Cutting Daddy’s hair required lots of concentration. Most of the time his face was quite zen-like as his girls buzzed around his head and, well, pretty much buzzed his head.

Only once did things get a bit hairy. Pun intended.

Tonight we celebrated the 40th anniversary of my folks with a lovely dinner and dessert. Happy 40th, Mom and Dad! I love you!

An elf came over and wrapped presents with me today. It was a beautiful elf with a beautiful name. Thanks a million, Rebecca! My elbows and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

(Yes, that is a pig in a teacup for Livia. No, you may not show her this pic before Christmas.)

At the end of a long day, one where going out to eat seemed the only option, I wasn’t sure what I was going to capture for my DPP shot. Lo and behold, we saw two families we knew at HF Crave tonight. I recalled needing a portrait and they were cool enough to sit still for a moment. Thanks, friends! I hope a good burger and fries cheered up your little one. (I know that Black and Bleu burger made my tummy happy.)

I’ve eaten many a Rudolph candy cane, but for the first time in my 34 years, tonight I made some. With my faithful 1st grader at my side handily glue-dotting red pom poms, I pasted googly eyes like the non-pro I am. The eyes slide down to the red noses while we twisted antlers atop the heads. It was fun. It was classic. It was a Christmas craft.

DPP moment #19.

My church is full of quite possibly the cutest children on the planet. Tonight many of them sang in a Christmas choir and they did a wonderful job due to the efforts of their fearless leader Vikki Power (thank you, Vikki!). Here is a shot of my buddy Josh who recited a giant portion of Luke 2. If you are like the rest of us lazy hacks and haven’t actually memorized the passage, here it is:

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Image from today’s photo shoot with Joseph Whittle, in honor of his Eagle Scout achievement. I hope his mama loves this shot, because I sure do!

A pirate’s gotta do what a pirate’s gotta do. And sometimes a pirate needs to sit in her pink comfy chair and sharpen a pencil. Don’t question it—just go with it.

I keep meaning to write about the internal changes (within me) that occurred due to other internal changes (within the house). In prepping our house for sale, we threw a lot of stuff away. A lot. Some of you know just how much stuff we had acquired over the past 10 years because you help me spend hours upon hours sorting and throwing and donating. I am grateful for all that help! I feel so liberated by getting rid of the piles and boxes and stuffed closetfuls that owned me. Because I was just a few steps away from being cast on Hoarders, I didn’t know what I had and where it was. That Modge Podge that I know I picked up recently? Could be in the craft armoire. Could be in the craft boxes in the basement. Could be in the bottom drawer of the bureau I never use. Go figure. I hated that. And now I feel so free from it.

Tonight, my pirate and I prepped her room for new Christmas toys. It’s taken seven years, my friends, but the day has finally come where Livia wants to let other kids love on a few toys and babies. We organized four bags for the City Mission, one bag of dress up clothes for a little friend, and one super heavy bag that went straight for the trash. For the first time ever, I feel prepared to let new toys enter our house. Yay!

I was the recipient of a fabulous birthday present from my friend Maralee. Today we got pedicures. And boy are our feet happy. Maralee is a only a few days away from her due date with a little boy we affectionately call Baby Bean. It seemed extra appropriate that her feet get rubbed and scrubbed and treated so kindly as they so faithfully carry this baby, who is a bean size no longer. Tonight I tried to impress Livia, who refers to my feet as elephant feet, with the incredible softness of my heels. She claims they were only a little better than normal. First graders—not easily impressed!

Coffee with the girls.