What I Give For Christmas

     Trent's parents wanted family photos for Christmas so we happily obliged.  Our Wal-mart recently re-opened their portrait studio so we could spend less and get more since my photographer friend moved away.  My other friend who is a photographer isn't running her business anymore so we were lucky to have somewhere to go that wouldn't charge us $400 or more. 
     Because of this session we cut JD's hair, bought teeth for Ava for Christmas (not really, but she does want three front teeth from Santa this year) and I decided I like my hair long.  I hate the feeling of hair on my neck, but recently it doesn't bother me so much and I feel a little like Anne of Green Gables when I get ready for church.  You really do have more flexibility and creative licence when your hair is long.  I have never dyed my hair because it changes color on it's own.  Right now it is a golden red pecan brown.  Maybe tomorrow it will be more red so it can feel like it's celebrating the season.
     Pink, brown, tan, and olive do actually match.  I saw on a fluffy news morning show that people are moving away from wearing the same color in family portraits to finding a color or two and making those the theme so you don't feel so matchy-matching.  Ava and Trent are my hardest to dress so when Wal-mart had polos on sale for a dollar that matched things Trent and Ava already wear we were set.  You will have to wait for our Christmas card to see the whole theme.  Here is a hint, though:  I think it is interesting that at least two families had similar ideas for their cards this year.
     I need to get motivated this morning so I can begin our neighbor gifts this year.  Bonnie gave me the idea to crochet wash cloths.  They are inexpensive and not food.  They just take some time and I need to get started before I run out of time.  Laundry will have to wait because I need to do something else.  I have never had so little laundry to do that it could wait a day and still have clothes for the next one.  How good that feels!  I also decided that I am unhappy in an unclean house.  It makes me happy to be in a clean environment.  Let's hope it stays that way.