As I was getting ready to post our obligatory Santa photo, I came across a gem I forgot about.

Christmas 2009 - Our First Christmas Photo Shoot

This was Christmas 2009, our first Christmas with the girls. This was one of many photos I had taken when we were doing our own Christmas photo shoot for our first Christmas card. This one didn't make it, but it's got to be one of my favorites. I showed Mike B. and it is now his screen saver for his work computer.

It is amazing what a difference 2 plus years make. Time really does just fly by. And while I don't miss the sleepless nights that came with them at such a young age, this photo reminds me just how blessed we are to have two happy, healthy, and highly energetic girls whom I just wanna hug and kiss and never let go...well okay, not fully true...there are those times!

So now, without further ado, I present our truly fashionable duo and the jolly fat guy that came with a $26 price tag!

Santa and the girls 2011

Eva is SUCH A HAM! Rose we had to bribe with a peppermint candy cane....which both promptly got all over their hands and face once we departed with my wallet $26 lighter.

This evening, Mike B. is making Pizzellis for an office shindig, in the day he wrapped all the presents, and I put together their Schwinn tricycles. Unlike poor Edward and Paul, these things were put together in three main components with nary a cuss word uttered...

The down side, these things are solid and metal...these have to go outside as I don't relish the idea of patching up drywall. Hope we get a few decent days before winter fully sets in. 

So we're as ready as we can be. I sadly, still didn't finish my Christmas shopping. With the girls being sick over the past two weeks with a cold, then strep, then another cold, and the insanity of work as we all try to get things done before everyone goes on vacation, shopping is the last thing on my mind. I barely got Christmas cards out in time and still have a box of goodies sitting on my counter that needs to be shipped off to Germany...turns out my twin can't find any Black bean sauce in Germany,

So to all, happy holidays and here's looking to a new year. 2012 will bring more adventure to our family as we begin down the path of starting them in daycare one day a week. And then, as Spring finally lifts our winter doldrums, we celebrate their birthdays and we will be the proud parents of 3 year-olds...it seems that it is at this age that most parents I have talked to recall with a shudder. Ah well, it's what we signed up for..so BRING IT ON!

Mele kalikimaka e hau'oli makahiki hou!