Go tell it on the mountain...

Owen has been singing this song for weeks. In fact, he and his friend Tommy even gave me a concert with pretend mics and guitars a few weeks ago. Tonight was their big performance. True to form, they did not disappoint.




Lyla really enjoyed the show as well, giggling most of the way through. Well, at least until she spotted the baby Jesus in the manger - at which point, she could think of nothing she wanted more.
By the way, it's the debut photo of her second band...



And what a sweet ending to a great night...(she loves the glow worm and snowman)



Kevin may kill me for this last one, but I LOVE Christmas PJs, so I was thrilled to find these on clearance...

Oh Deer...

I can't even really believe I'm posting this, but it made me laugh so much I had to share.

While perusing Walmart the other night, I came across the following...

And while I think the whole concept of the thing pooping jelly beans is novel, the real humor lies in Santa's caption - "Have a poopin' Christmas." Really? Don't ya think if you're going to market something so clever as brown poop jelly beans, you could have come up with a better catchphrase?

Santa visit

Last week we made our annual outing to visit Santa Claus. Since Owen's very first year, I've gone to the same Santa. It's at a mall not so far from our house that's not got the best reputation (there was a gunfight there one weekend last year), nor the best shopping - not even a Gap. HOWEVER, this mall does have the most authentic Santa I've ever laid eyes on. From what the elf ladies tell me at the counter, his wife makes all of his clothes. And they are just lovely.

Over the last four and a half years, I've created a 5x7 collection of the annual visit, all with Owen's eyes beaming and the thought of actually seeing Santa in person. I know all the journalism majors out there can tell where this is going, right?

Kevin decided to join us this year. So last Wednesday after work, we got the kiddos all dolled up in outfits I purchased before I even knew if Lyla was a boy or girl. Get to the mall - Santa's on dinner break - Kevin holds our spot in line while I walk around with the kids. Owen spots a remote control helicopter. Long day of needing a nap and empty stomach take their places. Meltdown ensues. "I want the helicopter NOW!" blah, blah,blah, blah, BLLAAAAHHHH. aaarrrggh.

He wanted absolutely nothing to do with Santa. Lyla gladly takes her spot on his lap and we snap the shot. Suddenly Owen remembers he wants the helicopter and asks me to tell Santa for him. I'm flashing back to "A Christmas Story" when Santa kicks Ralphy back down the slide as he remembers he needs that Red Rider BB gun.

Not pretty. So this year's photo is of Lyla and Santa, instead of the beautiful one I envisioned of both my kids and Santa for the wall. Enter the reality of parenthood. Planning really never works out.



And then I snapped another one of her in front of the tree...



This is her last photo before she gets her second DOC Band tomorrow. We were hoping to make it past Christmas without it, but our window for correction is running out so we're moving forward. Get ready for yet another paint job!

prayer bear...

Owen's school has a special little friend named Prayer Bear who makes his way to the home of each child over the course of the school year. We recently hosted the little guy for a week. Owen was excited to play in the snow with him and feed him waffles. I, of course, was excited to send him back to school because I was so nervous all week he might fall into the waffle syrup - or Lyla might put him into the toilet. Luckily he made it back safely, but not before we got a few pictures of him and wrote in his traveling journal.

A quick addict....

My friend Lori sent me a link a couple of hours ago to a money saving site written by a mom and I'm addicted already. Those who read this (the one or two of you, hehe) know I'm a fan of CVS, but this woman takes it over the top! She's serious about keeping her money IN her wallet! Check her out at www.moneysavingmom.com.

Knowing I love a good blog, Lori also sent me Stephanie's link - it's on my blog roll to the left already. I had the honor of taking her extended family's photos a few years back when I was learning photography and she and her cute kiddos were so gracious and patient with me. It's super fun to see her amazing life and family flourishing, so linky yourself over there if you're so inclined!

It's December 10th and I'm ALMOST finished with all of my photography clients and Lia Sophia for 2008. I have one more set of Christmas cards to design and one last party on Thursday - then I'm makin' cookies! SUGAR cookies. KARIN'S sugar cookies - see her family link on the left too (the Hernandez family). I'll post the recipe next week when I make them. Seriously, I have dreams of these cookies. Karin taught me to make them nine years ago and I've not made another sugar cookie since. Well, technically I've not "made" any, since Pilsbury did it for me a few times.

