And yet every time it’s some dreamy month, like June or August, and I’m lounging in moose shorts or sundresses, or whatever else I lounge in, I always think, “Man, I’m so glad it’s not December.” It’s the sound of birds. It gets me every time. Birds in the morning and crickets at night. It’s van doors sliding easily open, without being iced shut. It’s the lack of sniffles, fevers, barfs, or whatever else that strikes in December. My happiness has less to do with the weather/season, than it does with how equipped I am to cope with it all – through sun and sleet and locusts and hail. I like the loungy ease of life better, is all.
The holidays this year were exquisite, is also all. So this is Christmas, and what have you done? I hugged my super cute niece and nephew. I gave presents. I got presents. I took sunset photos. I saw Ilene from Hippie Chick Granola.
She brought hours upon hours of closeness, laughter and stories. She brought memories of our friendship, as well as a glimpse of future Christmas Eves together. Or beach houses together. Also, she brought granola. My namesake granola!
I got a fetching TARDIS dress and it fits really well in the right places! That sounds weird but I’m thin yet curvy, and my hips are high – making my legs long. I’m not tall but I look like I am. Optical illusion. Nothing fits right but this dress fits!
It used to be worse when I lived in California. Every trip to the east coast was exhausting and red-eyed and a little queasy with anxiety, and a lot achy with transitions. It’s easier now that we live here. Not easy, but easier.
Oh! And in case you wondered, I did get pajamas and chocolate, of course! Cassidy (and Scarlet) DID get an iPad. From Santa. He was generous. Or knew we have a flight coming up. My sister was my Secret Santa and she got me flannel pants, those amazing and tight thermal shirts that some people wear as long underwear but I wear as clothes. She also gave me Supergirl underwear and snickered when I opened it. I face my hardest days with Supergirl underwear and I’m not ashamed to admit it!
I am still sad deep down that it is all over here and hope I don’t sound too sappy admitting it. Yes, it was crazy here as you know, but still it always goes way too quick if you ask me. Still loved all you got, especially that coat and truly looks gorgeous on you. Santa was indeed generous here, too. So at least we have that at the very least! 😉
No, it is sad! This first week is hard and kids getting sick and the closeness and the excitement of the holidays.. over. That’s why we do Disney in January/February. It gets us excited again AND we escape the cold.
Very Nice pictures as always Tamara especially Scarlet’s pics with you, and Des, and Athena, and the videos too. I’d like to have a little snow on the ground for a more winter-like effect. It was a near tropical 67° on Christmas Eve, which was great for the travelers. We had a fun Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and day after Christmas right here with family and relatives don’t see as often as we used to when we lived closer together. Our tree and decorations are still up and the lights are on at night. I dread taking them down every year. That will be our project for this weekend.
I was driving around tonight to get pizza for the sleepover and I noticed so many houses were still lit up. It made me feel warm and happy.
I’m glad you had a nice holiday! The 70 degrees did make me feel warm.. and the holiday itself made me feel happy!
It was fun, but there was a lot of family drama this year. It was hard to avoid. I soldiered on, put up a few protective walls and it turned out good. Actually pretty great. There were a lot of great prople who helped it turn outthat way. I love the coat and dress. And that wall art is the bomb. I kind of think we need that.
I think there are other Avengers characters too.. that will come out of your wall! Who doesn’t want that?
Family drama is hard to avoid for sure.
Christmas kinda sucked, to be honest. The kids were fighting constantly and I didn’t feel well enough to deal with it. I’m happy to box it up, put it in the past, and move on. Happy 2016!
I love your new art installations. My kids (and hubby) would go nuts!
Also, if any doll ever needed eyes that blink, those do!!
haha, I’m waiting for their heads to turn towards me. Imagine waking up to those dolls! And Scarlet loves them so much. They’re almost as tall as Des.
Sheesh.
Glad you’re feeling better!
Hey, there is nothing wrong with phone photos! I am not a photographer, so I use my phone more! I love all of the presents you got and I am sooooo happy that you got your Tardis dress. I have to say, the giant dolls creep me out, lol. Oh, Adam and I have been DROOLING over that Captain America shield since Cassidy brought it home!
The shield was custom made but if you’re in the market.. I know a guy! Well, I know a guy (Cassidy) who knows a guy.
The dolls probably are freaky but I still haven’t had one of those moments in which I walk into the kids’ room (where the dolls are STANDING, mind you) and thought the dolls were the kids.
