We hit a big milestone here tonight on potty training- so everyone give a big "YEA TIMMY!!!". Yes, that’s right…poop on the potty. I know someday he will look back and ask in utter horror- "why did you post that on the blog??!!??" but it’s a big deal. You mommies know. I just hope he’ll do it again. He seemed pretty game about it, though so there is hope that it will continue.

In other news…

-nothing still on the camera. It should have arrived today. Planning on calling Canon in the morning.

-still making lots of cards for Christmas for clients. Busy, busy!

– tonight was the last night of Hannukah. And being the good Jew I am (haha) I made- as my husband called it -"the traditional last night of Hannukah pork chops". Ooops. But they did taste good.

-here are some pictures of the boys boat projects that were due earlier this month. Never had a chance to post them. Patrick’s boat got 3rd place in his class. I don’t think Jack’s class raced yet.

Cause that’s what I feel like doing! A lot! I’m so f#*&^$# pissed off. My new camera? The one I got in October? It’s dead! Dosen’t work. Won’t take a single freaking picture. Nope, not one. It’s not even three months old! It’s sole purpose in life is to TAKE PICTURES. I’m freaking out! Can you tell??

It died today in the middle of the christening I was shooting. Thank god it died at the end after all the major pictures were done and we were just messing around with some extended family shots- which were all "redoable" at the reception. But come ON! I do not have time for this crap. I had to run over to the camera store between the church and reception to pick up my old camera which was recently repaired (that one was ALLOWED to stop working cause I wore out the shutter after 6 YEARS!) and had to use that one at the reception. I know I did fine work with that one over the years but I love the new one so much more and am so comfortable with the new one now. It has a lot more features than the old one. But now it seems as if I don’t have a choice- I’m going to have to make it work and work well for my remaining few shoots. The new one has to go back to Canon to be repaired. Wow, if only I could say what I really want to. I am calling Canon first thing tommorrow morning. They are so going to wish that this didn’t happen. Not feeling the Christmas spirit on this one.

In other news:

-Patrick lost TWO teeth tonight. The poor toothfairy is working hard overtime in this house.

-Timmy called me on the phone today. It was my first phonecall from him. So cute. "Hi Mommy- when you commin home? Okay, Iloveyoubye".

-I did three shoots today (two of which I completed before the camera died- am I harping yet?). One is posted below. The second one is a surprise gift for Christmas from someone’s very thoughtful husband, so I can’t post those pictureson the blog til after Christmas. He will get his album via Kodak EasyShare. The third was the Christening.

-the Christening went great and I did get all the shots I wanted to. I just wish I wasn’t so pissed off. I will be posting a sneak preview later this week. Mrs. P said I could wait until after the new year to do the whole album. Thanks, C!

-I am so excited to post all of the Christmas cards I made this year here on the blog, but obviously can’t do that until Christmas. I am looking to do that Christmas Eve-I figure by then everyone will have received their cards. I did X-out all the names, so it just reads "with love, the xxxxx family   xxx, xxxxxx, xxxxx, & xx. That way no one’s identity is out there in the world. But everyone can see the cards. It dosen’t look quite as good that way, but at least you can get the overall idea.

-we will be going away from Christmas until right after New Years, so there will not be any new blog posts during that time! Sorry to my blog stalkers! But I hope you will come back to read and catch up with me after that. I’m afraid that if I don’t have constant new posts on here with new photoshoots for you to look at, no one will come visit the blog (okay, here is where you jump in and post a comment saying something like "no, beth, we love seeing pictures of YOUR kids all the time and hearing all the fun and exciting things you do everyday (cough, cough), Of course we will still stalk your blog everyday even when photoshoot season is over".) Hey, you never know– I might start giving away minishoots over the winter slow time to keep in the zone, but you gotta stalk if you want to win!

-I have a new obsession. Amy Winehouse. I know she is one screwed up chick, but I LOVE her music. I have it playing on my computer every night while I edit. She might be a crack head, but the girl can SING. I love that 60’s Wall of Sound thing she has going on. I feel bad for her and just wish she could get her act together before she dies. Have you listened to her? You should. She was just nominated for 6 Grammy’s, too.

Off to do more editing. Please think good thoughts that my new camera comes back soon, FIXED!

We had a little visit with Santa this morning (yes, it was a very busy day!). And we all had a great time. Timmy was very nervous at first which I found surprising cause he kisses all the pictures of Santa in books we read and says "I love you, Santa" all the time. We discussed in advance that he could sit with Santa and tell him all about what he wants for Christmas (his reply was "presents!!"). But he was still very reluctant to go talk to him. I think once he saw his big brothers talking to Santa, and I went up with him, he was a little more comfortable with him. And then, Timmy started talking Lego’s with Santa, so they were best buds from then on.

And then of course on the way out, I hear "I want to see Santa again!". The big boys loved seeing him too and have asked him for some stuff that was previously not on their list. Santa better get busy on that one!

Do you see what is wrong with this picture? That maybe it says something not so Christmasy. And maybe not so appropriate? Yeah, that would be my husband. Every year since I got the SANTA (not Satan) letters to hold the stockings, I have found them in this order instead. So the house is decorated on Monday night and I come downstairs on Tuesday morning to find this. And all I can say is "and so it begins…"

It’s always an adventure.

Here’s our tree this year. The most pathetic part…do you see the adorable Pottery Barn picture frames hanging on there? Yeah, do you see they are empty? Do you know I’m a photographer? I think I should probably get on that, huh?

Finally did some Christmas shopping today. Had a blast at Target and a few stores in town (must be cryptic cause some little eyes in this house sometimes read the blog). Not even close to done yet though. I even did my own presents today. It’s just so much easier that way. And you know the only real present I want is a trip to Disney in February. Tonight’s Hannukah present was a garbage truck toy and "guy" for Timmy and the big boys got Star Wars The Complete Saga Wii game. As if they didn’t spend enough time on that Wii already.

Parent/Teacher conferences tommorrow for the big boys. Four shoots coming up this weekend. And hoping to go see Santa on Saturday morning. Busy, busy. Still.

Ok, so I’m a day late. Tonight was the 2nd night but these pictures are from last night. My parents are great and do Hannukah for the boys- so they not only get a ton of Christmas gifts, but one gift a night for Hannukah too. They make out well, huh? Last night all three of them got Hess trucks (always love those). Tonight Jack & Patrick got Super Mario 8 for the Wii, and Timmy got a wooden dumptruck with a "guy". Everyone was very happy with their gifts- and of course the boys RAN downstairs to get a Wii hit with their new game. We are having fun lighting the candles each night with grandma and grandpa. Timmy even made his own menorah at school (so we do have one jewish kid afterall) and loves singing the "dreidl, dreidl, dreidl" song with me. Although he gets all embarrased if anyone else is watching.