An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.

Since we can't party like we used to...we are staying home for another New Year's Eve.

New Year's Eve has always been sort of a depressing holiday for me. I have no idea why. I guess I get sentimental about the years that have passed.

Overall, I'm very lucky. I have a beautiful daughter, wonderful husband and a loving family.

Anyway...

Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.

Since Emily was only 6 months for her first Christmas, she really didn't understand what was going on.

Well, she is 18 months now and she got so excited when she saw the toys Santa left for her Christmas morning.

Later my parents and Jim's parents came for dinner. Then we got some more wonderful presents! It really was a wonderful Christmas!

Twas the Night Before Christmas....

Once we all got up and got ready, we went up to Michelle & Tony's to celebrate Christmas Eve. Jim's parents were there too. As usual, Michelle & Tony were wonderful hosts and we had some yummy food!

We had so much fun. Emily got to play with Laura. And we all got some beautiful gifts!

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.

Today we made our annual trip to get a Christmas tree. We packed up the car and headed to Max's. It was really cold, but we got a really nice tree. Emily can't wait to decorate it!

Bob the Builder worked!

Since I had no luck getting Emily to smile for Christmas pictures, I took Jim with me in a last ditch effort for a Christmas card picture.

We got to the Picture People and Emily was all smiles...until the camera came out. Then, that was all she wrote.

In an attempt to get a smile, Jim started singing the Bob the Builder theme song and.......it worked! We got a smile!