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Season’s Greetings ~ 2013 Style

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I don’t know about you, but the minute I drop the 120+ Christmas cards into the big blue mailbox at the post office drive-thru I can breathe a sigh of relief. I like to get them out fairly early so they aren’t hanging over my head too far into the season. But, getting them out early means that you have to have your picture and your card in the works before Thanksgiving! We usually just include the kids in our Christmas card photos because honestly, who wants to see a couple of tired, 40-something parents?!?

This year, on Thanksgiving weekend, we headed to nearby Mentryville on a Sunday afternoon and Jay snapped a few pics. I was, of course, determined to get “THE picture” that day so I could get on with the Christmas cards. I had already scoured Shutterfly, Costco, Walgreens, you-name-it for a template that I liked. I found one on the Target site that I loved which coordinated with the paper that I chose for our annual letter. Score!

Xmas2013_mentryville

For me, coordinating the kids’ outfits is the hardest thing about photos. Do we want formal or casual? Plaid or stripes? Traditional red & green? As I was wandering through Target one day {not unusual, of course} I noticed that the Levi’s dENiZEN jeans that fit Holden so well were temporarily marked 40% off. I immediately grabbed the camo pair that I had been eyeing for full price in the last size 6 and knew that I was going to work these into the holiday photo somehow. Then minutes later I visited the girls’ clothing section and found this lonely camo shirt {from the Disney D-Signed line} hanging on the clearance rack for 50% off ~ about 10 bucks. Done.

I knew Elliott would wear her favorite Old Navy skinnies, but now I was on the lookout for a top for Holden. I quickly ducked into Crazy 8 on Black Friday and found a green and blue checkered plaid button up and fun graphic tee for Holden {both for under $10!!} Done. I like to layer the short sleeved tee on top of the button up…the saleslady looked at me funny when I told her that’s what I was going to do, but I think it looks darling….er, cool.

He needed some shoes so I popped into Children’s Place and found the little brown boots that I thought would be good church shoes since he always seems to wear either his beat up tennies or flip flops to mass. Black Friday deal on the boots ~ $9 and change! Done.

I didn’t order enough of the above card and Jay needed extras for his co-workers so I reordered 25 more cards with this simple chalkboard design…

Xmas2013_chalkboard

That’s our Christmas card story for Twenty Thirteen.

Until next year….

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We hope your holidays are merry & bright and filled with family, friends, laughter and good cheer!

Many blessings to you and yours in 2014 and always.

XOXO,

The Aspiras’

Season’s Greetings

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{Thank you to the random woman in Toon Town that offered to take our picture for this here Christmas card!}

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Santa has come and gone.

Gifts have been wrapped and unwrapped.

Elliott has been face timing me all afternoon on her new iPod Touch.

Holden has mastered his Batman Lego Wii game.

Turkey is out of the brine and on the Weber.

Side dishes are prepped and ready to go in the oven.

Paula Deen’s old fashioned sweet potato pie is cooling on the counter.

It’s sunny and 70* here today ~ the kids both dressed themselves in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt.

Another typical, yet oh so special, Christmas Day.

I am already {sad} that the season is coming to a close…looking forward to 2012, though, and all that it has to offer.

Twelve months to mold into whatever we want them to be.

There will be busy days and lazy days, laughter and tears, ups and downs, meeting new friends and spending time with the {old} ones, trying to remember to live each day to the fullest and with conviction & purpose.

THANK YOU to all who come here daily, weekly or monthly and flop around with me. I truly appreciate each and every one of you!

The merriest of Christmases to you and yours.

XO