...from our house to yours.

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Merry Christmas to you all.  Please remember the reason for the season and let's celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

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I bravely headed where no woman has gone before (with a male coworker).

The post office.

We both had some shipping needs that needed to be taken care of.

I needed to purchase 100 stamps; he had to send his third wedding ring back (he's lost two, and this one was too big).

When I finally got to the counter, the postal worker asked if I wanted to see the "holiday" stamps.  To which I replied "yes."

These were my choice:

I asked if she had anything that was more traditional "Christian."  She responded that "this one" (holding up the one on the left) was "Christian" while giving me the stink eye.

To me, the Virgin Mary holding Baby Jesus is more of a Catholic image.  You won't see an image like that in our church.  (Just to clarify, I have nothing against the Virgin Mary holding Baby Jesus, it just isn't my thing.)

Instead of a nice "Merry Christmas" stamp, or even one with a star or a Christmas tree, I opted for the super-lame, having nothing to do with Christmas pine cone stamps.

Blah to the tenth power.

Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a pine cone.

*images from usps.com

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Saturday was the "Holiday Program" at the girls' school.  We were told to arrive at 9:30 so that the late people would get there before the program started at 10.

Rookie mistake, right?  We are the punctual people. Next year we arrive at 10.

Because this girl?  She wasn't having the whole waiting thing.  We walked laps around the pews.

Isabelle's class had Thanksgiving as their part of the show (they went from Thanksgiving to the Chinese New Year, including Kwanza, Christmas and Hanukkah).  They were pilgrims, stating what they were thankful for, a pilgrim skit and a Thanksgiving poem.

Iz was the narrator for the Thanksgiving skit with most of the lines.  Have I mentioned she's been a little emotional lately?

She was in the middle of the line walking onto the stage area and I spotted her.  She walked out all hunched over and crying.  I thought she wasn't going to recover.  The church was quiet and she said all weepy, "I just want to give my daddy a hug and a kiss" so everybody in the church could hear her.  The teachers let her go.  Mr. Serious stood up and everybody "awwww"ed.  Then, he went up and gave her a hug and a kiss, turned around and everybody applauded, just short of a standing ovation.

Amazingly, she stopped crying, went up and did her part.  I so wish I had that on film!

She was such a proud pilgrim (and mommy takes terrible pictures inside without a flash. I seriously need a class on this…or a fancy lens good for indoor lighting).

And, much to the dismay of some of the parents, we did not pay her to do that.  In fact, quite the opposite, we bribed her to do a good job, say her lines loud, clear and slow and to behave.  And, after the crying, hug and kiss, she did just that.

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It’s time again for Mommy and Me Monday. Pop out from behind that camera and capture yourself in action with your kids.  Check out the inaugural Mommy and Me Monday for more information.

I think this is the first year that we have ever put the tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving.  It just doesn't usually happen. 

Something in church last week motivated me to do it.  The magical special time of Christmas. 

The birth. 

The wonder. 

The joy.

And this weekend, we needed to capture our pathetic cute little Charlie Brown Christmas of a tree with the family.  (Thank goodness for the timer on the camera and the fact that the light blinks giving the girls something at which to look.)

Viola.

Join in this week.  Let's see those beautiful mommas in front of the camera with your little ones.

<center><a href="http://www.reallyareyouserious.com"><img alt="Mommy and Me Monday at Really, Are You Serious?" src="http://www.reallyareyouserious.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Mommy-and-Me-Monday-Button-125.png"></a></center> <center>Hosted by <a href="http://www.reallyareyouserious.com" target="_blank">Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?</a></center>

**There really is only one requirement here, a picture of you and your baby or babies; your children, your “baby” (ie significant other) or even your fur babies.  If your picture doesn’t feature you (meaning you must be in the picture), I will have to delete your link.  It’s not fair to the others that follow the rules.**

Make sure you head over and check out all of the other Mommy and Me Monday posts and leave them some comment love.  It makes me sad to go to posts at the end of the day and only see one comment.  Please spread the love!  And, I never mind the comments, either:)

Trying out a different linky this time!  What do you think?

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Wow.  CHRISTmas sure came and went this year.  For you, too?

Santa tidied up our living room and even lit a little fire for mommy and daddy.  He’s really nice like that.

Thankfully, Isabelle was quite consistent in what she wanted from Santa…and was adamant that she had been a very good girl.  So, Santa came through with her Ariel doll.  Today is the first day they have been separated.  Since Natalie can’t talk, we decided a Princess ball pit would be fun.  Yes, Mr. Serious actually thought it was a good idea, too.  No, he never would have imagined that his house would have so much princess stuff in it (me, either for that matter)!

Who knew the Slinky would be such a hit.  Both girls love it, too.  Mr. Serious has been successful in getting it to go down the stairs once or twice.

Another hit was the easel.  We’re pretty sure Isabelle has used almost all of the ink in the dry erase markers.  The girl loves to draw.  Plus, there’s recently been some “Monkey see, monkey do” going on it our house, so Natalie had to draw right there with her big sister.  Fortunately, she doesn’t require the lids to be off.

Our family ended the evening with the girls hanging out in the ball pit.  Can you tell how much they love it (of course, notice that Ariel is with Isabelle, too)?

More importantly, can you tell how much they love each other?  I get all melty just seeing them play together and love on each other.

Now, I just need to work on a Dave Ramsey plan update.  We’ve been on the budget for 3 months now and going strong.  I can’t wait to tell you more about it!

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The Serious family would like to wish you the Merriest of Christmases.

Here’s our Christmas card which arrived in mail boxes some time last week.

Of course they are designed by yours truly, me, at Krizzy Designs.  Remember I also do blog designs, birth announcements, party announcements, business cards and pretty much anything else that can be printed or put on the web.<—Shameless plug, but I can’t help myself, I just love doing my graphic work.

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