What a difference a year can make

I know, I know, it's not even Thanksgiving and I am posting Christmas pictures?!! Well, I am an adult now and if I want to decorate my house for Christmas the week before Thanksgiving, I can! If I want to take my son to see Santa in November, I can do that too! It's my favorite time of year, and being that is still in the 80's here in Florida, I need a little extra help to get into the spirit.

It was the same Santa and he wore the same outfit as last year. But Evan was much more frightened this year. Last year, they had me back him onto Santa's lap, so he really didn't even know he was on a stranger's lap. Santa didn't even speak a word, in order to not scare him. But this year, they thought Evan would be big enough to not be scared. No such luck. He was terrified. After a few Dora songs, toys, and Shamu chants, we got this picture. The tears had barely dried by the time they snapped the camera away, but there is a semi-smile behind it all. And my bright yellow shoulder in the corner, but don't mind that. Also, please ignore the extra leg between Evan's legs. He wouldn't even consider being near Santa without me right by his side, or underneath him for that matter. Remind me next year to wear green please!

Can't Let Go of Christmas.... Well At Least Evan's Christmas PJs.

As long as these PJs fit, or "Jammers" as Daddy calls them, Evan will be wearing them. Because they are just too cute to only wear for one short month. Don't you agree?

I lied...One More

Here is one more holiday-themed picture. My friend Laci emailed it to me today, it was taken at a cookie exchange party at our friend Reagan's home a couple of weeks ago. I have so few pictures of Evan AND me, that I treasure them all.

The Last of the Christmas Photos: 2008

Well here are the last of the cute pictures we got from Christmas 2008. These are pictures Grammy and Kevin took yesterday, both of whom are great photographers. We were sad to see Uncle Kevin and Grammy go. It's just simply not going to be the same around here without them. We loved having Kevin here from Seattle for 9 whole days, and can't wait for the next visit. It was a very MERRY CHRISTMAS in the Starstrom household. Also note the new blog look. It will probably be the last change for a while. Uncle Kevin taught me how to do some html changes, and Gretchen Whipple provided me with a hard copy of one our family portraits. Please visit her site when you get the chance. It's a link on my list of "Sites I Love" to the right. She is an amazing photographer, don't you love the picture at the top of my blog?? Can't you tell how much we love our little guy???

Christmas Lights Like You Have Never Seen Before

Uncle Kevin taught us a really cool new photography technique. We didn't capture a really cool picture because we were just playing around pretty late one night. But all you do is put some black colored paper in a tube around the camera lens, and then punch any shape at the end. We did a moon. Then any blurred lights in the background look like whatever shape you punch out. Isn't that cool?

Trimming the Twee

Evan can say "tree". It sounds more like "twee" and we aren't sure if he thinks lights are called trees, because he says tree in reference to lights too. But it's too cute. He is fairly gentle too. He mostly looks without touching. I think we will both be sad to take all of the decorations down in a few days. It means Christmas is really over, and won't be here for an entire year. But we sure did have fun while it lasted!!!

(BIG) Kids at Heart

When Kevin, Paul and I get together.... we can be kinda immature. But it's so fun, it's hard to grow up. Paul and Uncle Kevin especially. This week they actually built a fort to sleep in. Not for Evan, just for them. Please see the posted pictures to believe it. That's right, they are 35 and 36 years old respectively. Also pictured is us at the top of a jungle gym giving the Blue Steel look (a Zoolander reference) and Paul and Kevin dancing with their new Wii-, as well as them spooning on the couch. Should I be worried???? Previous Christmas vacations included Hulk Hands and Fart Machines, so comparatively, we are totally mature!!!

