Eddie and Kayla
Madison, Eddie, and Kayla
However Motherhood comes to you it's a miracle.
Of course I had to include shopping on 'Black Friday' as tradition #4! Although I typically do not get into the crowds on Black Friday, I try to stay home and decorate. My goal each year is to have most all of my shopping completed well before Christmas. I try my best to stick with a budget and list. I think Christmas is way too commercialized and I really hope not to go crazy with the gifts and the 'Santa' thing when Molly actually gets here. This year for Eddie and Maddie I have bought them one present each (that's OK, right?)...I got her a monogrammed easel and him a little toddle toy.
I've heard of families setting a limit of 3 gifts per kid, or other such restrictions so as to not go too crazy just because it's Christmas. I don't know if I will be that stringent, but I do think it's good to keep things in perspective!
And of course the finale which can be seen here.
I cannot remember the first time I watched this movie, I was very young. But it quickly became a tradition for my mom and me to watch together the Friday after Thanksgiving while we decorated the Christmas tree. I've seen it a hundred times and I could watch it a hundred more. It's just the best!
Info. from Wikipedia:
White Christmas is a 1954 jukebox musical movie starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye that features the songs of Irving Berlin, including the titular "White Christmas". The film was directed by Michael Curtiz and co-stars Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.
Filming took place between September and November 1953. The movie was the first to be filmed in the new VistaVision process and its lush Technicolor cinematography has ensured that it has had a long shelf life on TV, video and DVD. Released in 1954, it became the top grossing film of that year.
The movie was supposed to reunite Crosby and Fred Astaire for their third Irving Berlin extravaganza of song and dance—the first two being Holiday Inn (1942) and Blue Skies (1946). However, Astaire bowed out after reading the script. Donald O'Connor was selected to replace Astaire, but he, too, had to pass because of an illness. O'Connor was replaced by Danny Kaye. The choreography was done by Bob Fosse, although he was uncredited.[citation needed]
Vera-Ellen's singing was dubbed by Trudy Stevens, except in the song "Sisters," where Rosemary Clooney sang both parts[1].
The title song was first used in Holiday Inn, released in 1942, when it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep garnered this film an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.
Rosemary Clooney was not allowed to record her voice for the soundtrack album because it was being released by a record company (Decca) other than hers (Columbia). She was replaced on the soundtrack album by Peggy Lee.
Dancer Barrie Chase appears unbilled, as the character Doris Lenz ("Mutual, I'm sure!"). Future Academy Award winner George Chakiris also appears, and has a notable appearance in two musical numbers, but is unbilled. John Brascia is the lead dancer who appears opposite Vera-Ellen throughout the movie, particularly in the Mandy, Choreography, and Abraham numbers.
Academy Award-winning character actor Dean Jagger wore a toupee in the film. Also appearing were Mary Wickes, Anne Whitfield, Tony Butala, Bea Allen, Johnny Grant, and a large supporting cast.
Me, Eddie, Ambre, Maddie, 'Mama Maze', and Eddie
We had family pictures taken this weekend at Portrait Innovations. The family group shot turned out pretty good. The pictures of Eddie and Ambre and the kids were good too. Unfortunatley the kids were sick and so after these were taken they went down hill. I guess all the people and lights were quite overwhelming. They wouldn't smile much for individual pictures or pictures with me. But these turned out pretty good.
In fact the stress of everything inside the school building got so thick last week with the semester winding down and teachers stressing over what is yet to be taught I had to take a personal (read: mental health day) on Friday. It was a lovely day all to myself. I enjoyed going to my annual Christmas shopping hot stop:
While shopping, I ran into 3 other teachers from my school!!!! I guess we all had the same idea! Hilarious!!!!
Then I went to the day spa and got a facial, massage, and eyebrow wax!
My last stop was to a pre-yard sale-sale. I went to a friend's house who has a daughter in first grade. She was selling some of the clothes that she had outgrown. The dresses were beautiful and I couldn't resist buying them for Molly. I absolutely love the traditional dresses I grew up wearing...handmade, smocked, bishop style with bows to match. These are impossible to find in department stores anymore.
I have a very specific taste in children's (girls) clothing. I don't like the trendy clothing they sell today that make 3 years olds look like 13 year olds. I've even noticed they have 'bikini' or "low rise" sized/shaped underwear for little ones!? What's wrong with that picture? I'm not a fan of baby gap or old navy. It's just too...trendy. My all time pet peeve is 'message shirts' for kids. You know the kind, anything with the word "princess" on it, or telling the world "am i cute or what". Well, you get the point. Just give me some simple clothes in great fabric, with a traditional design and I'm happy. Also a point of friction with my taste, jeans for little kids...they just don't look comfy, especially with a diaper on.
So I love shopping around boutiques and specialty stores (as well as eBay). I have really tried to control my spending for Molly b/c I don't know how old she'll be or what size she'll wear. But when I see something really nice and classic, I have to buy it. These dresses were all name brand dresses that retail for $60 and up. Mom and I bought them for $10 each. They range in size from 4-6 so Madison can use them also. She already has enough clothes to dress an army of girls, but these dresses are so special.
Lavender bunny dress and blue smocked dress