Christmas 2011 - Again

As I sit here writing the final post for this year, I have to say I feel like  I really achieved something personally.  I wrote 36 consecutive blog posts, this one included.  I can't say there have been a whole lot of things in my life that I did for that many days straight.  And you know what?  It feels good, almost empowering.  I'm looking forward to the next year and to what God has for me.  I hate to make new years resolutions but I'm going to anyways.  I'm pretty sure I made mine on thanksgiving, my new years resolution is to post on this blog every day, and every day do something in, about or around photography. Simple right?  We'll see.  But I'm going to give it my best shot.

I pray you set new goals tonight and attack them with everything you have.  Luck, though it doesn't exist in the form we commonly think of, is nothing more than preparing yourself with the right tools for when an opportunity presents its self.  Seize the moment.  Lean forward.

We had to postpone our Christmas with my wife's family, due to many reasons, from the weekend of the 17th to the weekend of the 30th.  I'm glad we did.  It stretched our holidays out one more weekend and I love Christmas.  Though sitting here waiting for the proverbial ball to drop on this year, I'm glad its all over and I have a couple of days to recuperate.

Here are some images from the final Christmas party of 2011:

Evy found Lincoln's new rocking horse.

Bryson found some crazy pills.

Circling the wagons to listen to Grammy read the Christmas story.  Jake is about to ninja kick Evy in the back.  For real.

Scout is waiting so patiently in her new recliner.  Easy to do when you're that relaxed.

Grammy has begun reading the story of Christ's birth.

And the chaos begins.

Not sure what I did to warrant these looks, but the gang is headed for me.  Seriously feels like I just stepped into "The Children of the Corn".

Not sure anyone is actually listening to Grammy at this point.

Certainly not Poppy.  Note to Grammy: Next year read a shorter version ;)

This is Bryden, he's Bryson and Charity's baby boy.  He's precious and boy does he love Uncle David. He's the only kid I know that I can bring to tears by just walking in the room.  He doesn't take his eyes off of me for fear something terrible will happen.  New new years resolution, make Bryden love me!

Angel got a KNEX roller coaster set, he's pretty excited about it.  And for the record that thing is already built and functioning tonight.

Jacob got a hat that bore a strange resemblance to a rooster.

Jake thanked Scout for it.  Scout acted a whole lot like a rooster when he gave her a hug.  Easy Scout.

Evy got a Fancy Nancy dress.

So she immediately put it on.  Doesn't she look beautiful?

Bryson and Charity ordered me the book Hard Ground.  I've been wanting this book for a long time and Charity apparently had to stalk my facebook page to find out what I wanted and that was one of the only things I ever posted about wanting.  Go figure.  I'm holding the receipt for the book, because I wasn't the only person who wanted it, it was on back order for weeks.  Thank you so much for the book, you guys couldn't have done any better.

Bryony got a beautiful gift basket from Amy, with all kinds of pretty things.

I gave the gift of photography to Brandon, with a DIY pinhole camera.  I may have been more excited about this than he was.

Link could care less what he got, he's just a happy kid.  And yes that's a real smile.

Jake rocking that sweet hat.  You look good nephew.

Grammy is literally in heaven right here.  A bunch of her grand babies laying on her; it doesn't get much better.

Scout refusing to believe that the lights are going out and its really time for bed.  Sorry baby, Christmas will come next year and you'll be bigger and I'll be older and that will be one less Christmas that I get to spend with you.  You'll grow up and start a family of your own and Christmas with dad won't be so important.  I love you like crazy and don't ever forget that.  These are the best years of my life honey.

At the end of the night I think Evy, in her own little way, was trying to get all of us to remember what the season was all about.  Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

We had an amazing holiday season with so many things to be thankful for.  I look forward to sharing more memories with you this coming year.  God bless you all.

Full On Play Day

I had nothing booked and nothing scheduled for today.  And sometimes thats the best thing that can happen to me.  It allows me to shutdown, check out, re-focus, re-connect, enjoy my family, etc...  It's easy to miss the fact that my kids are growing up and I work so much that at times I miss a lot.

Today was an exception, I got to play with my son for a while.  Just me and him.  I loved it.

So please forgive the fact that this isn't necessarily a photographic post and enjoy the slide.

Christmas Morning

When I woke up Christmas morning I fully expected the downstairs to already be destroyed but that wasn't the case.  Scout showed a lot of patience and waited for us before she started tearing into her gifts.

Look how happy her little face is.

We got the kids matching recliners, Scout was way more excited about this.  So which one do you think likes to sit around and watch TV?

Lincoln was a little more excited about his vintage rocking horse. (Ebay = $200, Thrift store = $7, Scored)

He was a lot more excited about this Tonka truck.  My ankles have been paying the price ever since.

Jason and Conrad woke up, well barely.

Conrad thought the clothes we bought him were cool but enjoyed eating the tissue paper a whole lot more.

Hannah read Lincoln a book on trucks...about the only thing that keeps his attention.

My beautiful bride holding her new jewelry tree.

The kids played and shared.  Scout said that when she turned 5 she would stop sucking her thumb, 3 weeks later...

Bryony read the Christmas story (Jesus version).

Poppy and Link.

Grammy and Scouty.

Jason and company.

Scout found another gift to open.  Check out how hard she's working to get it.

And so happy it was a book.  She's a little book worm, I'm pretty proud of her.

We ate breakfast.  No Conrad isn't the breakfast, but he too enjoys breakfast!

We got ready and headed off to church.  First time I can remember that Christmas fell on a Sunday morning.

We worshipped.

This guy asked that girl to marry him on Christmas morning, at church, in front of a bunch of people...what a stud.

And when we came home, to our surprise, Santa's elves hadn't come back to clean up our house.  What a bummer.

We had a great Christmas.  Surrounded by family and friends, I pray yours was as good as ours.  Now its on to the new year.

Last Day With the Riviero Family

Just dropped off two of my best friends in this world at the Hyatt in San Francisco. Hate to see them go. We had such a good time. I guess the ball is in our court now, we have to head to Cincinnati next. Can't wait to do it. Love you guys, we're going to miss you.

So we're traveling back home right now. Here's the last photo we made with them on their trip. What a stunning group of people. ;) I'll post a longer blog tomorrow. God bless.

Christmas Fun

Today has been a blast. We cleaned a lot. We cooked a lot. We ate a lot and man did I laugh a lot. I'm having some issues with my computer so I'm blogging from my phone. I won't be able to give quite the narrative I usually do, but I'll give it my best shot.

In no particular order:

Conrad was pretty happy to see those donuts, but Lincoln didn't think he should have any. So Lincoln slammed the box shut and rode off into the sunset on his pony. Which for the record he learned to ride on his first try.

Then we played cranium. Hannah and I teamed up to "ace" everyone. And guess what...we didn't. And for good reason. We had several things going on. First of all we were more concerned with making the characters look like actual players in the game. i.e. Art and Diana Miraflor.

We were constantly laughing hysterically over our ridiculous mistakes, like how I can't spell nostrile (actually nostril).

 According to Hannah the expression holy cow, should actually be angel cow and captain hook looks something like this drawing with a circle and a loopy thing. Whatever.

So we came up with an escape plan incase we needed to hit the eject button on the game. Which is further illustrated in the diagram shown below.

Turns out we should have used that plan cause we got whooped by Jason and Bryony. They beat us fare and square. Good job. You aced us.

We had so much fun. I laughed so hard and my stomach hurt so bad from it. It was a good time and a very merry Christmas.