miscellany monday | christmas wishes come true

 

every year we tell ourselves it is going to be a small and simple christmas and every year we totally outdo the year before. eventually we will have nothing left to give our children. they definitely got all that they wished for and more this year.

wish #1

the kids seriously had an electronic wish list a mile long that included cell phones, video cameras, ipods, netbooks, dsi XLs, and an xbox 360 kinect. between us, santa, and family, our kids' wishes were fulfilled.  which ones?  ummm...let's just say my kids were spoiled brats this christmas!

me?  all of my wishes came true simply by seeing the smiles on my kids' faces. 

my christmas this year was also filled with a huge variety of goodies, including several beautiful pieces from one of my favorite companies longaberger. they have totally moved on to making more than just fabulous baskets.

wish #2

as if electronics weren't enough, i guess my children felt that adding a new member to our family would just send christmas into the record books at our house.  no bigger than a golf ball, mistletoe the hampster is now an official member of our family.

she really is cute.

as long as she stays in her cage.

yes SHE.  i have no idea how they check that one!

wish #3

i was unsuccessful at capturing anything with my camera on christmas day since my mom took the initiative of nominating me as santa's little elf to help pass out gifts.  lucky me!  every chance i got to pick up my camera, another round of gifts was thrown into my lap to pass out.

so therefor, when our christmas wish for snow was granted by our dear sweet mother nature, i certainly made no efforts to be the one to hold elijah as he screamed in the snow.

the kids had a blast, i took lots of photos.  guess you know what that means?  lots of photos this week of our christmas snow. i make no apologies because this doesn't happen often.

hope you all had a very merry christmas too!

p.s.

i'll be over at the paper mama as a guest judge for this week's photo challenge. this week's theme is family so be sure to head over and share your best family photo. 

caution: this giveaway is HOT!

photo: property of the paper mama

little ruari, the paper mama's oh-so-cute daughter, is turning one and to celebrate her upcoming birthday, chelsey is having an awesome giveaway.

this is awesome people....awesome i tell ya!

photo: property of ashley sisk

right now, if you hop over to the paper mama blog you could win this ashley sisk print.  ashley is an amazing photographer and i enjoy seeing her beautiful work each day on her blog ramblings and photos.

i actually contacted ashley a little over a month ago with interest in purchasing this exact print for mackenzie since she is texas pete's #1 fan.

no seriously, she is!  she makes us carry a little bottle around with us just in case!

unfortunately, i had to put off getting the print when our dishwasher took it's last breath and our honda minivan decided it needed new tires.

i would love to win this print over at the paper mama.

and you can head over to the paper mama and try to win it too. but you don't have to. in fact, i think they are having a really great sale over at THIS website. you should go there instead. :)