One last think I must mention - the snow. It's just lovely. I went to coffee with Lori tonight (sorry to the Starbucks gals who thought they'd surely get to leave early tonight due to the snow - we actually were told to leave at closing). When we got home at 10:15, there seemed to be a neighborhood block party of sorts. All the men congregating on one corner comparing snow blower or shovel stories I suppose. It was so pretty to see all the lights peeking through the snow - and neighbors enjoying one another. I LOVE where we live - specifically, I love the PEOPLE where we live. I'm a girl from the south who grew up on the same street where most everyone in my family lived - so moving north (and then STAYING here) was a big stretch for me. God has answered my every prayer regarding community, providing neighbors who very much care for one another - and kids, kids, and more kids!

Wanted to share a quick photo of Kevin's handiwork with the Christmas lights - and the snow too of course!

Bliss and a miss...

Ooooooo I LOVE this time of year! So many things really...the sparkle of white lights, snow covered trees, 32 years of Christmas ornaments, the songs, the movies (Rudolph, Frosty, a Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, even Alvin and the Chipmunks), the smells, the anticipation, the Hope, the Promise...all of it, I love all of it.

I ESPECIALLY love two things about this time of year - and they are nothing spiritual, though I'm convinced both must be in Heaven - served just after my Granddaddy's tomatoes and Grandmother's green beans.

The first is Cranberry Bliss Bars from Starbucks. I'm not sure if they are from Heaven or Hell because really sin is so pretty and tasty - but so is all that is good too. So let's just give 'em the benefit of the doubt and say if He could have served them at the last supper, Jesus would be breaking Bliss bars instead of bread. Yum, yum, yum.

And we could end the whole alcohol debate with Christians if He'd only chased those bars with Williams-Sonoma Hot Cocoa. Seriously. It really is sin in a cup. Makes wine look tame. I am intoxicated just thinking about the shaved delight in a can. I think it has more calories per cup - when made with their hand-cut marshmallows - than Willy Wonka had in the whole factory.

I'm just gonna tell you - with today's economy, the second one is definitely a luxury item. At $19.50 a can, you might need to eat Spam for the main course.

Now the miss - I'm sorry to report that McDonald's "premium" hot chocolate is nothing more than whole milk with Hershey's syrup. Don't get me wrong - I'm a Hershey's girl - when it's in a bar form with almonds or a tiny silver-kissed wrapper - or even atop a bowl of vanilla ice cream. BUT having experienced "premium," EXQUISITE hot chocolate from my own kitchen (with the help of aforementioned W.S.), I was sadly disappointed. Don't waste your $1.99 - take it to Starbucks for the Cranberry Bliss. Just don't go to the one on 14 in Barrington, as I want them to have an ample supply for me. =)

Happy Birthday sweet Lyla Joy!

I really can't believe I'm already typing this post! It feels like only a few short months ago we were welcoming our sweet girl into this big world. Lyla celebrated both her birthday and baby dedication all in one day - of course several days early since her birthday falls so close to Thanksgiving this year. I did not want turkey to overtake her shining moment.

Our friend Galen led a beautiful meaningful service at our home, where family and friends joined us in our commitment to bringing her up in a Christ-centered home as best we can. It was just a lovely day and Lyla was such a sweet girl throughout. We are incredibly blessed to have her in our family and can't believe God has entrusted her and Owen to us!

Galen's wife Angelica also happens to be a fantastic photographer, so she took many of the photos below. Thanks Angelica!



The cakes (I made the same cakes for Owen's first birthday - you know, sans the pink and purple icing)...





My grandparents gave her this Bible - the cover can be used as a handkerchief on her wedding day...





cake overload...


Her fantastic big brother...

tagged...

I’ve been tagged. Generally, I hate things like this – however, after reading Shanan’s blog (she tagged me), I felt like I learned a few new things about her and loved her a little more. So, whether you love me a little more or not after reading this, well that’s up to you…

Seven random or weird things about me (I'm choosing to think they are just random)...