We Feasted Like Kings

One of our family traditions is making a non-traditional Christmas Eve dinner as I mentioned before. I think one reason is, we like to take advantage of my brother's mad-kitchen skills. He is such a good cook, he really could open his own upscale restaurant. So we all cook together for the big dinner. This year we feasted on seared scallops, duck breast, asparagus tossed in a balsamic, soy sauce, butter reduction, and mushrooms stuffed with lump crab. Oh my, was it good. So good I had to take pictures. And so good, Uncle Kevin and Paul licked the cutting board that the duck was sliced on. The next morning we dined on crabby eggs benedict with homemade holandaise sauce, scratch buttermilk waffles with real maple syrup, fruit salad, and fresh squeezed orange juice from my Mom's orange tree. Isn't your mouth watering?? Usually I am a Semi-homemade, 30 minute meal kinda girl. But around the holidays we all slow down to an Alton Brown speed. But it is well worth it. If anyone wants a recipe send me a comment. I am not sure enough people even read my blog for me to write out all the recipes!!! Not pictured meals from this week: shrimp and scratch grits, pistachio encrusted salmon, and roasted Cornish hens. Yum. It's gonna be hard to go back to my normal, very un-scratch repertoire of meals.

A Hinson/Starstrom Christmas

Today we played with my loot again. I also got a remote for my camera, so we broke out the tripod and remote and took some pictures in the park. Evan wasn't the happiest as he is cutting two teeth and has a nasty case of diaper rash. But we got some pretty cute shots. We celebrated Christmas on the 22nd, so it really doesn't seem like Christmas. But hopefully it will tonight. We are going to have our traditional, not so traditional Christmas Eve dinner. Duck breast, seared scallops, crab stuffed mushrooms and fresh asparagus.

Peaceful Wishes

In case I left you off my Christmas card list please take a look at my Christmas card. Peaceful Wishes, and May Health, Peace and Sweet Content be Yours.

Shakespeare

Evan's Loot

We opened present early this year. Santa was kind enough to come on the 22nd so Uncle Kevin and Grammy could watch Evan play with his toys before they leave on the 25th/26th. So at the same time Paul and I officially gave up the notion that we wanted to live in a clutter-free, or even relatively clutter free home. YEAH, that's not happening anymore. Good thing he has a toy room in addition to his room.

You think, possibly, just possibly that this little boy is a bit spoiled? Being the first grandchild on my side of the family, and the first grandchild in seven years on Paul's side of the family leads to a very spoiled little boy. We also try and stress the importance of giving, not just receiving. And my guilt after looking at this picture and thinking about the less fortunate children leads me to tell you that we also donated toys to the Harbor House this year, a home for women and children. A few of my favorite toys this year: his wagon, his rain boots that have dinosaur faces on them, his Kawasaki ATV, his little toy vacuum, all the old fashioned wooden cars and blocks, and his little ride on pony. WOW, that sounds like even more than the picture shows. I guess they are all precious in their own way. Thank you to Daddy for working so hard and providing for us, and thank you to all our family for all the super-fun toys. Merry Christmas Evan, you deserve it.

Impromptu Santa Visit: The results

Here is the picture that was taken when Evan met Santa. I think it turned out pretty good. Santa doesn't look creepy at all here!!!

Impromptu Santa Visit

Evan and I were at the Mall today, when there was a very short line for Santa. Evan was looking cute in his red and green, and was in a pretty good mood... so I went for it!!! The way they do it, Evan didn't even know he was sitting on Santa's lap. They had me turn him around way before getting to him and just prop him up there on Santa. They had all sorts of toys and flashy things to distract Evan. When he got fussy, they had me sit next to Santa and put Evan on my lap. Then Santa crouched over and I laid way back, so you couldn't see me in the picture at all. They did a great job, and I ordered a picture that will be here in about ten days. The only problem was, it wasn't at all what I expected. Santa didn't even talk, which was kinda creepy. And it wasn't just for Evan, it was for all the children. It was just mostly a photo-op. In fact, Santa looked half-asleep. The magic just wasn't there. That is hard for me to say, because I am obsessed with pictures these days. But, no "Ho Ho Ho", no "have you been good this year", no "what would you like for Christmas?" It was just, "Cheese", and don't move or creep out the kids..... Anyway, I just had to vent. But I did get some cute pictures of Evan waiting in line for Santa. Just none on Santa, because I was mostly next to Santa!!! While waiting in line, we met a little boy and his Mom. The little boy could have been Evan's twin. Born just a month behind Evan, with the same red hair. He even had a blonde spot in the back, and his Mom had the same stroller as I did!! They played together beautifully, like they were long lost brothers!!!