Gearing up for the Holidays

Last month, in preparation for sending out Christmas cards, we went to have family pictures taken. It was also to be Josie's first professional picture session. We were just going to the department store in the mall, but it worked out well last time.

Yeah, I wasn't thinking about it being time for the holiday pictures for everyone else. We had to wait an extra half an hour for our appointment, which I scheduled right before lunch time. So we had to wait in an over crowded area with a hungry toddler and tired infant. Chris finally just started walking Xander around. And poor Josie was so under dressed compared to the other girls in their Christmas dresses.

When we finally did get in for our pictures, it was very rushed. Not rude, just jumping from shot to shot, little help with positioning or making sure clothes were in order.

Then we had to wait to see the pictures. Chris just took Xander to the food court for lunch and I was in charge of picking out which poses to use. Let me tell you, it wasn't a hard choice because there weren't many good ones to use. And I'm not going to carry on about how there were only 3 pictures of Josie, of which only one was usable. Because I was ticked and made an appointment at another place to remedy that problem.

Here's one of the poses I ordered for Christmas cards because it's just funny.


Xander: "Are we done yet? Can I put her down now?"
Josie: "Falling....falling...."

Other than pictures, gearing up for Christmas has been going well. Xander is still afraid of Santa Claus but will yell his name with wild abandon. He's tried to open one of his presents but they have been sitting there for over a week. He helped his dad decorate the tree and was especially excited by the soccer ball ornament ("za ball!").

I'm having a hard time with presents. I want to get Xander everything, he loves balls, Toy Story, Curious George and Elmo so it's hard to control myself around all of the pajamas and assorted themed toys. Josie doesn't really need anything except maybe a cute lamp in her room. So I keep finding myself in the stores putting down Xander gifts and growing frustrated with the lack of girl's room lamp choices. Really, I don't want to go on a princess tangent already.

Um, and in case you've noticed the lack of posts, it's Xander's fault. He won't take naps and won't let me be on the computer. And now I hear him doing something in his room. Time to check on how much he's destroyed.