1. I’ll just start with the quirkiest and get it out of the way. I physically cannot stand the smell of restaurant leftovers in a vehicle. When Kevin and I were dating, we’d go out to eat and then bring home a carryout box (you know, when I pretended I couldn’t possibly eat all that food because my stomach was too tiny to manage it all, hehe). He’d always be quite the gentleman to leave it in the trunk, lest I throw up all over his shiny black truck – and then miss the end of the night kiss.

2. Most of my family lives on the same street in Kentucky – and it’s even named after them! Elliott Road has been home to my great grandmother and grandfather, Grandmother and Granddaddy, Mom & Terry, my great aunt and uncle and their kids, one uncle, one aunt, and many cousins over the years. My dad’s family is much the same way, all living within a couple miles of each other.

3. I love to bake, not cook. If I could exist on butter, sugar and cocoa, well I would. I can’t wait for this weekend because I’ll make Lyla a three tiered cake and I know there will be leftovers of the serious kind. I’d only stray for my Grandmother’s green beans or Granddaddy’s turnip greens. Well, and then tomatoes. I’d eat them until my mouth was raw from all the acid. Seriously. I love them that much.

4. I can never remember what happens in movies. My favorite movies are Mary Poppins, the Wizard of Oz, and all Reece Witherspoon and Kate Hudson movies. I’ve probably seen the first two 50 times and I still can’t tell you how they end.

5. I am a bottomless pit of useless random tidbits and resources. Relevant information can’t seem to find a place in my brain to reside. But the irrelevant lives forever within. I’m also pretty resourceful and know how to locate information quickly.

6. I’m a night owl. It’s 12:30 am as I type this, avoiding the responsibility of moving toys and furniture for the carpet cleaners who will be here within 8 hours. Somehow, I need to fit sleep in there too. 6am comes entirely too quickly every day.

7. Other things I love…unsweet tea (and I’m not apologizing to the south –it makes me no less southern if I skip the sugar), Days of Our Lives thirty years strong, Brown Sugar and Maple Oatmeal with buttered toast and Dr. Pepper, CVS Pharmacy – seriously a great rewards program, chocolate cake with chocolate icing, my hot husband, and two of the cutest kids on the planet. Really, they are. I deeply appreciate and value my friendships and find them to be incredibly life-giving. I love to rearrange furniture and organize things (this sadly does not mean that I get the time to do it, but I do love it).

Okay, so that’s my seven random things. Good thing it asked for random, because I don’t really work in any other manner.

I’m tagging the next few…

Lori http://www.camrynhope.blogspot.com/

Becky http://www.elliekate-texasbred.blogspot.com/

Angelica http://angelica-thethomasfamily.blogspot.com/

Tish http://inthecordreyhome.blogspot.com/

Karin http://hernandezinboston.blogspot.com/ (no worries Karin, it can wait until your top 20 list is done)

Thanks Shanan for the encouraging distraction!

October with the Ruffs...

My apologies for being such a slacker on the blog lately. I'm beyond busy with photography and Lia Sophia these days, but loving it all the same. Thought I'd share some recent fall photos of the Ruffs.

Kevin and I at a friend's wedding...




Our trip to Kentucky was very quick, but so glad to see Grandmother and Granddaddy before his surgery (this Thursday for you prayer warriors out there)...









I really don't like my hair, but Bryan did a fantastic job framing this one, so I had to post it.



Reason 101 and 102 I don't PAY someone to take Owen's photos...





A trip to Goebbert's pumpkin farm...





This is as close as we got to the Haunted House...





Her first sultry modeling pose...




Carving pumpkins with Uncle Bryan - Lyla insisted on being part of the action.

more cutie photos...

Edited some more today, when I should have been editing photos I'm getting paid to take. shhhhh.....

Fall is here!

We were scheduled for a family photo session this past weekend, but I was sick and the kids both had a cold, so we decided to reschedule. Sadly, I think the rescheduled date will be after all the beautiful fall colors, so I decided to take the kids over to our lovely park for a mini photo shoot. With wipes in hand for crusty, slimy noses and the promise of playground time for good behavior, we were off.

Incidentally, Lyla's hair stood up on it's own for the entire following day after this barrette.

little pumpkin

My mom got Lyla this adorable outfit for Halloween and I'm determined we'll get her money's worth out of it. Before the cheerios came out for lunch, I snapped a couple of photos.