Livia's Visit with Santa

This past weekend, my husband and I took the time to take Liv for a much needed trip to the mall -- for a visit with Santa!

Livia has been talking about Santa almost non-stop, and she's been so excited to see him. So we dressed her up in her "Santa outfit" (that in & of itself made Liv squeel with delight!), and it was off to the mall...

Livia got just a touch of stage fright when she first met Santa -- she was so mesmerized with him that I think she was speechless! Santa asked Liv what she wanted for Christmas, and she happily replied, "Presents!" (I think that's one wish Santa will be able to fulfill)

It was such a great experience for Livia! She's talked non-stop about Santa ever since her visit. And the memories & photos we got from that day are absolutely priceless. We did get a 5x7 & 4 wallet pictures from them, but thankfully they also let me take several! A couple of my favorites:

Liv & Santa

I just love Christmas-Time!

Big Changes...

I wasn't exactly sure how to begin this post -- there have been so many changes in our lives lately! New cell phone (that actually gets a signal!), new cell phone number (I just have to change it every few years), and for my husband a new job.

And that new job is about 3 hours from where we now live! Never in our wildest dreams did we really think this job would go though. But now that it has, our lives are in a bit of a whirlwind! My husband is to start on Tuesday, and we've been working like crazy on getting our house ready to sell. We've decided that until we actually do, I'll be staying right here; Perry will come home every weekend to work on the house and to be with Liv & me.

And Monday thru Friday, it will just be me & Liv (well, thankfully I'll still have and my parents & in-laws here for me). I am a bit nervous of what the next several weeks (possibly months) will be like here throughout the week. I know I'm going to miss my husband like crazy! And I might even have a better understanding of what single Moms go through... Thankfully, it's only temporary.

But then will come an even bigger change... A permanent move 3 hours away from the area I've lived my whole life. Please keep us in your prayers as we transition over the next few months.

I am still going to try as hard as I can to keep my blogs going -- and I'll probably be adding another! (It will be specifically for videos of Liv). There is so much I can't wait to blog about right now! I just couldn't think of anything else for the last several weeks but this big move coming up.

Goals to post about this week:  Getting our Christmas decorations up (in & outside the house), Liv's visit with Santa Claus, new hobbies & toys, and lots more! But for now, it's bed-time. The last night I'll be in the same bed with my sweet husband until at least Friday... Anyway! Much love to you all, and may God Bless everyone during this wonderful time of year!

Christmas with the Triplets!

I'm forever running behind on getting pictures up here...I'm still putting up some from Christmas! Maybe getting pictures up in a more timely manor should also be on my list of 2008's goals. Anyway, these pics are from just this past Sunday when we had Christmas with my Mom's side of the family. I screwed up though - I brought the zoom lens and forgot the regular lens for my camera. So I was a bit limited on the shots I could take...still managed to get some really good ones though!


Jay, Meg & Sam - This was the only pic I could get of all three at once. And Meg isn't even looking my way!



My Dad & Sam playin around before the unwrapping fun had begun.



Livia looks completely awed by all the presents. More likely she was just looking at all the wrapping paper & bows



I just loved this one of Meg & Sam - Meggie had her cute little pink sparkley outfit on (what a little princess!) and just look at Sam's cow boots. If only they came in my size...!



My cousin Travis tickling Sam with Amy (Trav's wife) sitting beside them



My Aunt Tanya & Princess Meg sitting together getting ready to open presents



Jay's very concentrated on getting into a gift in this pic



Perry held and played with Livie while they watched the triplets open presents. Livia got so excited when the wrapping paper started flying!



Meggie got her Daddy to lift her up high on the banister so she could look around on everyone in the room



I can't believe I was lucky enough to get a pic of her little grin! She doesn't let it sip very often...



I guess there are advantages to only having the zoom lens on me this time!



Jay decided he wanted up right after Meg got down - I love how he looks just like a little monkey!



Sam joined him very shortly thereafter



Sammie looks so comfortable, like it's absolutely nothing being up a few feet higher.



Sam & Jay just loved being up on the banister!



Meg wasn't really interested in what the boys were doing. Megan was seeing how tall she could stack the blocks - she got 'em pretty high!



Perry's holding Livia like a baby in this pic. She hardly ever lets us get by with that anymore! Only when she's got something in her hands to keep her occupied or when she's getting very sleepy - which was the case on this day!



Just a short time after that, Livia fell fast asleep. Here my Aunt Dana is holding Livie while she napped.



