I apologize to everyone one...it has been unusually quiet here at the blog. Not that a lot hasn't been going on. I was just giving my fingers a little break from shooting. We've been doing things like Christmas shopping, Disneyland (again, but I think you knew that), and cleaning the house. Nothing too far from the ordinary, and that's why I've been enjoying it so much.

Holly and Anna are super excited for the holidays. They are out of school for the next two weeks and I'm really looking forward to seeing them some more. I don't have a wedding until January 17th...so there's a little bit of non-wedding time in there. Of course, there are coffee table books and albums to design, engagement sessions, a few family sessions still, and other odds and ends to take care of. The dreaded end-of-year tax preparations are due to start soon, which always leaves me with some good New Years Resolutions about how organized I will become. I am going to share my New Years Resolutions here on the blog for 2009 in an effort to commit to them. Keep me honest as it were.

Yesterday, Holly went to see Santa at the mall. She told him she wanted "Barbie Diamond Castle". Well, today in the store she saw a *different* one of the Barbies from that line and was devastated. Tears started welling up in her eyes. She'd told Santa the wrong name of the doll she'd wanted. So, at the store (brillant) me says "I'll take a photo of the right doll with my phone and email it to Santa so he knows. Ok? That way he might be able to get the right one for you." She calmed down a bit as I took the picture, but still seemed nervous about it. Fast forward to tonight. Santa came through our neighborhood with a police escort and Humvee tow (reindeer are getting their rest). Holly and Anna rushed out to see him. As we are running out the door, afraid that he's already gone by...Holly yells out "MOM, GET YOUR PHONE SO I CAN TELL SANTA ABOUT BARBIE!"

It just made me smile.  She still firmly believes in him.