an actual christmas tour

mmm...the children seem to be 'conveniently edited' from this picture! micah is by matt's elbow and cora is behind the vase. and my dad is taking the picture. not our finest family shot. mark...we needed you!! you have never been so missed!

somehow this sweatshirt is not as convincing with the sun beating down on him!

christmas pj's!
oh yes, the water was warm, but the air was ice cold...micah's face says it all. actually, it's a scary face - i hope i don't cross him later in life!
top gun. aviator jacket and glasses. i'm sure his grampy will give him flight lessons as soon as he can see over a dashboard!
the puppy! maggie arrived on my parent's 40th wedding anniversary. she will watch these two grow up...
christmas morning. uncle todd reading the christmas story. enjoying coffee and being with my boys.
all ready for bed on christmas eve. since he couldn't eat the cookies for santa, a plant will have to do!

and now for a new year. 2010 started out a little rough - cold, rainy days and our entire family sick as dogs (actually dobby was throwing up everywhere, so that is quite literal!) i almost posted on new years day, but it was a bleak picture!

i am now happy to report we are on the mend, the sun is shining and we're excited for what's ahead. (in the words of mrs. cunningham, high school life management skills teacher 'what a difference a day can make!')

a christmas tour

christmas cards from the mail go right to the refrigerator
our favorite christmas fruits (matt loves the clementines and i am eating my weight in ruby red sweet grapefruit!) and candles (mulled spices, christmas treats, and christmas cookie are what's burning now)
our old christmas tree is now in micah's nursery with tiny ornaments. every morning, he sits in his little chair and we turn on the tree and look at the ornaments
our nativity snow globe and handmade christmas card from amy (the snow globe is covering a corner that has a bite out of it...dobby got a little zealous for the christmas story one night while we were gone!
this is my morning when i'm not going in to curves. coffee (gingerbread or pumpkin spice creamer!), lit candles and stories to read to micah in his bouncer
our once beautiful christmas wreath (the sun is mercilessly baking it every day) that i try to revive with constant misting. it still smells so woodsy, so i am thankful
and our real tree! no presents under it because of a certain dobby, but i love turning this on in the morning and sitting by it in the evening.
i wanted to have him be our angel tree-topper!
at the staff christmas party...

it has been fun to decorate for christmas this year, and start little traditions - having youth over for christmas tea and cookies the night our decorations go up, making christmas biscotti and taking it to our neighbors, and having a real tree and wreath that smells amazing (the wreath is fresh from oregon, but hasn't stood up to our florida sun so well....the browning makes me mildly depressed)

since not many out of town readers will get to be in our house over the holidays, i thought i would take you for a little tour, and show you what december has been like in the girden house. (and would LOVE to see pictures of your christmas cozy places - hint, hint!)

some firsts...

first poinsetta
first christmas tree
first thanksgiving
first college tour!
first swing at ballard park
first fish - he helped catch it!

and this morning is the first saturday morning in a long time that it's been just micah and i! i love the feeling of a cozy rainy day with the whole morning ahead. time for gingerbread coffee and reading his new favorite book - little beauty (thanks em!)

our pea in a pod