Decorating, Photo Shoot and Popeye

Boy, I've been a real slacker lately with updating the blog! Adding pictures can be a real pain in the butt and I think that's why I always end up putting it off.

The weather here has been unseasonably cold lately, so we took advantage of a sunny day on Sunday to put up Christmas decorations. Yes, it's too early and I always wait until after Thanksgiving, but the forecast isn't too promising. I'm not a big fan of being cold, so the lights went up Sunday. I was going to wait until Friday to do the tree and inside stuff, but it felt too weird going from Christmas decorations outside to fall decorations inside.

Taylor was my big helper this year! (And I mean that in a serious way, not a cutesy mom way.) She held the lights while I got the strands untangled (I had a 3-week-old baby last year when I took them down. They were a mess!) and even helped put the Christmas tree up. I like real trees, but I'm not attempting that with wild-man Pear in the house.

Michael loved the decorations and kept doing that cute heavy-exhale, wide-eyed thing. Taylor was so excited the whole day. That's what really makes it all so much fun! Oh yeah, just as we put the finishing touches on the tree, the entire thing feel over on top of me! We caught it on video, but I can't figure out how to edit the section out. If I do, it's so going on here. Taylor said, "Good thing Mommy's head blocked the tree from falling!" How sweet.

Taylor assembling nature.

I want that...and that...and that...You'll get nothing and like it.

Cuties under the tree. The Pear would NOT sit still.

Taylor with her favorite ornament.

The outside lights. Yes, I have a cheesy deer. I even considered an air-blown Santa this year.

Just a cute picture from dinner Saturday night.

Posing with Michelle and cutie Ben.

I took the kids to get their pictures taken on Tuesday. Wow, what a production that is! I picked out the perfect outfits, set up the appointment between nap times and prayed for no sickness, scratches or bruises. The pictures are so adorable. I love the Picture People and I recommend them to everyone. Taylor is a ham and did whatever the photographer asked. Michael was all smiles until I put him down and then he went ballistic! He kept crying and crawling to me, muttering "mummmmummm". In the end, the photographer covered my arms and shoulder with a white sheet and I held Michael. He was all smiles again and they just photoshopped me out later. Too funny. Here are a few samples from the shoot. They are even brighter/cuter in person:

I noticed that Michael had a few eye boogers yesterday morning, but no big deal. Well, his eye turned bright red and goopy last night. (Your eyes are watering right now, aren't they?) It was completely swollen shut this morning so I took him to the doctor. Yep, it's pink eye. Luckily, the drops are supposed to work quickly and he's not contagious after 24 hours. We should be safe to head to Cincy for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. He seems totally unaffected by it. I keep singing, "He's Popeye the sailor Pear..."

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Until next time,

Mommy Kel