Merry, Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Day, It's Christmas Day!!!!
We are rejoicing over Christ's birth and enjoying a rare day together.
I'm taking a break from the lull in the action to post this little update.

Our tree is little right now, but it will be majestic when we plant it near our house. Expect a fake tree next year, ya'll!

We had a TON of Amazon boxes pour in at the last minute that I didn't have time to wrap...whoops. (and there are more coming, one of Ella's gifts from me and Gabe...a Kindle Fire...shhhhhh!!!!....is coming sometime next week as well as some books from her grandparents!) Oh, and there's a Sphinx in there and Magpie's tail (Magpie, we believe, is on the upswing, yay!)

Christmas selfie! My hair is doing some crazy curly thing (I cut it this week) and the thing I love about this picture is how much I resemble my Mom. She's a lovely lady!

My very own Joe Cool ;) His big gift from me won't be here for a little while yet, but hey, chocolate and money is always good ;)

Ella and a pile of presents.

If you heard an excited scream, it was my kid because she got a TELESCOPE!!!! (from our landlord, Tony) It's been cloudy here the last few days, but she is (im) patiently waiting for a clear night so she can stargaze.

The only 50 Shades book I want to read ;)

Ahhh, I look ridiculous, but I love us. Nearly 11 years!!!! I asked Gabe earlier if this Christmas was better than last Christmas (cough stoveless house, insane neighbors, cough). He said that it was because, "I got to watch my family have a wonderful Christmas."
*swoon* Love this guy. We've been through some rough stuff these past 11 years, most of it my fault, but we've managed to come out better for it!
....oh!
Today is Christmas Day...and it's also the 5 month anniversary of bringing home Dave and The Sphinx!

Happy Adopt-A-Versary to my two turkeys!

Merry Christmas, dear friends!!!! May you feel God's love this season, and always!

A Little Bit of Christmas-y Stuff...

It's not looking like Christmas around here. At all.

The other day it was almost 70 degrees out, and Ella spent the day riding her bike (the one she got from the Sheriff's Dept.) and playing with the animals (our cats, the landlord's dogs) outside. It's supposed to cool down on Friday, but we're back up into the 60's next week. I've given up on the idea of a white Christmas this year, but that's okay.

We decorated our (living, in a pot, going outside in the Spring) tree.

My dear friend Jen sent me a beautiful ornament in memory of my Little One, gone nearly a month now. The ornament reads "Every time a bell rings, a faithful angel gets its wings."

Riley's ornament is nearly 6 years old. I got it when we first moved to NC.

I finally got all of the fall decorations off my mantel. The picture is Ella's handprints from years ago, and the two little ornaments are in honor of my two babies in Heaven. Oh, and Hawkeye the fish is there too. He's not decor though.

As far as Christmas shopping goes, it's almost done (Thank you, Swagbucks and Amazon) I have a few little things I need to get on Friday, and then we're ready. While I'm a little sad this Christmas, because Christmas Eve was going to be when I announced the pregnancy, I'm extremely blessed. I have a loving husband, a beautiful 9 year old girl, 3 sweet (for the most part) cats, amazing family and friends. I'm blessed, even through this sadness.

Also, Magpie says Merry Christmas!!!!