Day 305: Christmas Day

We are very aware of the simple blessings around us this season. And grateful.

A piano from Claudia and Layton! (12/25/2011)

We were so lucky that this was Megan's year with us for
Christmas Day. (12/25/2011)

End of a good, long day. (12/25/2011)

Day 302: Portrait Procrastinators

Every year for Christmas, Megan gives her grandmother a portrait of herself. This grandmother has made it clear that it's the only thing she wants. Teenagers, especially thirtween year olds like Megan, can be notoriously difficult to satisfy in terms of whether a photo is good enough.

We tried and failed at portraits in early December and did not try again until December 20. Luckily, we found the perfect place for portrait procrastinators: Picture People. They printed our portraits on matte paper while we waited. And we were lucky enough to have a photographer who did not try to contort my tall, lanky daughter into some weird pretzel pose -- or make her tilt her head and do something cheesy with her hands.

So, yay!

Here are a few from Picture People:


12/21/2011





12/21/2011





Day 296

Nothing like a swim meet to totally deplete the whole family on the last night before Christmas break, during a week of exams. Still, Megan did well -- from what I could watch, at least. Aaron was out of town, so I brought Natalie along. Bad idea. Strong, squirmy babies and crowded natatoria do not mix. It'll be Nat's last meet until she knows how to sit for an hour or more on wooden bleachers.

12/15/2011

Day 295

Nothing like three exams to make the Christmas season more stressful. But by Wednesday evening, that was all behind Megan. She could finally curl up -- I mean, stretch out -- with a book and a kitten (in no particular order).

12/14/2011