Tinsel Icicles...

My Mom was convinced that the one thing her tree was missing this year was tinsel icicles. Which took me back to all those Christmases hearing, "Not in clumps. NOT IN CLUMPS. One at a time. ONE AT A TIME!!"

So, of course I wanted to make sure Abbie and Lila had a chance to get in on the action. The day those icicles arrived at Mom's, we were on our way to teach the girls proper icicle administration.


They did a great job and looked really cute doing it!!


Just another day Being Billingsley...

Well, it was no crying baby picture...

I had to settle for mildly concerned baby instead, but it's still pretty cute. I also like how I can always rely on Abbie to bring her "A-game" smile.

Just another day Being Billingsley...

The Fat Guy 2010

Well, today's the big day! We are going to see Santa tonight.

I could hardly sleep last night thinking about it. I've always wanted that scared-of-Santa shot, and I'm really hoping this will be my year!

Now, this is what a photo with Santa should look like...

I thought last year would be the one, but instead I got happy girls, looking cute, chatting Santa up about Christmas gifts. Not an ounce of terror.

If you have an excellent scared-of-Santa photo, feel free to email me a copy. I love nothing more, and I have seen some FANTASTIC ones this year. Keep 'em coming!

Here's hoping this will be my year!

Just another day Being Billingsley...

Those Wise Men...

In case you aren't familiar with the Christmas story, Abbie was "thinkin' about it" today and wanted everyone to know that the wise men brought Jesus three very important gifts...

Gold, Suspense, and Myrrh.

And they are all "very very fragile."

Just another day Being Billingsley...

Billingsley Girls and The Fat Guy

Well, I thought for sure I would get the much coveted screaming-child-in-Santa's-lap picture this year, but no dice. Believe it or not, we nearly got a picture of Santa screaming.

Abbie, of course, was thrilled to see him, and Lila (a.k.a. The Little Monster) was mostly concerned with making sure her sweet new kicks were photographed...raising them up to be sure they were in frame.

Santa really chatted the girls up. He was very concerned with making sure he got the gifts just right this year. To be honest with you, he should have been concerned with what Lila is capable of doing through her dress and all over his lap. She has a gift for doing this every time we go out.

Once Lila could rest assured her shoes got their due, she turned her attention to making sure her sister didn't forget that she was sitting right there. There is really no need for this guy to get ALL her attention. So, she decided to try to throw herself across Santa and into Abbie's lap.

And, this is the moment when Lila may have screwed up the chances of her entire family getting ANYTHING from Santa this year. Can't you just see the mischief in her eyes?? Note the plotting demeanor...

She reached into Santa's beard, grabbed a hearty handful, and pulled as much as her little arm could! Santa responded with a good ol' fashioned, "Owww, owww, owww," and looked at me with desperation for a rescue. I had to run in and pry her little fingers from the poor guy's trademark white beard.

Poor Abbie realized the penalty for such treatment of Santa.


Just another day of apologizing and Being Billingsley...

Abbie and the Fat Guy...

This year I realized how QUICKLY Abbie is growing up. I've always wanted to have that excellent picture of my child with Santa where she is screaming and poor Santa is awkwardly trying to get the picture taken so he can be rescued from the terrorized child.

Each year, Abbie is just so darned happy to see him, there is no chance of crying or fear of any kind. I've always thought, "Maybe next year my baby will cry on Santa's lap."

Year One: No chance of crying. She thought it was the coolest thing ever. She could have stayed with him all day. Her favorite part was actually the photographer. Even then she thought it appropriate for people to make a fuss over her and take her photo.

Year Two: Santa gave her a piece of candy to start the session off, and forget it...there was no way any tears would come after that. Again, as you will see, happy smiling kid in Santa's lap.

Year Three: Well, this is the year she discovered her "photo-taking-smile" a.k.a. the fake smile. This was the year she discovered she could ask Santa to bring her the stuff her mom already told her she couldn't have. She was awfully proud of herself, and so again...no tears.

Year Four: Well, this year, on our way to see Santa, Abbie told me she really wanted to, "Chat him up this year." She had a lot to discuss...no doubt things like the election, state of the economy, the creepiness of the whole elf thing.

So, if any of you have a great pic of your kid screaming on Santa's lap send it my way. Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!


Just another day Being Billingsley...

Santa is Coming to Town... I Hope!

Well, Abbie woke up this morning with a great concern.

There are no gifts under the tree for her because I’ve screwed things up for Santa. First of all, there is too much stuff in front of the fireplace making it impossible for him to come into the house. Abbie tried to explain to me, “He really doesn’t want to break your stuff…and if he comes down the chimney, he will knock all those silly things over.”

Because I’ve done a horrible job rolling out the red carpet for Santa, he’s felt unwelcome to come into our house and confirm we are in fact ready for him to deliver Abbie’s gifts. You can understand her worry. I actually started to worry for myself…I don’t see anything for me under that tree either.

So, Santa, I hope you are reading this despite the fact it has been a month since my last post. I promised I would post some pics so you could see that, at Chez Billingsley, we are certainly ready for and anxiously awaiting your arrival.

Tree trimmed…CHECK!

Scattered Santas to remind us of you…CHECK!

Tree for Mom's room (which means there is plenty of space for my gifts...don't worry about not having space for anything extra you had in mind...we've got the room)...CHECK!!

Tree for Abbie’s room…CHECK!

Abbie wanted to make sure you knew she got your latest FAO Schwarz catalog, and she may need to send an addendum to her original list of needs.

Thanks for your understanding Santa, and I sure hope the placement of decor did not in any way make you feel unwelcome at this house. (If it did, I just want to make clear that it was all James' idea, and if anyone should be held responsible, it should certainly be him.)

Just another problem solving day Being Billingsley…

One Room Down...

We started our Christmas decorating last night, and Abbie was very clear that her room should be done first. She was very helpful this year. She put the hooks on the ornaments. She arranged them on the tree...she actually hasn't stopped arranging the ornaments since last night. I woke up this morning to find a nice grouping of ornaments on the very bottom branches.

This child LOVES Christmas, and between ornaments she would do a few of her favorite dance moves. This move is obviously called "The Dork." Her father has also perfected this move.

She has had this tree in her room since her first Christmas, and it was so much fun to watch her decorate it this year. I can remember when we would put her in the crib, and she would watch her parents do all the decorating. She's grown up so much!

She is so in love with this tree and so concerned with its perfect arrangement that we are pretty sure it is going to fall down in the middle of the night. We should teach her, "Timmmmmberrrrr."

Just another decorated day Being Billingsley...