Snap. Scrap. Repeat!: where we are

really.

we are here.

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Somewhere between Thanksgiving and today life has been a roller coaster of a lot of things - none too trying, but some were definitely tedious. But no matter the nature, it just doesn't SLOW down for anyone or anything. Chato and I are out the door before sunrise, and if we are lucky, we get home just before the sun sets somewhere in the west again.

The days have been heavy. We are both putting in 10 hour days and wore out at the end of each one of them.

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Approximately two weeks ago, we left off with a celebration of gratitude and youth. Then the next day the kids were hopping up and down to get the Christmas decor put in place...

Which we did.

Cheerfully.

We had quite a few non-friendly light sets this year. But nonetheless, out home is dressed in it's full holiday decor. I haven't had the chance to sit back and enjoy it yet. In fact, we only started a bit of shopping this morning, but today wasn't the right day for it. SO we didn't get too far.

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I wonder if I could get the kids to do Santa pics this year? Yeah. Right. I thought about this while going through some old pictures at My Mom's house...

(hee hee....)

I was about THREE and I have all these cute Santa pics from the mall.

sigh.

I think this sleigh has flown off...

Although I will say, whether my almost teenager wants to ditch the ringing of the Polar express bells or not, Aly is still hopping on a famous Santa site to check for the countdown and she has stated she will keep the iPhone in her hand BY the tree to await the jolly old elf...I think she is either REALLY cute or REALLY wanting to investigate the truth.

SIGH.

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Well, shortly after getting the Christmas tree in place, we took a side trip to the Eastside of the city...

...and picked up Dario and Giselle for a sleepover...

They have have hung out and stayed with each other before in Mexico, but never at one another's houses here at home. It was the perfect night for them! They enjoyed each other SO much.

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But since then, it has been a flurry of the NORMAL stuff. The homework and the projects.

I found myself a cool pinterest PIN to help Mom hang all of her old frames that she had scattered across the old house before, and she decided to paint up the frames...

...and we laid them out in a HUGE line design for the staircase...

...which is complete now!!

:) so very happy with the results! :)

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I had a two hour reprieve at an early holiday Christmas party from my school last Friday.

... and I work with some pretty amazing ladies...

I've been trying to use my crockpot more. I found this yummy Baked Potato soup for last Sunday...and Mom brought the cornbread. Even if no one else was-- I was a fan.