Penny gets a little weird around them.
Plain and simple, I am a summer boy! However, this December in Florida was still summer. We had 85 degrees on Christmas day!
Okay: I love Doctor Who and the whole concept of the show!
That’s a great coat!
I wish I had started on a balance bike.
My mother couldn’t ever even say the name of that gun.
I am freaked out!
Presents were the least of all the nice things about Christmas this year!
The official gun name is “Fart Blaster!” I can imagine she still can’t say it, huh?
I’m a summer girl through and through. Born in it, road trip-obsessed, and an ice cream eater too. But only in the summer.
Now why do I live in New England?
I always start off thinking there is so much time and then before I know it, it is over. We’re still adjusting to being back. Everyone is tired and not quite up to full steam yet. Thankfully it is Friday and we have the weekend to charge again.
And your Doctor Who coat is AMAZING! I love the bit of unexpected on the inside – which of course, is perfect for Doctor Who.
Yes, that inside of the coat is really something! I love the element of surprise!
I want that fart gun! I always play with it in the store. I should just get it already.
Natalie has a My Size Rapunzel doll. It scares me sometimes.
I’m still waiting for those dolls to scare me. Maybe they don’t because they’re usually lying on the floor of the kids’ room. And the kids are never doing that. They’re always running around like lunatics.
Furthermore, that room is such a mess that I wouldn’t notice bodies on the ground anyway!
But fart guns are magic.
You know it! I wear my Wonder Woman undies proud too;) xo
I want those! And Batman.. and Star Wars.. and.. and.. maybe you’ll be my Secret Santa again.
I’ll pass on the giant dolls, but I’ll take the BB-8! And the fart gun. The first app my son put on my phone was a fart app, and it entertained him for years. Probably still would, but I took it off.
haha! I want a fart app. Immediately.
I want Supergirl underwear or maybe Wonderwoman underwear. Haha. Love your pics as always, Tamara. They’ve really captured your Holidays. Athena is hilarious in that video. Love your coat as well. Please model the dress for us in your next post. 🙂
I will! One of these days. I did wear it on Facebook but it was a dark phone pic. Meh.
I didn’t know there was a real fart gun! 😀
I think somebody is going to look H O T in her new dress!! ROAR!! And that jacket is so nice 🙂
The giant dolls may scare me at night, I’m just being honest.
I use to scare my little brother with my Barbie styling head 😀 I put it in his bed!! LMBO!!
It sounds like you had a great Christmas. It all went by too fast for me.
XOXO
Ok, that’s too hilarious about the Barbie head! They are scary!
These dolls haven’t gotten me yet.
I need to wear the TARDIS dress for a hot date!
I want a fart gun! Lucky Des. Those dolls are a little creepy, I have to admit. Your Christmas was obviously joyful – it shows in your faces! Thanks for sharing a little with us :)!
And thank you for sharing it with me! It’s nice to think about.
I totally want to take his fart gun out for a spin. I’m not sure why I don’t.
The kids are so cute in their hats!! Seriously, chocolate pretzel granola? Your own blend? That is the coolest!
It’s one of the greatest honors in my life! I will never get over the granola blend thing.
What a sweet Christmas! And, I love your TARDIS dress and coat! They look amazing!
The TARDIS stuff took the cake! I can’t wait until it gets a bit warmer so I can wear them.
Your coat looks really nice. This dolls are huge. I hope the fart gun isn’t scented….lol. It looks like you guys had a great Christmas.
My family and I had a great Christmas too. My kids got a lot of fun gifts. My husband got Mario Maker for the WiiU and my kids have fallen in love with all things Mario again. I got my first really nice purse, Activewear, and some casserole dishes.
I have always loved Mario everything. So that makes me happy!
And the fart gun isn’t scented, luckily, but I’ve heard people buy fart bombs and fart sprays as practical jokes. Ew!
Your family really knows how to do it right when it comes to presents. The Tardis dress and Dr. Who jacket are awesome and just so you. Supergirl underwear would me me super happy. It made me realize how boring my underwear is!
I don’t mind December, it’s really March that does it for me. It’s so long and dreary and you think winter should be over but it keeps knocking you down with snow and cold and getting dark early. And ah, how I miss the sound of crickets in the evening. I forgot the existed when I moved to the city!
It’s funny because I never really mind March because it’s so close to spring. It’s hopeful.
