decked.

max doesn't like hats.

and i wanted a santa hat picture.

so i grabbed her and held her down.

shoving the santa hat on her.

she was not pleased.

but i got my picture.

glutton for punishment.

my belly grew.

like TODAY.

comparisons to come.

shocking. 

and i'm still in love with my ornaments.

especially the little hands. 

mrs. claus's head falls off if you touch her at all.

it's disturbing.

and charming.

all at once.

a student made me this pillow.

when i was teaching 3rd grade.

SO GABE.

that was the student that made it for me.

and now i think,

SO BRENNAN:)

my childhood trolls.

the ice skater is my favorite.

i just love her little skates.

my sister and i made the troll baby diaper.

we made clothes for our trolls.

and taped them together.

the baby troll diaper is the only one that still exists.

as far as homemade troll clothes go that is.

grandma max's homemade stockings.

complete with grandma max's own stocking,

passed down to baby max.

i get emotional hanging it up.

my most treasured christmas decor.

the weather outside was frightful today.

i had to bring the abominable snowman out to wear over my head.

max was alarmed.

you can see why.

but we're decked,

merry & bright.

and the house is all a'glow.

with christmas lights warming our rooms and porch.

...

 happy christmas:)

ho ho ho {captain hook's on the naughy list}

yep,

she's still afraid of santa.

remember last year?

HAHAHAHA!!!

can't believe how much they've grown.

this morning brennan told me,

"mom, captain hook is on the naughty list. but i'm not."

good thing.

...

today we are decking our halls.

and i'm relishing in my birthday bliss.

 IT SNOWED!

on my birthday:)

while i was eating peanut butter cheesecake.

and drinking raspberry lemonade.

with sean.

eating spicy pasta.

really, it doesn't get any better.

sean said he TOTALLY planned the snow.

what a guy;)

i'm giving away stuff (b/c it's my birthday!!!)

IT'S TIME!!!

for the

REVIEW EXTRAVAGANZA!

next friday people.

NEXT FRIDAY!

that's when it all begins.

and if scrooge is on your shoulder like it's always on mine after thanksgiving,

then this is just the trick to kick him off.

i promise.

it really works.

today i'm giving you the nitty gritty.

and did i mention it's my birthday?!

well, it is:)

so listen up folks!

you have to now.

b/c

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!

(think Rapunzel, are you with me?!)

...

What is the 2011 Review Extravaganza?
write up some posts and recap what happened during the year.
favorite pictures,
favorite stories,
favorite posts,
whatever you want.
ESPECIALLY if it's your birthday.
HOW:
Starting next Friday, come here or to any of the other bloggers hosting this extravaganza (who I will list here soon) and link up your post.
You only need to link up at one location as it will show up on each of the lists.

WHEN:
Friday the 9th, you will link up with your recap about January, February and March.
Friday the 16th-link up with recap of April, May and June.
Friday the 23rd-link up with recap of July, August and September.
Friday the 30th-link up with recap of October, November and December.

LINK WHAT???
that just means you copy and paste the html web page for the post your wrote into the linky box that will be on the bottom of my weekly review posts.
email me at emilygibson82@yahoo.com for more info

EXTRA'S:
You DO NOT have to write your post on Friday,
you can write it any day that week,
that is just the day to link up.
And you will have a few extra days to link up- until Wednesday.
When you link up, make sure you put a link to your post and not just your blog in general. ((To do this, just click on the title of your post and then you can copy all that www gibberish that is in your browser bar))

HOW YOU GET THE FREE STUFF:
Every time you link up with a recap AND include the cute little button you will get entered into the drawing.
Link up on the 9th and get an entry,
the 16th and get another entry, etc.,
with a total of 4 possible entries.
When all is said and done,
we will let random.org do the dirty work and pick a winner and what will you win?
STUFF!!!
GREAT STUFF!
FUN STUFF!
8 GREAT STUFFS!!!
from each of the lovely hosts.
all 8 of us will personally pick a present for the winner.
so imagine getting 8 packages filled with something just for you!!!
i know,
i wish i was you.
you can also receive some BONUS ENTRIES if you FOLLOW all of the hosts on their blogs you can receive a bonus 5th entry.
Once you are FOLLOWING all of the fabulous hosts,
come back to THIS post on my blog and leave a COMMENT telling me that you are following everyone.

AND NOW,
without further ah-dooooooooo
here are your 8 lovely ladies,
one of which
I AM:)

Emmy Mom


California Girl


Em of Emilisq



Grumpy Grateful Mom


Impulsive Addict


Janette of Johanson Journey


MiMi Living in France


Runner Mom

All great ladies you should definitely read!

RECAP:

• Link up each Friday with your recap-- you will have between Friday to the following Tuesday to link up for it to count for points
  
• Receive 1 point for every week you link up -button MUST be in your post (4 possible)
  
• Receive 1 bonus point for following all of the hosts blog (1 pt) -leave a comment stating you are following on THIS post
  
• If you are the winner receive 8 gifts picked just for you!

Any questions feel free to ask as we want this to be a great experience for everyone!
So get your recaps ready and join in next Friday for the fun!
JUST SAY NO TO THE SCROOGE AND HAVE FUN!
really,
you'll wish you did if you don't.
but you will,
so you won't!
won't wish you did,
b/c you did!
YOU WILL!
join us and review!
b/c IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!
and that's what i want for my birthday.
is for you to join our review:)
did i mention,
IT'S MY BIRTHDAY???
thanks,
in advance for granting me my birthday wish:)
you're the best!



<br /><center><a href="http://www.emmymom2.com/"><img src="http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab115/Emmymom/2011%20Blog%20Pictures/2011buttonblue200.jpg" /></a></center><br />
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
EM

a gazillion times and counting.

we set up the train last night.

brennan told me he remembered the train rules.

"don't touch the train."

he used his hands to articulate.

smart man.

i've already had to put the train back on its track

a GAZILLION times today.

b/c "HE didn't touch it."

the monkey did.

the ball did.

max did.

the race car did.

"not him."

articulating with hands.

now that we've covered all of those items on our not allowed to touch the train list either,

hopefully we'll be down to only 100 times tomorrow.

and did i mention i put the track back together twice?

moms are smart.

this is what brennan told me after i fixed the track.

love him.

so it's going well.

as you can tell:)

and why do i put myself through this for an entire month?

b/c this is what they will remember about christmas.

the train around the tree.

magical.

and i love that. 

i absolutely love that:)