More Than Just a Few Christmas Pics

I asked my husband, in all of his video editing wisdom, to create a slideshow of our Christmas pics. You may remember these in years past like this one, or this one (which has very lamely had the sound removed by youtube because we did not have copywright to the Christmas music....which is why we no longer frequent their site).

Anyway, back to my awesome husband and he tendency to get carried away, something that he is especially well known for. He not only put together our Christmas video, but a slideshow of the best of '09. Make sure your sound is on, and click the little cloverleaf like icon if you'd like to watch it full screen.

Christmas and 09 Recap from Laura Sargent Bennington on Vimeo.

Yes they're coming!

Christmas pictures that is.

A slide show is in the works, complete with music and video. Stay tuned!

Prepping for Christmas

Tessa explains Christmas- 2 years old from Laura Sargent Bennington on Vimeo.

Who Done It?

We received a package today (one of about 20!) and opened it. It was unwrapped so we already saw the gift. It's a very cool Sleeping Beauty mega block set for Tessa. She's going LOVE it.

Problem is there was no card so we don't know who it's from. The return address was K and L designs in Memphis. When I googled that, I find no such company.

We just want to give a proper thanks, but who done it??

My Kind of Humor

I just had to share this sketch from SNL. I think it was from last year but they played it again on the SNL Christmas Special this week. It seriously makes me pee my pants.

Can I just say that not only is this funny because of John Malcovich's delivery, but Jeremy and I agreed that given my own personal cynicism and sarcasm, I can definitely see myself giving this rendition to the kids in a couple of years.

http://www.slashcontrol.com/free-tv-shows/saturday-night-live/1481533130-twas-the-night-monologue

Please excuse the commercials beforehand. SNL very wisely does not allow their stuff to be published for free on youtube, so ads it is.

Happy Birthday Mamaw Creech

84 years young and still hosting a big chili supper at her house. Lots of kids, food and pretty Christmas things.
We came down straight from dance class, hence the tutu

3 generations
Twin 'Aunties' (well actually cousins, same difference) Amanda and Kelly



the ballerina shared some cake with her brother

After dinner the big kids trimmed Mamaw's tree. Tessa was really into it. I think she decorated the tree for well over an hour.
Tessa and cousin David (17 months)

What It's Like to Be a Chaw-lay

If Charley could speak he would say.....

Hi everyone! Do you ever notice how my sister gets alot of attention on this blog? I can do alot of cool things too!
--I can crawl really fast
--I can pull up to standing on anything
--I can always find my boy parts
--I chew on and bang toys, especially Little People
--I can jabber, scream, hiss (when I'm happy),squeal and cry
--I eat all kinds of food, sometimes with my own hands.
--I also eat from my Mommy 5 or 6 times a day

My sister makes me laugh all the time. She is really funny. She tries to feed me alot and often steals my food, but at least she says thank you after she takes it. My dogs are soft and funny. I like to pull on their fur and ears, eventhough Mommy tells me not to.

My Mommy and Daddy are pretty cool. I like to smile at them alot. They know I'm really happy when I hiss at them. My Mommy sometimes gets mad when I bite her while nursing. I only do that when my teeth really hurt. I know not to do that cause she takes the boob away!

I go to bed at 7:30 and wake up around 6am to nurse. Usually I'm still sleepy and go back to bed until my sister comes and wakes me up by yelling in my face.

I like to go places, but I don't really like being put in my carseat. Don't they know I want to drive? Just yesterday I moved out of the pumpkin seat and into a real carseat. I'm a big boy now!

If I really want attention I wear my newsboy cap wherever I go. The ladies love it, especially Grandmas. They stop and tell my Mommy how cute I am, and I just smile at them.

I don't like being left alone, it makes me cry. When I can't see someone in the room I sometimes get scared. But I don't mind being alone in my bedroom, that's my domain!

I wear cloth diapers and can fill them like a champ. Usually I wake up in the morning with a nice big present for Mommy to clean up.

It's pretty cool to me, life is sweet!

Fun Saturday

We had a nice weekend doing some Christmas-y type stuff. Saturday Erin and Melissa and I went on our annual Christmas shopping trip...which is always less shopping and more gabbing, laughing, and having a 2 hour lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.

Anyway, Jeremy had Tessa all morning while Charley went shopping with us. He took her to Arni's for their breakfast with Santa. Why stand in line at the mall when for $20 you get breakfast, Santa time, a picture and some candy?

She was SO excited. We practiced for days telling Santa what she wanted. She said she wants Snow White which is awesome cause I got her a Snow White doll and the movie!

When it came time however, she did exactly as I predicted...stuck her hands in her mouth and wouldn't talk. In her official picture they gave us she's nervously rolling her tongue.



Jeremy reports that after some coxing she whispered her wishes to him.
And of course nothing gets the kid to perk up like some M&M's.



Later we dropped Charley off with Jeremy so the ladies and I could have a child-free lunch and afternoon. I'm still daydreaming about those avocado egg rolls.
Between us we have 6.5 kids, so without them we tend to get a little goofy. Like our group picture in the mirror? I call it artistic :)

Sheepish Video

Jeremy here. Now that my splint is off I've managed to splice Tessa Christmas Program video together. Enjoy.

Tessa christmas program from Laura Sargent Bennington on Vimeo.

How to Be a Sheep

Instructions for making the most awesome sheep costume....one white hoody sweatshirt, one old pair of white shoes that you were going to pitch anyway, 3 jumbo bags of cotton balls, a hot glue gun and two bags of glue sticks. Voila, time for preschool Christmas program!


Also having a cute and well dressed cheering section doesn't hurt


When you are one of about 15 sheep onstage it's important to stay focused on sitting in your chair. Don't even think about singing or dancing....just sit in you chair and look dazed so everyone can admire your costume. You may need to pick your nose, but don't be afraid, just go for it!


When you're an awesome sheep you may also notice a big jumbo-tron behind you and that you are occasionally on tv. You don't want to miss it so make sure to spend at least half the program turned around staring at yourself.


Be sure to stare at the audience looking for your cheering committee, even though you probably won't be able to see them.

Don't forget to greet your audience in the lobby, and they may just take you out for pizza.

Elf Yourself take 2!

I realized that on my first attempt our mouths weren't line up correctly and it looked kinda funny. Since it won't let you go back and make changes, I decided to do it again. Don't you prefer this pic of Jer anyway?

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

It's That Time of Year

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

And no I didn't leave Hayden out on purpose. It will only let you choose 5 and I didn't have a good face picture of him.

First Christmas Craft

Here he is in all his glory, Snowman on a Stick


Made with construction paper, cotton balls, markers and a skewer. Ta-da!

In case you're wondering, yes I did like 80% of the work but that doesn't mean Tessa doesn't enjoy herself. She pulled apart the cotton, spread the glue and painted the hat and scarf...in addition to bossing me around about how to do it.

Charley and I went to Target this morning and got some more art stuff to make more Christmas things with. Tessa's in preschool this morning and can I just express how EASY it is to go shopping with just one kid? Do I really have to go pick her up at 2?

Tessa's Prayer

A Direct Quote
"God...my friends, my school, my friends at school, Santa Claus, baby Jesus, baby Charley, dance class, Miss Allison, Christmas, mac & cheese, my friends and my school...AMEN!"

Thanksgiving Pics (round two)

Jess made a slide show too!
http://www.slide.com/r/2de_gvBC4z96QwfQU2Jd1M6_gjdVVkkO?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original