Real Tree Pictures; As Promised.

The real tree has been adorned. So pretty. :)

Madeline's Charlie Brown Tree

So the story goes, as we went this evening to pick out our Christmas tree, Madeline was walking with her grandparents, and decided to pick up a tree the size of her and truck it around. The Tree selling man took Madeline over and made her a little tree she could take home for free.

It was a pathetic little thing, but she loved it instantly. Now that it is decorated and in her bedroom, I have to tell you, with the "Poor Little Christmas Tree" song playing on the radio, I was almost moved to tears.

Her tree, even if it is only a cutting pushed into a bit of a stump, is gorgeous, and really has brought out the Chrismas Spirit in our house.

Note: Once our branches have settled on our tree and it is decorated I will post pictures. It's very pretty too, but I think it just might pale in comparison to Madeline's Charlie Brown Tree. It just looks so proud to be lighting up a little part of a five year old's childhood.

One tree down, one to go.

We decided this year to do two trees, one because we have set it up every year since we bought it, and the other because we wanted a real tree this year. Tomorrow we will get the real one. But here's the colorful one set up now. :)

Decking the Halls...sort of thing...

Purchased some new Garlands today. I'm one week ahead of Christmas Decorating the entire house, but I couldn't resist putting these together as soon as we got home tonight. I'm proud of them, so I thought I would share.

New Fishies

Ok, so I picked up some new fish on Saturday, and while trying to photograph them today I managed to catch a picture of my elusive Coral Beauty Angel as he snuck out of his cave to investigate the camera lens.


This is my "Yellow" Percula Clown Fish .


This is my Orange Percula Clown Fish.


And I got three of these cute little Blue-Green Chromis, and they school. But they are so fast that there is NO WAY I can catch a picture of them all together! :P

Hope you like them, Hope they live. They're pretty.

A post filled with words.

It has been an incredibly long year filled with emotions and stresses and just round about life. Looking back at all of our picture posts it has occurred to me that we don't usually say much in sense of words, so much as we post the pictures of the things that happen in our lives.

This year, Madeline started Kindergarten, kissed her first boy (kiddie kisses are just so prescious!), got grounded for three weeks consecutively, wrote her name all by herself, started making her own peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and learned to count past 30 all by herself. She has grown taller by at least two inches and is continuing to grow like a weed. She hates making her room tidy, loves watching tv and doing crafts. She shows interest in barbies, camping, road trips, dressing up, baking, making pizza and cookies and coloring.

She excels in artistic ability with each step.

I've been busy working most days, still with Infopia as a Contractor. Seems they have allowed me to keep my title of Senior Data Services Analyst, which is nice enough I guess since I am only working from home now. Justin no longer works for Infopia. He received an offer letter to work for a company closer to home and seems to be doing well there. I think he loves the fact that he doesn't have to drive so far to get to work in the morning. Over all, at the very least, we are financially stable, which sadly is more than I can say for a lot of the world right now. Not quite at the stage we were before, being able to spend a bit more freely in the past, but still able to eat out occasionally and buy the odd thing we want.

We are excited for Christmas, excited for a trip to Arizona in January, and a possible trip to Disney in February or March. Our friends Brad and Amanda have recently become engaged and are tentatively setting the date sometime fall 2010, so we are excited to go to Canada for that too.

Overall, we are surviving. Hope you are all doing well!

~Sara

Sara's Fish Tank-Salvaged October 3rd

The Halloween Night Pics

Pumpkin Carve 2009

When we arrived at Casa del Wootton, the Bellman was in a grave state, but he let us in anyway..


Once the castle was fortified, we gathered together to spill the innards of the orange beasts.


Jared's beast refused to give up the ghost, and required some extra skill to pop the top. But Caren out skilled us all. (Must have been Grandma magic happening!)



Even the wee ones were encouraged to partake in the sacrifice. Here Justin shows Madeline how to reach in up to her elbows in gore. :P


The apprentice showed a keen interest in the implements of the Orange Beast's demise. Probably got that from my side of the family.



My allergy to pumpkins never stops me from being creative, but I sure wish that these gloves could go to my elbow...


Justin's beast finally submitted, and something tells me it liked it too!


Mine turned into a mighty fire breathing beast, Madeline's was gifted with five eyes and a gaping toothy grin!


Many orange beasts were slain this night!

There was even a visitor to escort them on their way!

Halloween Cupcakes and Table

Good Shots from the Argyle (Hogle) Zoo Trip