So sweet

Bits & Pieces

During the Christmas season, we spend SO much time getting ready - decorating, wrapping, cooking & cleaning... and I was determined that this year I wouldn't let everything go unnoticed. So, for your enjoyment (or at least mine!) some pieces of Christmas!

There were lots & lots of beautiful ornaments on everyone's trees! The swirley - twirley ones are my sister's tradition to our Mom every year. These are just a few of the ones I really loved. I didn't even get pictures of ornaments at all places - next year, next year :o)











And here's a pic of Livia with an ornament Perry & I got her for Christmas.
On one side, "Livia's 1st Chrstmas" on the other, "Christmas 2007"






And all the presents were wrapped so perfectly, it was almost hard to open them! Actually, at one point it WAS hard to open them since Livia can't really open her own yet! And boy, that sweet little baby racked in the presents :o)




And such beautiful decorations...the white candle is from Michael's Mom. She makes them every year! It's a countdown to Christmas that you burn once a day & the last day it burns is on Christmas. I love red hots - they always remind me of this time of year. The wooden Santa next to the pic frame was carved & painted by my Uncle Don, and the 3 stockings hanging up are Perry's, mine, and Livia's.









And finally, the best pic of all! Livie with the sweetest, most teeny little barrett in her hair. That was a gift from my Mom actually to me - not really meant for kiddos under the age of 3.

Finally - Christmas Pics!

I forced myself to get all my housework done today before I started putting fun stuff on here...I tend to spend a lot of time on pictures once I get going, and I wanted to make sure the 'important' stuff got done 1st. Well, it's all done! So now for some Christmas Memories...


All these are from Christmas with my parents out at their house...



Livia seemed to like the tissue paper more than anything else - we had a hard time keeping it out of her mouth!



I just LOVE this pic of Perry. Even though he was really just being silly, it's just a great snapshot of him. I almost never get this 'real' look from him, but I'm super glad I was lucky enough to here.



Michael wearing his new jersey - he put it on almost immediately after he opened it.



Perry & Livia opening presents together



Livia in front of the Christmas tree - how cute is she holding her little hands?! And she cracks me up with that tongue!



Laura Belle & a new sweater she got for Christmas - it looks so cute on her! She ended up wearing it the next day for her 21st birthday. Yes, her b-day is the day after Christmas!



And finally, a pic of Livia with her very 1st baby doll from my Mom & Dad. It was so cool to see her reaction to it!




And of course Christmas with Perry's family...well, minus his parents. They had to move boxes on that particular day. Since Trilby's a teacher, they only have a couple of weeks that she's off work to move into their 'rent-house.' Perry & I had a BLAST with Matt & Kendra and the kids though!



Here's a pic of the whole fam! Kendra's mom came over & she was sweet enough to take this for us - I just love it!



Matt, KeeKee, Garrett, Maggie, & Nolan all happened to be gathered together so I snapped this pic of them.



Everyone's getting started on opening presents. I got this pic while Matt & Perry were joking around, and their expressions are just great.



Speaking of expressions, I just love Maggie's in this picture! She was so excited about her strawberry shortcake blanket.



Mr. Garrett had an awesome reaction to his ball & bat - as he says, BALL!!!



Nolan opening his light saber sword...I had no clue what that was, but Perry picked it out. He was positive Nolan would love it, and he sure did. If only I knew what in the world it is!



A pic of me & Livie - is this not the cutest little outfit?! My Mom & Dad got it for her, and I've had her in it every chance I get. It's just too cute, and I know she won't fit into it much longer.



And a pic of just Matt & Kendra. She wasn't really expecting this shot, but I love it becuase they both look so natural. They are such a beautiful couple :-)


And finally, one more of my Santa Baby with her '1st Christmas' bib on!

I absolutely LOVE this pic :-)


Anyway, I have SO many more pictures to put up here, but I wanted to at least get a few up. There will be many more to come...some that I've already taken, some yet to be taken! My Aunt Tanya inspired me to take some really close-up shots of 'Christmas details.' All the small things about the season that may be overlooked or forgotten. We work so hard on wrapping presents with perfect tags & bows, and we put up decorations - we make sure everything is just-so, and what do we have to show for it? This year, some pics with a really neat perspective.
Christmas with my Mom's side of the family is tomorrow, and I'm sure I'll get TONS of pics with it! The triplets will be there, and they always make for a fun time and for some fun pics. Plus they LOVE Livie, and she loves them! Ooh, I can't wait!!! Love to all & God Bless!!