 This is about the only day of the year you can get me out on a frozen lake. Christmas at the cabin is a tradition we've started with Jahred's family and I hope it's one that will stick. Life is simpler, the kids are better behaved and we all go home tired. Saturday we celebrated our first Christmas 2014 on Bluff Lake and the kids had their inauguration to paper ripping. This year we are working on expressing thanks. When Axel was a toddler it seems he was programmed with the "pleases and thank yous." Over the past 6 months these expressions have been deleted from his vocabulary. Perhaps some of the most difficult tasks in parenting involve programming. If only it were as simply as writing HTML – 5 minutes of typing and the changes are permanent. By the end of this season I never want to say, "What do you say?" AGAIN! I didn't send out Christmas cards this year. It's bugging me...but only me...because the boys in my life have no idea we ever sent them out. This Holiday season however feels no less special. Merry Christmas from our home to yours. If I don't see you before – enjoy the gift opening, smile lots and please say "thank you." - Jen   
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Ready for the best stocking stuffer idea? I'm going to take all the credit for this one which I MAY HAVE SEEN ON PINTEREST not so very long ago. If I know you, you are scrambling right about now to come up with gifts for teachers, classroom paras, daycare playmates, neighbors you don't really know, strange co-workers and traveling relatives – am I right? I have the SOLUTION! REDBOX codes! Everyone can use them (or re-gift them), and you can literally purchase this gift minutes before giving it. Advance apologies to my peeps who read the blog...you'll probably be getting one. Act surprised please...and let me know how brilliant this idea is. This morning I purchased a pack of 50 using myself as the "recipient," printed darling tags from HERE, and copied one code onto each tag. I tested one of the codes at a local REDBOX (all good!!) and added a pouch of microwave popcorn. Wham...DONE! See it and weep. Christmas just got a whole lot easier...and Valentines, and Easter baskets, and Birthday Party favors, and client appreciation events. Think about it... - Jen  Last weekend I was asked to participate in my most important photography gig yet! PICTURES WITH SANTA! "No pressure" to capture 250 perfect moments with some of the Twin Cities most special kids! Shriners Hospital is a place very dear to my heart and I'm a "serial volunteer" there – willing to tackle any post they put me at. Being behind the lens as a "one-take + print-on-the-spot" photographer was a great experience and I learned a lot about dim indoor lighting and about printing without editing. It's incredibly difficult for me to let people see the images right out of my camera. Nothing like "not looking back" and printing them immediately to be put in frames or on Christmas cards. With my mom at the printer, we successfully navigated hundreds of families/images and made sure the amazing patients and "regulars" (like my kids) left with a picture in hand. Speaking of Santa...this guy was amazing. I'm not sure what camp you're in...Santa is creepy...I loath paying $20 for Santa pictures at the mall...my kids HATE sitting on Santa's lap...SANTA KEN IS THE ANSWER TO ALL OF YOUR SANTA HANGUPS. Usually going by the name of "Your Magic Santa," Ken is relatively new in the game. His hair is authentic (bleach blonde...as he'll tell you), he opens with a High-5, he can do Christmas Magic and he's local. Looking for a "drop-in" by Santa this season? I recommend this guy for your event or home. He changed my mind about the whole idea...and my kids LOVED him. Click HERE to find him on Facebook. Hope your Holiday prep is going well. 16 days until the "Elf on the Shelf" gets picked up by Santa's sleigh...who's counting. - Jen   |
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