And yet that’s when we get our worst viruses and when it’s frigid still. And long.
That fart gun is hilarious. T would adore it – and drive us nuts with it. Those Anna and Elsa dolls freak me out though. We haven’t yet taken down our Christmas decorations; looks like that will be done tomorrow. We went big this Christmas. The only thing T asked for was 6 pairs of slippers. It was so random that Santa just had to oblige. The Husband got a new TV loaded with all the bells and whistle. It was far more than we normally spend on each other, but the old one was dying a slow and painful death.
HAHAHA! Did you really get her six pairs of slippers? Or just one?
Either way, it’s charming.
Honestly I’m glad hardly anyone asks anymore, “how was your Christmas?” because it’s bad form to say “it was our worst ever. Yours?” Let’s just move past it.
I’d love to have BB-88. For Christmas, Arbor Day, or Jan. 9. How cool. And the Captain’s shield. You have the coolest stuff, you know.
(I got that Fart Blaster in the white elephant for work. I took it back to Target and bought many gifts for the girls.)
I can’t imagine the fart blaster being responsible for lots of gifts, but if so, god bless the fart blaster!
I remember seeing those avenger wall toys at toy fair, I knew they were gonna be huge!! So fun seeing them here!! Those tall Elsa and Anna’s are kind of amazing and honestly I think my eldest boy would absolutely LOVE them.
Well thank you for saying that! Everyone else thinks they’re creepy. I honestly don’t. I just step over their bodies a lot, though.. Wait. Did I say bodies?
Oh my gosh you can do a whole photo series on those two dolls haha. And yep, sometimes I’m glad the holidays are over. I get the birthday blues from time to time (though I avoided it this year) and it’s like a breath of relief that January rolls around.
I’m glad you avoided the birthday blues!
I’m fascinated that January – my most dreaded month sometimes – is almost over. I actually like February and March better, although where I live, people tend not to like those months.
I need super girl underwear. And I’m jealous of your doctor who wear. Hubs did surprise me with Christmas ornaments this year. Now he’s looking for a weeping angel tree topper.
Ps. The dolls are creepy.
A Weeping Angel tree topper is perfect. I think we want one too. I wonder if it will be creepier than the dolls. Probably not!
We had a nice Christmas. I thought I’d post about it, but by the time I get to that it will be too late maybe. Those dolls with Des are hilarious. And my daughter would die for that Dr. Who coat! Your phone photos are great– I especially love the one of you and Scarlet.
I don’t take a lot of photos with Scarlet.. or with anyone.. so it was really fun to get into them!
And the Doctor Who coat photos were fun! Slightly awkward, but I’m glad he did it.
I love those Avenger wall items!! Those dolls freak me out, this is my first time hearing about a fart gun, and as always great pictures!
I have to admit – I had no idea fart guns existed either! They are way fun, though. You just can’t help but play with it.
OH what FUN GIFTS FOR ALL!! I especially love the visit you had with Ilene. You’re so lucky. Can I have a place at that beach house too?
LOVE all the fun you had this Christmas. That fart gun cracks me UP.
And your coat and dress are perfect for your gorgeous body. You are SO beautiful.
You are so beautiful too!!!
I can’t wait for our beach house fun.
Ohhh your presents are great! I love your tardis dress and Dr Who coat! They truly fit you. We stayed home for Christmas and New Year and I had several Christmas parties to attend. I missed home but I’m going home anyway next month. I think the fact that I’m finally going home and leaving my job made it easy for me to transition to the post-holiday madness rather smoothly.
What a nice transition then! I love that. It’s always a strange, confusing and wonderful time for us.
Good to read, and see!, that you had a ton of fun over Christmas with family and friends. Isn’t it awesome to meet a fellow blogging friend? But you are right, it is hard to say goodbye to loved ones to go home. I feel you.
It’s always hard for me. I do terribly with transitions too.
Meeting blogger friends is so awesome and rewarding, and always just a tad unexpected.
I’m bummed Christmas is over but I got a Go Pro – such fun! Tucker got what he wanted as well… I think I may borrow this idea and do a wrap-up post about it. Also YAY that you got to see Ilene! What fun! And your coat? AWESOME, my friend. Truly.
I do love a good wrap-up post.
The coat is awesome but it’s been so frigid out that I haven’t worn it yet. Yet.
