Here are the cards we did for the kids’ Valentines. They had their school party on Friday…not sure why they did it early…but eh…We had a fun Friday afternoon out of it. =)

We punched holes and inserted suckers in their hands.

I’m SO proud of Nicholas and is progress as a KINDERGATERNER!  WOW…how they do grow.  He’s in the private kindy this year and will start public school in the fall as a kindergartener, but he’s already getting ready for it!

Claire is growing up way too fast.  My little girl is talking up a storm and her vocabulary is boundless.  Awww…..I kinda miss the days of quiet snuggling. *sigh*

Mike is also doing wonderful and I just KNOW that 2012 is going to be a great year for him and his research.

2011 has been such a busy year for me, but I’m happy with where my photography is going and the progress I’ve made.  I’ve exceeded my goals for this year of my business plan and 2012 is looking just as fantastic!  I really have the BEST clients and the BEST photographer support group.  I’ve come to terms with my day job and I’m actually looking forward to finishing up my current project next year!  I would post a list of my NY resolutions, but eh…they look awfully similar to last year’s =/

Looking at the many many many photos I’ve taken this year, it’s IMPOSSIBLE to pick one or two favorites.  INCONCEIVABLE!  Of course, I LOVE my 25 days of Christmas photos…but here are a few from the rest of the year that I just LOVE.  I have a few more faves of Nicholas, but I can’t find them right now…must be on my other EHD

Flick: Are you kidding? Stick my tongue to that stupid pole? That’s dumb!
Schwartz: That’s ’cause you know it’ll stick!
Flick: You’re full of it!
Schwartz: Oh yeah?
Flick: Yeah!
Schwartz: Well I double-DOG-dare ya!
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] NOW it was serious. A double-dog-dare. What else was there but a “triple dare you”? And then, the coup de grace of all dares, the sinister triple-dog-dare.
Schwartz: I TRIPLE-dog-dare ya!
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Schwartz created a slight breach of etiquette by skipping the triple dare and going right for the throat!

Miss Shields: Now I know that some of you put Flick up to this, but he has refused to say who. But those who did it know their blame, and I’m sure that the guilt you feel is far worse than any punishment you might receive. Now, don’t you feel terrible? Don’t you feel remorse for what you have done? Well, that’s all I’m going to say about poor Flick.
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Adults loved to say things like that but kids knew better. We knew darn well it was always better not to get caught.

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Head Elf: COME ON, KID!
[pulls Ralphie]
Head Elf: COME ON!
Santa Claus: HO! HO HO!
[spins Ralphie around]
Santa Claus: HOOOO… HOOO… HOO… And what’s your name little boy?
Male Elf: Hey, kid! HURRY UP! THE STORE’S CLOSING!
Head Elf: Listen little boy, we have A LOT of people waiting here, so GET GOING!

[Ralphie is visiting Santa at the department store, only he can't remember what he wanted]
Santa Claus: How about a nice football?
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Football? Football? What’s a football? With unconscious will my voice squeaked out ‘football’.
Santa Claus: Okay, get him out of here.
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] A football? Oh no, what was I doing? Wake up, Stupid! Wake up!
Ralphie: [Ralphie is shoved down the slide, but he stops himself and climbs back up] No! No! I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!
Santa Claus: You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.

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Narrator: Aunt Clara had for years labored under the delusion that I was not only perpetually 4 years old, but also a girl.

Mr. Parker: He looks like a deranged Easter Bunny.
Mother: He does not!
Mr. Parker: He does too, he looks like a pink nightmare!

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Ralphie as Adult: [narrating about diving with his brother into the gifts under the Christmas tree] We plunged into the cornucopia quivering with desire and the ecstasy of unbridled avarice.
Mr. Parker: Didn’t I get a tie this year?

Ralphie as Adult: Oh my god, I shot my eye out!

well…yesterday anyways…today it’s bright and sunny! At least we’ll have a white Christmas.

We went over to JoAnna’s to make gingerbread houses and sugar cookie cutouts

However….the gingerbread houses turned into an epic FAIL!!!

Damn you pinterest…this is not the first time you’ve duped me! Ok…I can’t completely blame pinterest, as I just wasn’t thinking and should have noticed a major flaw in the template design. The site we used linked us to download the template from Martha Stewart and like an idiot, I just cute them out and didn’t pay attention to the fact that something was missing. On Matha’s actual site, which I should have gone to in the first place, it clearly says “Use the templates to make the house and chimney pieces, as directed. Cut out two 6 1/2-by-7 1/2-inch pieces of dough for the roof.” oops….Oh well…another day.

Note to self….next time, BUY THE KIT!