triplesee

December Nineteenth

My sister is flying to meet the parents.

Of a boy.

She wanted to impress.

Hence, we made earrings and pretty packaging.

I love to make things pretty...

I hope they like the wrapping.

And the earrings.

__________________________

It has been a long time tradition of mine to stay up most of the night Chirstmas Eve making every single package beautiful.

My mom even had me wrap many of my siblings presents.

The handsome hubby HATED this tradition the first year we were married. (He waits up for me.) And begged me the next year not worry about making stuff for him pretty.

I gave in.

Kinda.

I only stayed up until 2:30.

He still wasn't satisfied.

 

Out of respect for him have since cut back on the pretty OR prepped ahead of time. But I still love wrapping presents.

This particular night learned I'm not as tough as I used to be. I can't stay up until 2am and keep up with a 14 month old the next day.

December Eighteenth

My favorite thing about living in Utah.

Not every little girl get to play with her great grandparents.

and their really cool toys.

December Seventeenth

Saturdays are sacred around here. Daddy is home.

We spent the morning cleaning. (read: Justin cleaned while Evie and I played.)

 

Then we talked Daddy into taking us out to lunch.

Then we tried to finish Christmas shopping for the Munchkin.

On a Saturday.

At Toys-R-Us.

A week before Christmas.

Justin only said once... "I can think of 364 other days better to shop."

Justin is one of the most unselfish people I know.

He trys to make me happy every. single. day.

He succeeds.

Power to the peaceful. So him.

December Sixteenth

One of my favorite days of December yet...

All about food.

And friends.

 

We started off at my mom's ladies luncheon.

I made jalapeno poppers (recipe found via Pinterest... but i can seem to find it now.)

Which Evie seemed to enjoy.

She was the only one. Not sure what I was thinking bring something with bacon and cream cheese to a party with a bunch of gym buddies.

I also made a pear and persimmon tart thingy. No recipe for this thing either... I made it up.

My mom hates when I say that...

Not sure why... She never follows the recipes I give her... Mom always half's the sugar and anything else yummy.

 

Two of these crazy experiments where made. The second was taken to the Weston's for their family dinner along with Miso beans and corn and a berry salad.  Not sure how we got so lucky to be invited... but I'm not complaining.

Evie also loves these peeps. (Not just because of the adorable presents.)

She loves them for their dog and their boys and their food and their openness and their loudness and their thoughtfulness and their everything.

These peeps are my peeps.

 

I don't really know how else to describe my adoration for the Weston's. The whole fam-dam-ily.

I keep trying to descirbe them.

I keep deleting it.

So. Simply. They are my peeps. And my mentors.

 

Thanks Weston crew.

 

 

 

December Fifteenth

The day was spent returning. Which means it was a lot of this...

Not sitting down in the stroller like mom wants me to...

Making mom even more nervous by trying to rock the stroller.

Telling mom she's silly to worry. Loudly.

Ending with instruction for mom to lay off. (This involves a bit of finger shaking at mom. Gotta teach that women.)

 

After shopping/returning 'til we dropped, we headed to a church activity just for the women.

Mom was all about talking to female adults.

And they provided babysitting.

AND sweet treats.

 

Mom only let me have one chocolate covered peppermint sprinkled oreo.

I'm not allowed to tell you how many she had... but it was more than one.

Decemeber Fourteenth

At the end of the day.

Still wearing the pj's we got out of bed in.

That's a good day.

December Thirteenth

Am I the only one who doesn't know how to spell numbers?

Yea?

Oh well.

____________________

 

We had the opportunity to do some last minute family pictures at FotoFly (hence the last minute marathon shopping the day earlier.)

Please excuse the number of photos... I haven't ever had a family photo shot and I love to many.

My favorite.

Not bad for studio family pictures. (Still hoping to get a "real life" session in with Collin soon, but couldn't pass this gig up.)

Thanks Justin for putting up with everything.

December Twelfth

Only one photo the whole day...

Yea. It's a sexy one.

We were ready for bed. It was a crazy day of giving two cute boys back to their mama; followed by marathon shopping.

December Eleventh

Sunday morning we woke up to emails from Santa. (From PNP -worth checking out)

Jack was the only one who really got excited.

I love this fuzzy picture I captured of Jack when Santa said he was delivering presents to Jack's house in Utah.

Genevieve was bored.

And wondering when she could leave.

Ian just likes being where ever Justin is...

But Jack. 

He made the effort ALL worth it...

Watched his video email four times. Noticing something new each time.

 

And yes.

They all made the nice list. (Jack wasn't convinced Ian and Evie would...)

 

The normal sunday stuff filled the rest of the day until it was time for this cute girl to turn FIVE.

I was dating Justin, but went to the hospital when she was born...She was and still is beautiful.

Her cake, like her, is all girl.

I realized suddenly no one had my munchkin... and went searching...

Found her in the playroom. Happy as a clam.

Although my little one LOVES being with other peeps, she is incredibly independent. If we aren't doing something Evie is interested- peace out- I'll find something fun.

Love this Munch.

December Tenth

This is my happy place.

Three little ones eating yummy food made by the breakfast king.

_________________________

 

I promised my youngest sister to make her a fun boutonniere for the girls choice dance that night...

This of course requires a mess...I love a good mess.  AND I was happy with the results. Good day!

This one ended up the a dark green (matching her dress) ribbon hiding the floral tape, then pinned on a handsome young chap.

This one ended up pinned into a beautiful curly do.

 

While I was busy creating my camera went MIA for a bit. It came back with some classics:

Yes. These kiddos stayed in PJ's.  Until we left (around 2pm) for the promised trip to Kangaroo Zoo... Yea. I'm a good babysitter. PJ's and play. This ain't my first rodeo.

 

I brought a bag of toys for Genevieve thinking she would be to small.

I was dead wrong.

She loved it.

The boys zoomed to fast to catch any pictures. (Serious playing people. No time for pictures.)

 

After a bit I headed out to get the sister all beautiful. (Hair and make-up. A bit of my cold heart still patters at the opportunity to help someone get all girlie.)

After a bit of food and more play for the boys at Arctic Circle Justin and I met up. We got the boys all dressed up and took them to get pictures with the "real" Santa... A present for their mom and dad.

Of which I totally forgot to keep a copy.

 

While we waited for the photos to be edited we guessed at which reindeer were in front of Santa's tent.

I think the final vote was Dasher and Vixen.

We grabbed some sweets and warmed our bodies,

and my heart with some hot chocolate.