Sending Christmas Cards

Sending Christmas cards is one of those "pains of Christmas", but it is something I HAVE to do or my holiday season is just not complete. I used to start just after Thanksgiving. I would have to start that early because just to sign my name to a card would have been insincere...or so I thought. So, I would spend hours putting pen to card to write each person a special little message....SO DUMB! Last year we sent out our first Christmas photo card, and I LOVED it! I wanted it to be a family tradition, our picture taken in our matching Christmas PJ's....but Jason was against that idea. I really don't know how I talked him into doing it last year.

But, even if we couldn't get the perfect family photo (which we did) I had this ADORABLE picture with Santa as back up.

My "thing" is I like family photos on the cards. Don't misunderstand, when I receive your Christmas photos with your babies I LOVE them. But, for some of my friends; allow me to rephrase MOST of my friends live far away and out of state so I truly enjoy seeing the entire family, so I get to see you too my friend. This year Jason and I did not get together in a timely manner to get the perfect family photo for our Christmas card...in fact I have to work on us getting family pictures more often, I do not have many at all which is silly because we all do everything together, but I digress.

In absence of the perfect family photo I tried to have my own mini photo shoot like I did at Halloween. After 2 hours back in October I FINALLY got the best picture of Kyle and Hailey together. In fact, it was so perfect I used them for halloween cards...so obviously I could not use it again. I felt with a little time and patience I could get another one....but NO!

The photo shoot above was in their christmas eve outfits and after about 45 minutes they both passed out for naps, and I in my frustration gave up on our photo shoot for the day.

I did not give up for good! Here was attempt number 2.......in their christmas day outfits.

When photo shoot #2 was a bust I called Jay in absolute fury....yeah I lost it a bit, I was stressed our cards should have been out a while ago! So he took the kids to see Santa..I sadly was derailed from attending this fun event. I left the babies in his hands to get the perfect photo so I could just make our cards and be done with it. I was sadly disappointed to see what he came home with. Of course Jason really did try. I guess he had the woman take several photos and sadly this was the best........

Not exactly the adorable perfect picture I was looking for.

After some deep breathing, a little screaming, and some photo cropping I made our christmas card.

It doesn't have all of us in it, and it isn't exactly what I imagined, but it was a card we got to send out to people we love and care for across the globe (literally). So, next time you get a christmas card particularly from a family or from someone with children, know it is not JUST a card. It is a masterpiece of art that someone spent a lot of time on. Taking, getting, picking out, cropping the perfect picture and then finding the right card to fit the chosen photos is a daunting task; done to try and bring you some holiday cheer...but in the end SO WORTH IT!

One pain of christmas that isn't so painful after all. Hope you enjoy our christmas card!

Poop-she thinks its funny!!

Who thought diaper changing- especially poopy diaper changing could actually be funny? When you change Haileys diaper she will chit chat, coo and caa, but that's just when she pees. When she has pooped she is quiet. You see her little irish eyes smile as you undress her and then when you open her diaper she CRACKS UP laughing as if to say "hahaha yes mommy I just did that, and yes mommy you have to clean it. I am a smart, beautiful, loving baby, who thinks you face changing my poop is the BEST". I actually don't mind changing her poopy diapers. The laughter she shares is intoxicating and I can not help but laugh with her. Happy Pooping =)

H1N1 Oh My!

So the debate continues on, some people vaccinate others do not. It is a parental choice. One of the many decisions you have to make as a parent. I do feel we over vaccinate to a degree. For instance: The chicken pox vaccine? I had the chicken pox. All my friends had the chicken pox. None of the people I EVER knew were hospitalized or had their lives in major risk for chicken pox. I am not saying there were not severe cases out there, but I do not feel the pox were so detrimental to children that it is best to vaccinate them. I actually enjoyed having the chicken pox. Not so much the itching, but I remember that special time staying home and my mom taking care of me. Getting to stay on the couch and watch movies. One day my mom brought down her old family movies and my brother and I got to watch them. But now your baby can't start school unless they are vaccinated.

The flu shot is a choice everyone has. I got it the last 2 years because I was pregnant. There are groups who should indeed have a higher priority in getting the flu shot...pregnant women, children, the elderly, the sick, etc. Not the ING folk...but that's another debate entirely.

This season I did vaccinate both Kyle and Hailey for the flu as well as H1N1. I was on the fence about H1N1, but then my doctor explained if it had been manufactured in time it would have been in the "regular" flu shot. I did not freak out about getting them vaccinated. They are home with me all the time so its not as though they are in as high a risk category as children in school or daycare (more day to day, touching contact with other potentially sick babies). But, when it became available both received the shot. In fact Hailey is due for her second dose..depending upon supply, next week.

The posting is a little pointless, but just a thought. Remember you are never alone. As much as a parent researches...like I did about this h1N1 vaccine, its just nice to sometimes know you are not alone, and what other mommies are doing.Plus its 3:30am and I am up =)

So whatever you decide: vaccinate or not to vaccinate. Try not to judge the mommy beside you. She is in the same boat as you, just trying to figure out what really is the BEST, most SAFE, LOVING thing to do for her baby.

Oh Christmas Tree

It's the most wonderful time of year! It's CHRISTMAS!! I LOVE Christmas. As we do every year we traveled to Norton to visit Jay's cousins and uncles to get our tree, and wreaths. I did debate getting the fake tree...thinking Kyle may be TROUBLE around the tree, but was quickly out voted, plus I have to admit I would miss our little tradition of seeing family and picking out the tree.

Thank goodness its a family lot because Kyle was everywhere

Hailey's FIRST Tree!

Helping Daddy decorate

Kyle taking the ornaments off

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving this DeVincent household had so much to be thankful for. Jason and I were thankful for our home, our lives together and our children. We are so thankful for their health and well being, their happiness, their hearts, their lives, and their presence.

I have to admit though this was NOT the most fun thanksgiving from a parent perspective. Kyle was MISERABLE just about the entire day, from beginning to end. As you can see from the picture below he was not in a very cooperative mood. He was not having pictures taken. So I snapped what I could.

Kyle and Hailey in their coordinating outfits.

This Thanksgiving was a very special thanksgiving, despite Kyle's mood or attitude. It was Hailey's FIRST THANKSGIVING!!!

A moment of brother, sister love

Hailey's FIRST TURKEY =)

Thanksgiving Jammies =) I know I am ridiculous

Kyle's jammies...yup still in a mood.

Despite it all it was a good family day. Shared with my father, grandmother, brothers and sisters and then with Jay's family. It was a long day......a REALLY long day, but a good day =)

The midnight madness activities with no babies and fun friends were just what a mom needed to unwind. Maybe next year Rhonda and I will have a better plan, oh and a little less booze =)

Baking Babies

Every year for Thanksgiving, well every year for just about every event I bake: but these photos are just of Thanksgiving Day baking =)

This is a photo of Kyle and Auntie Kate baking last year, I didn't start the blog until after so it allows everyone to see the changes in a year.
Here is Kyle this year REALLY HELPING me to bake. He helped pour ingredients into the bowl, and helped to stir. He also helped out by tasting the cookie batter and making sure everything tasted OK. I know some of you may be in shock he is sitting on the counter, but he will absolutely NOT sit in the high chair. He behaves on the counter, and really enjoys helping me cook. From breakfast in the morning to desserts, he loves it =)

Here is Miss. Hailey Bug. She was too little to help bake, but not too little to watch and learn, and laugh at us a little.

Apparently baking is exhausting because they both took super long naps afterward. Maybe I should bake more often =)