Goodness, your children are so stinkin precious 🙂 And love all of the presents–sounds as though Santa was incredibly generous this year! Love your Tardis dress, too (don’t laugh, I may have had to Google that. I’ve never seen Doctor Who!).
I’m kind of bummed the holidays are all over, too. January/February are always the worst months to get through, for me at least.
YOU GOT TO MEET ILENE! And you have a granola named after you! How stinkin cool! Here’s a small world story: Ilene is friends with a girl I know through our local animal shelter here. I love 6 degree stories 🙂
So glad Des got his fart gun. HA!
I love six degree stories too! How magical and not at all surprising.
The kids are so precious with their fart guns and creepy dolls. A Christmas miracle, indeed.
Maybe next year we’ll get out to Montclair!
Our Christmas was good, it really was, but so exhausting too. I don’t know how to avoid it, either. And it makes me sad, because I’m happiest when it over. And that sucks! Cute coat! And the dolls are a little scary, but just a little.
That does suck, but I feel relief when it’s over. Especially the new year. I’m not a big fan!
My Christmas was a bit rough as we lost two family members, but I am always grateful for the holidays and the chance to spend time with family. I love your Tardis dress and you do wear it well – gorgeous!
Ugh, I am so sorry about the family members. Sometimes the holiday season is just rough. I’ve certainly had ones with multiple losses.
Chunky is obsessed with Dr. Who. Like obsessed with it. We are almost done the final season on Netflix and he is so upset. He asked if we can watch the seasons that he didn’t watch (I think he started watching when David Tenant was Dr. but just right when he was about to regenerate.) So he’s excited about watching the older episodes (which were pretty budget LOL)
That dress is smashing and that coat? Lovely!!
Those dolls creep the eff out of me. No thank you!!
Cell pics are the best.
The general consensus about the dolls is not good!
As for the dress and coat, I just wish we didn’t have a -500 windchill because I want to wear them badly.
What fun gifts! Enjoy. I love taking phone photos… quick, easy and great images.
I was late to use the camera phone, but now I can’t stop. Go figure!
Glad you had a great Christmas!! Ans, even your phone photos are good, so no worries about giving you camera a little time off. 🙂
Thank you – that means a lot! It’s hard to take photos in the winter. The sun goes behind the trees here around 2:00 or 3:00. Ugh.
Avengers wall lights!?? I have a mighty need!! That would be so amazing in our rec room. Other than that, I would never turn down fuzzy pants or pajamas either. I put my camera down for most of the month too. And now it’s too cold to go outside and not freeze my eyeballs in place. But then… who knows – it could be balmy and spring like in a week because the weather this year is Mother Nature on a Bender. so weird.
Mother Nature is throwing us the cold wind right now!
I don’t love winter photography and I forget that. So lately I’ve felt uninspired. Well, yeah. That’s because by 3:00pm, my house is already dark because the sun goes behind the tall trees!
Ah, to dream of light and warmth.
we currently have a minus 23 windchill factor here. you won’t believe what I promised my husband so that he would walk to the bus stop to get the kids! LOL Other than that, we’ve spent the day in front of the fire drinking coffee and watching Inception while posing various theories about the film. truly dorks we are.
Heh.. so what did you promise him?
And tell me about Inception! Any new theories? I haven’t seen it in years.
you’re not that kind of blog!! LOL
And our Inception theory is that his wedding ring is actually his true totem. because it’s always on in the dream state where he cannot let go of his dead wife, but never during the Reality parts of the film where he knows she is dead. So at the end when he sees his children’s faces finally — he’s not wearing the ring = reality. Also, because he finally sees their faces (when he never could during dream sequences), he doesn’t need to see the spinning top fall…. it’s already confirmed for him that this is Real. Now you have to watch it and tell me if I am crazy or genius. 🙂
I only saw it that once in the theater.. but.. yes. I agree with this. I remember thinking that at the time.
Also, it’s always strange when both kids are on the swings and I’m only staring at the backs of their heads. I always think about Inception and wonder what it would be like to not see their faces.
Covered with boogers and grins.
What a wonderful Christmas you had!
It was so awesome!
It really is a whirlwindy time of year! What fun presents! And your Tardis dress is pretty amazing. I love that you and Ilene got to hang out and catch up and that there’s future Christmas eves in your future. And hey – even our cameras need a break!
Oh boy do they! Mine likes to charge up her batteries. I think it takes me even longer, though.
the anna and elsa dolls are as big as i am. i am scared. very scared.