We're Going On A Road Trip

Two humans.
Two dogs.
Six states.
Seven hundred forty-five miles. 
Twelve hours, if we're lucky. 

We're leaving in one day. Tomorrow. 

We should probably start packing. 

Boy, do I hate packing. Normally, I make a list, and check it twice, just to make sure I have everything I could possibly need, and then some. Yes, I over-pack; I am a lady. 

I'm excited about Christmas in Michigan. The snow, the family, the food, the drinks, the laughs! I can't wait! 

In our four Christmases together, this will be the first one I'll spend with Jason's family. I'm eager to participate in their family traditions, and experience something new. Fear not Hightower family--I plan to give you all a call! Fingers crossed, we can get  FaceTime to work this year! :)

Witnessing a White Christmas would be stellar! It's not too often that we get snow here in the South, more sparse, a White Christmas! To my knowledge, I've never experienced waking up to freshly softly fallen snow. (Fingers crossed for this as well!)

(With temperatures like this, we're bound to see snow!)

Before we get to enjoy the Conlin family, we have to make it there! 
This year we decided to drive Jason's car up--more room for the dogs, better in the snow, etc. It should be fun! I'm sure I'll zonk out within the first couple of hours driving. Luckily, Jason has the day off, before we leave and can rest up for a loooooooooong drive! 

Buttttttttt, before that, it's home to finish our laundry and pack! 
Pack for the boys. Pack for myself. 

I'm counting down the hours! One more work day for me, then to the Northland we go! 

Our Christmas Photo Shoot

Christmas Photos.
They're fun! Fun for me! I'm sure Jason and the boys would choose a different adjective to describe them! Obnoxious. Stressful. Pointless. Waste of Time. You get the point. 

Somehow, I convinced Jason to participate in family Christmas photos this year. "We don't have any family photos." "It will be easier for someone else to take our pictures." "The boys will listen to you and I if we are sitting/standing beside them." "It will only take an hour...or so."

Maybe it was annoyance, or guilt. 
Who cares though?! We had our photos made!!!

Pictures say a thousand words. Enjoy! :)

I am very impressed with how well Howie and Charlie behaved. 

Charlie, being the diva he is, loves dressing up and having his picture taken. 

Ears down makes for a HAPPY dog! 

Sorry I don't have more pictures of the Howster, he refuses to sit still to have his picture taken. 

One last picture before you go!

When It Comes I Wanna Wail...MMMAAAAAAIIIIIIIILLLLLL!

Alas, our Christmas cards are in route to start hitting mailboxes as soon as tomorrow!!! 

Boy, am I glad to be finished with that task! 

You know, Jason had it EASY! All he had to do, besides taking pictures, was sign his name in every card. (Yes, I made him sign his own name. No, Christmas card etiquette doesn't call for it, but what he doesn't know won't hurt him!) After Jason signed the cards, I wrote a little message in each. I tried to make all of them different. That didn't work! At card number ten, I ran out of things to write. Hello rotation system! :)

I have yet to come up with a seamless plan/routine/scheme to the Christmas card process. I thought having an address book would do the trick. WRONG! I noticed Jason and I aren't the only folks that move yearly. Chasing down folks' new addresses is a job in itself. 

The idea of cutting down my list sounded great! WRONG! Jason and I made a list together that equaled the same number of folks on it before. 

Emailing is still personal, right? WRONG! If a tangible, hand-written card makes me feel special, I'm sure it makes majority of our recipients feel the same way.  

So, I had a little talk with myself--explained that I only do this once a year. ONCE a year, Jess, come on! 

Two days, two pens, 75 cards, 75 pictures, and 45 stamps later, I am finished! 

In an effort not to ruin any surprises for anyone, I dare not share any photos with you yet. Check back in 5-7 days for Christmas photos to hit the blog! 

Good luck to those still working on cards! And, congrats to those who bit the bullet and have them sent out! 

Only 363 more days until we do it again! 

For those of you who caught it, I did, in fact, name my post after a Blues Clues song! 

Since Thanksgiving Has Past..

We can talk about Christmas!

 

 

Tonight, Jason, the boys, and I went and had our pictures taken for our Christmas cards! Never have we had the opportunity to take a decent family picture! That is, until this year!

 

Normally, it's SIT! STAY! Ugh....REPEAT numerous times! We struggle to get Charlie and Howie to cooperate with any kind of proper pose. Of the 200 pictures we get, very few are acceptable enough to actually send to our family and friends.

 

Thank the Lord my uncle is a photographer!

 

Tonight, my little family traveled to John's house to have our family Christmas photos made! What a joy! A great majority of the pictures turned out lovely! No, I can't share them with you now, as I don't want to ruin the surprise of our cards arriving in your mailboxes. (I promise to share the photos with you all in a later blog post.)

 

I was utterly shocked at how easy this years pictures were--we didn't have to yell at the boys as much, nor did we have to time our poses to make sure we were seated just in time. Hey, I could get used to this! :)

 

(For any of you, looking for a photographer in upstate South Carolina, comment below and I can pass along my uncles information!)

 

My goal is to have all Christmas cards in the mail by Friday! Expect them to hit your mailboxes early next week!

 

Here's to starting off the Holiday Season with fabulous family photos!!!