CHRISTMAS 2009.

Oh look! CHRISTMAS IN JULY!

i swear i am working really hard to get caught up!

I am REALLY bad about taking Christmas pictures. I tend to get caught up in the excitement and forget to pick up the camera! Therefore, there aren't many pictures of Christmas day. BUT . . . I did spend a lovely evening with the McNamaras before Christmas AND I managed to take a few pictures! We exchanged gifts and then drove around looking at Christmas lights! Such a fun evening with a family that I absolutely adore!

I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN WE STUMBLED UPON THE "DITTO HOUSE"!

I HAD READ ABOUT IT IN THE NEWSPAPER AND WAS TICKLED WE HAPPENED UPON IT! ONE HOUSE IS TOTALLY DECKED OUT IN LIGHTS. UNBELIEVABLY AMAZINGLY SO! THE NEIGHBOR CRAWLED UP ON HIS ROOF AND WROTE "DITTO" IN LIGHTS WITH AN ARROW POINTING TO THE NEIGHBORS HOUSE! VERY CLEVER IDEA! I LOVED IT!

THE HOMEOWNER ALLOWS YOU TO PARK AND WALK THROUGH LOOKING AT HIS LIGHT DISPLAY! WHAT A FANTASTIC DISPLAY OF CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!

ISAAC, MIKE, AMBER AND ANNA

SUCH A PRETTY NIGHT! AND I'M PROUD OF MYSELF FOR TAKING PICTURES--OF A CHRISTMAS FUNCTION! EVEN THOUGH IT WAS WITH MY LITTLE "QUICK DRAW" CAMERA, I'M GLAD I HAVE PICTURES OF A REALLY GREAT NIGHT WITH MY BEST FRIENDS IN THE WORLD!

I DID TAKE A FEW RANDOM PICTURES WHEN I WENT HOME FOR CHRISTMAS . . .

HERE'S MOM'S FINISHED TREE! SHE DECKED OUT AN ASPEN TREE FROM THEIR PROPERTY! AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS ENTIRELY WRAPPED WITH LIGHTS AND THERE ARE A FEW RED BULBS. MAKAYALA AND I HID A PRETTY LITTLE BIRD AMOUNG THE BRANCHES WHEN SHE WASN'T LOOKING! DAD CALLED IT "THE RECESSION TREE."

I HAD TO USE FLASH (WHICH I NORMALLY BELIVE IS EVIL) SO YOU COULD SEE HOW MANY GIFTS WE HAD STUFFED UNDER THAT RECESSION TREE! SANTA WAS GOOD TO US!

ONE MY FAVORITE PARTS OF GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS IS THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A WORKING, ESSENTIAL FIREPLACE WITH A MANTLE! THE STOCKINGS REALLY DO GET HUNG BY THE CHIMNEY WITH CARE! HOW COOL IS THAT?!

JACKSON AND SADIE LIKE THE FIREPLACE TOO! THEY LOVE LAYING BY THE ROARING FIRE!

ESPECIALLY JACKSON! HE HANGS IN THERE LONG AFTER THE OTHER DOGS HAVE GONE OFF TO FIND A COOLER PLACE TO SLEEP. HE LAYS THERE AND MOANS AND SOAKS IT UP! I PUT THE THERMOMETER BY HIM. IT SAYS 93 DEGREES!