Theme Thursday: Best of 2009 (Part Two)

I'm not sure these warrant the title "best" of the year, but they are some of my favorites. And yes, if you frequent my blog, you've seen them all before...sorry Sean ;).

Share your best/favorites...last chance before 2010!

BSM: Hibernation

A Few Scenes From Christmas Present

Harrison was counting the gifts the morning of Christmas Eve:



The Christmas jammies:



You can't see it, but the Yeti says "Humbug" -- how could I resist?

With Gramma and Papa before going to tea at the Heathman:



After Christmas Eve tea:



I realized when I looked at these together that Owen has odd expressions in each of them. Too many Christmas sweets, perhaps?

Merry Christmas to all.

Theme Thursday: Best of 2009 (Part One)

A few of my favorites of 2009:



I know it's Christmas Eve, so if you can't play today, come back next week and share your favorites in Best of 2009 (Part Two).

BSM: Can't...Quite...Reach...It....

Hmm....maybe the tree IS a little taller this year.

Theme for the Week: Best of 2009 (Part One)

Even if you don't like end of year lists, come back on Thursday and showcase one (or more) of your best shots of the year. We'll do it two weeks in a row, just in case don't make it here Christmas Eve :).

Theme Thursday: Celebration

One fun way to celebrate the season? With a little bit of this:



and some more of this:



and a whole lot of this:



We had eight kids over at the house yesterday to decorate cookies. Sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, five colors of cream cheese frosting, mini-chips, red licorice, colored sugar, and every sprinkle imaginable...and eight kids on a huge sugar high.

How have you been celebrating?

Theme for the Week: Celebration

Let's see how you've been celebrating the season. Come back on Thursday and show us!

Theme Thursday: Perspective

We decorated the tree last weekend, and as always, I love remembering the stories behind our ornaments. It sure puts things in perspective when I look at this sweet ornament:




Harrison's first Christmas. He was six months old for his first Christmas; this year he's nine and a half and almost my height. How fast it all goes, and how many moments to savor. That puts it all in perspective.

BSM: Watch it, Santa

If you're not sure who's been naughty or nice on your list, just check with Santa's enforcer.



You really should click on this to go to the large size so you can truly appreciate the expression on Owen's face. Even Santa looks frightened. Harrison is apparently oblivious to Owen's mob connections. It's nice to know that he'll always have a spot waiting for him in the mafia.

Merry Christmas to you too, buddy.

Theme for the Week: Perspective

I'm going to challenge myself this week to take some shots from different perspectives. Maybe I'll get down low or aim up high. Maybe I'll cut off someone's head (in the photograph, of course) or grab a shot around a corner.

Play with perspective this week, and come back to play on Thursday!

Theme Thursday: Gratitude

I had a fantastic post planned this week, with a great photo collage of the many things I'm grateful for. That didn't happen. Somehow, the week got away from me, and here I am, Thursday morning, already late with my post. It doesn't mean I'm any less grateful for the wonderful life that I have; it simply means it's December, and somehow this month seems to speed by like a runaway train.

Back to my subject: gratitude. I do, indeed, have so many blessings, the biggest of which is family. Although we do not have any family in Oregon, we do have family spread up and down the west coast, and it is always wonderful to get together.

Today, and every day, I am grateful for family. Below is a shot I took of the cousins on the beach over Thanksgiving weekend. If I get my act together, I'll put together the collage I was planning, full of parents, kids, grandparents, cousins...you name it. This one shot will have to do for now :).



What are you grateful for today?