I Forgot to Take Christmas Pictures

Caitlin and Lola

and with Ray

Christmas Day was relaxing and laid back. As we do every year, we gathered at my sister Sandi's house. This year, there were a few from our tribe that were missed.

My mom and step-dad are smart enough to have stayed in Florida. My niece and her family (the only little ones) are arriving today for a New Year visit. Allison (another niece) was with her boyfriend and his family. My son Bryan, went to his fathers early, then met up with a girl wasn't feeling well.

When I unloaded my camera, I realized I never took one picture on Christmas Day. Caitlin, her boyfriend Ray, and Lola were over Christmas Eve. These shot's are the only thing I have to represent Christmas 2008. Quinn and Bryan didn't even get in any. I am a bad mom.

Ben and Lola had fun fighting over chewy bones playing.

(Ben's really licking her)

One guess who wins out every time.

Caitlin being camera shy.

Actually, I have about 20 photos of these two, acting goofy and making faces, but I'm sure they'd rather I not post them.

I'm going out celebrating New Year's Eve. I'll take my camera in hopes that I'll make a better effort to capture some memories.

Patience

I put up the tree.

That's no longer one of my favorite things about the holidays.

It was fun when my kids were young because it represented Santa's impending arrival. It was the showcase for their handmade ornaments throughout the years. I have good memories from those days and it was great times spent together. The huge tree was always decorated with most ornaments placed no higher than little hands, stepping on tippy toes could reach. The weighted branches hung low.

Still, even though they are all grown up, the tree comes out each year.

Last year the thought exhausted me. Because of the size, it takes two days to accomplish this feat. So, instead of my traditional tree, I bought a prelit, smaller one.

Instead of the years of collected handmade and Hallmark ornaments, I bought boxes of red and gold glass balls. I kept it simple. No bows or ribbons. Just a few gold curling accent twigs. The tree went up in less than two hours.

This year, I did the same thing. Except I had Bently and Quinn following my every move.

When I was done, I tried to get them to pose in front of the tree.

Quinn has selective hearing. He's old and probably flips me off in his mind several times a day. He was not going to pose with a tree or with his huge house mate.

Ben, on the other hand, is just a little over 2 years old and is still eager to please. Also, he will do just about anything for dog treats. He listens quite well and is patient with my effort.

So here's our attempt.

I called him over to the tree.

He sat, just as I asked.

I came closer, realized the flash shouldn't be on.
I told him to still sit there.
He sat.

"Crap, stay there Ben, this one is so blurry."
The tree is on one of those spinning bases.
Not happy, but he sat.

Still blurry, I think it's the spinning base.
"Stay there Ben." And he did.

"Ben ... hey where ya going?"
"Give me a few more tries!"

I give up, this is as good as it's going to get!

Bently held his patience with me for about 10 minutes.
That's longer than I could, trying to figure out the camera.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas .....

The annual reminders of Christmas are in full force.

Not the fact that my Christmas cactus has its first bloom.


Nor the fact that the Salvation Army red bucket bell ringers are in front of every store.


Even the decorated trees that are up, aren't nudging my mind.


No, I know Christmas is well on way because I have seen this:

In Walgreens : The Clapper, gift wrapped with a red bow and ribbon.


At Krogers: Boxed sky high, The Chia Pet, your choice, pig, man's head, sheep, etc.


On TV: And my personal favorite, The Norelco Shaver, being ridden by Santa himself!


What non-traditional reminder do you have each year that it 'tis the season?