't it obvious?  I was the bride and I loved my dress!  Plus I love this shot of Charlie.

And if there's one full shot of Charlie, there has to be one of Noelle, right??

Not that I minded.  Isn't she lovely?

Now we're just kicking back and finishing all the final details that go into hosting Christmas at our house this year.  On the agenda for Christmas eve we have cookie making, dinner cooking, chocolate fondue fountain flowing and a relaxing end of the day with "It's a Wonderful Life" on the television.  If we can cram it all in, I'll be impressed.

What's that?  You'd like to see another wedding picture?  Well okay, if you insist!

Yes, I am tall.  And I might have picked the perfect combination of tall and uncomfortable in my wedding shoes.  They lasted until about 20 minutes after the ceremony.  Then I was barefoot and perfectly happy about it!

I loved having my girl as my maid of honor.  She was the perfect choice.


This next fantastic pic is our reactions right after Charlie said, "Russ...there are only two words you need to know to be happy in this marriage.  Yes, and Dear."

And so it goes.  We're attempting the living happily ever after scenario.  What the fairy tales never mention is how that ever after is chock full of life and craziness and drama and homework and a husky that pees on your Christmas tree and...you name it.  But that's life, right?  The best part is that the happily is there... and I can't ask for more than that.