It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Or not so much. I didn't get any pictures of the gift giving, instead I'm giving you some background on the camera game.

This was taken in November. We were messing around. These tutus are irresistible...you see them and they must be worn even if that means they go on your head.



Cut to December 15th, Christmas Eve-ish the Second - the tutu extravaganza.




Jordi volunteered. He saw the tutu and (somewhat shyly) said "can I put that on?" He was half joking - but I know a photo opportunity when I see one.

And now for the camera game. I love the camera game. Krissie and I invented it out of boredom and I am quite content only taking pictures ala the camera game - some of my favorite photos are a result of a camera game session. This was a Christmas edition of the camera game - now with more Jennie!

This is where Jennie said, "Yo, what's up home skillet" and I couldn't hold my funny expression because I was laughing too hard.
All of us ooohing and aaaahing over Jennie's new shiny finger bauble. Merry Christmas to her indeed.
This was take one of the previous photo. We don't quite hit the mark every time - but look at my mouth! That isn't on purpose people....my mouth does that naturally and it always has. I think it's broken.

This is our "smile without smiling photo" only I was trying to make Miri smile against her will.
I was making a sound effect. Something along the lines of "oooooooooooooooooooh" (with a short o sound) but then my sound effect made me laugh so the girls did great and I look like a grade A doof. Still....great picture.

I love hanging out with these girls. I loved my gifts as well. New hoop earrings, new dangle triangle earrings, a new green scarf (it's supa soft!) and deliciously smelly soap for my bathroom along with a pretty turquoise and black bracelet. I love how well my friends know me and I loved giving them the presents I made. It was a great night. Christmas is awesome.

Carolers are at my door. Don't want to hear them anymore.

That's a lie. I never tire of Christmas music.

If you haven't noticed, I try to title my December posts with Christmas lyrics and that is from a song off Barenaked for the Holidays and it seemed the appropriate choice.

So here's my Christmas songs post. Only a little different from last year's selection I'm sure. I can't really pick favorites so here's just a general list of what has been on my Ipod (it's relatively long and not at all complete).

Winter Song (Sara Bareillis)
Frosty the Snowman (Fiona Apple)
Elf's Lament (Barenaked Ladies and Michael Buble)
Silent Night (Priscilla Ahn)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Hem)
Baby It's Cold Outside (Doris Day and Bing Crosby or Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone)
Green Christmas (Barenaked Ladies)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Barenaked Ladies)
Thankful Heart (Michael Caine - Muppet Christmas Carol)
Oh Holy Night (Voice Male)
Auld Lang Syne (Barenaked Ladies)
Angels We Have Heard on High (Relient K)
Wish I had a River (Robert Downey Jr.)
We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Voice Male)
One More Sleep Til Christmas (Kermit the Frog and the shorter version with Robin)
Little Saint Nick (Electric Mayhem from A Christmas Together - John Denver and the Muppets)
When the River Meets the Sea (John Denver and the Muppets)
Pennies from Heaven (Louis Prima from Elf)
Sleigh Ride (Ella Fitzgerald)
The Christmas Song (Dave Matthews Band)
Linus and Lucy (A Charlie Brown Christmas)

I know I'm missing some of my favorites. I need to get a copy of Susie Snowflake and 2000 Miles onto my Ipod because I love those songs. I can listen to almost any version of Oh Holy Night, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (James Taylor's is playing on the radio right now) and Angels We Have Heard on High - those are my top three all time favorites. I like the Hem version of Merry Little Christmas because it's the closest to the original (sung by Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis - which has become one of my "must see" Christmas movies, but that's a different post I suppose) and I like the Voice Male version of Angels We Have Heard on High because they all sing their parts so clearly and it's beautiful. I like the Josh Groban version of Oh Holy Night but don't have a copy.

The Christmas album I purchased this year was The Hotel Cafe tour presents Winter Songs. I highly recommend it if only for Fiona Apple's version of Frosty the Snowman - it makes me like that song again and I haven't liked that song for a very long time. Winter Song by Sara Bareillis is my new obsession, I might listen to it all winter since it's not so much a Christmas song and because I'm addicted.

I've also recently become addicted to Linus and Lucy and have been listening to that since this summer but it's on a Christmas album so it's technically Christmas music. I love the entire Charlie Brown Christmas cd.

And of course, Christmas is not Christmas without the Muppets...and plenty of them! My Christmas memories are entrenched with watching the Muppet Christmas Carol, listening to the soundtrack and to A Christmas Together with the Muppets and John Denver (I used to fall asleep listening to A Christmas Together on the record player).

So there it is. My Christmas music post. I love my Christmas music - I won't get into the Christmas songs I find revolting (*cough* Dominic the Donkey *cough*) because I like to try and focus on the positive - but I will say that the logs on the fire definitely DO NOT fill me with desire Carpenters. They most certainly do not.

Christmas bells are ringing

I love Christmas.
I love how crazy things get and how motivated I become.
I love all the projects and wrapping and bows.
I love creating something new with a particular person in mind. Something original and unique just for that someone.
I love holiday gatherings and I crave yummy appetizers.
I love that my family never really stopped believing in Santa (even for those few years when there were no children around) and I love having an entire day to just sit and enjoy purely happy times with my family.
I love watching the kids anticipate the arrival of santa and opening their presents the next morning.
I love Christmas morning breakfast.
I love teaching my nephew Christmas songs (like last year's classic "Boggle Balls")
I love having so many things to be happy about.
I love staying inside where it is warm, curling up on the couch and watching Christmas movies.
I love Christmas decorations (especially bright, simple, shiny ones).
I love Christmas cuddles and giggles and music and everything else.

Too Too Fun

Check out Zeelightful today for a new installment - Tutu Spotlights (aka Friday Zeelight). This week's wonder tutu: the Holly Tutu! Just in time for Christmas.