my christmas card

merry christmas from ours to yours:

sneek peek of the photo shoot for our christmas card.

{a special thank you to aunt shelly for being our photographer, thank you!}

christmastime

christmas time in her little red dress: my grandparents {blairs & nora's great-grandparents} got nora this cute christmas dress. she looked so adorable on sunday. paul {luckily} managed to get a couple of shots of her before she {crashed out in her crib} went down for a sunday afternoon snooze.

thank you

{great} grandma

&

{great} grandpa

for nora's first christmas dress.

sleeping beauty

my little girl is sugar & spice & everything nice- especially when she's taking a nap: every sunday {& mid morning & mid afternoon} my little tiny looks something like this. she is one wild woman {60% of the time, ALL the time} she is all business until sleepy time & then she crashes. lately paul & i have found ourselves in the hallway {at church} trying to catch our {skilled speed walker} 10 month old. she squeals as she cruses up & down the hallways. i'm pretty sure everyone thinks she is super cute {or super annoying},

all the same i think

she is

perfect.

sweet dreams little tiny.

last call!

merry christmas & a happy new year:

love the mcphees

&

shutterfreek

{contact us at paul@shutterfreek.com}

chris kringle

seeing isn't believing. believing is seeing:my miss G met the big man, santa claus, a few nights ago. {we went to my parents ward christmas party, JUST to meet santa} she didn't sit on his lap for very long. i am so excited for christmases to come, when she is a bit older. i love the magic of the holiday season & the fun spirit of giving & receiving that he brings.

merry

christmas

santa!

we mcphees believe.

christmas with mcphees

first we'll make snow angels for two hours, then we'll go ice skating, then we'll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookie-dough as fast as we can, & then we'll snuggle {Buddy the Elf}: mr. mcphee & i set up our tree on nov. 30th {but i haven't been the best blogger as of late} & it is beautiful! i love my christmas tree. this year we have a fakie {last year our tree was real} & its a good thing. miss nora was a little apprehensive about our tree at first {just stand & stare} but as these december days fly by, she has gotten braver. {my ornaments have moved higher & higher & the lights have been pulled from the bottom layer}. i am positive there would be sap & pine needles stuck to my babe's hands if it weren't for martha stewart's fakie christmas tree. {thank you martha}

i love the christmas season.

i love being with my two mcphees.

i love christmas lights dangling from homes.

i love decorating my home.

i love nativity scenes.

i love my parents house during the holidays, especially their fireplace crackling with heat.

i love spending time with loved ones from near & far.

i love drinking hot chocolate.

i love space heaters & warm footed jammies.

i love getting christmas cards in the mail {ours will be out after the new year}.

&

i love watching christmas movies {couple of my favorites:

Muppet's Christmas Carol &

Home Alone}.

it truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

the best way to spread christmas cheer,

is singing loud for all to hear.

ten fabulous months

my nora grayce is:

{10 months today}

crawling,

standing,

walking {like a pro},

almost running,

climbing the stairs,

pushing our {loose} doors open,

munching up books,

chewing up her crib {evidence soon to be posted},

cutting more teeth {7 teeth totally through},

claps when we sing "patty cake",

says "ma-ma-ma-ma" & "da-da-da-da" {we love this},

banging on the trash can,

SKYPE-ing with her daddy {even though he is just upstairs},

gives BIG wet kisses {but only to a chosen few},

yells or babbles or hums {when she is eating, walking, sitting, reading a book...},

loving to play with cousins {chloe, ellie, olivia, hannah, & iza},

loving to look at herself in the mirror {or at her own reflection in the dishwasher & oven}

following oscar & abby around at grandma & grandpa's house,

pulling all the dvds out of the cabinet,

opening & shutting every cabinet door {over & over & over again},

& all other things she has perfected over the past few months.

i know i sound like a broken record {from monthly update to monthly update} but my little tiny is getting so big & isn't really a little tiny anymore. {i feel like she is growing over night & there is nothing i can do to slow it down}.

i love her laugh, her smile, her voice, her teeth, her bum cheeks, her chubby feet & hands, her little belly, when she sucks her thumb... i love her everything & always.

my baby.

Ben McPherson

{Mercy Street Benjamin McPherson}

Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, & the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life & eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son {The First Presidency & The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints}:

my brother in law, Ben McPherson, has been in the process of organizing an art company called Global Christian Art. he is currently featuring his amazing art along with another talented artist, Chris Young, at ldsartgift{click on the link}. he is offering an exclusive Christmas discount of 25% OFF any of the works. {simply use the promo code: merrychristmas when checking out}.

gratitude

Our realization of what is most important in life goes hand in hand with gratitude for our blessings {President Thomas S. Monson}: with the thanksgiving holiday having come to an end & the christmas season already beginning i have such a full heart of gratitude for

my husband,

my daughter,

my family {both extended & in-laws},

my husbands job,

my testimony of the gospel,

& for my Heavenly Father & Savior Jesus Christ.

my list could go on & on, but off the top of my head these are probably the most important to me right now.

i love mr. mcphee & everything about him.{& i love this picture of us} he is my best friend, my man, my provider, my love.

my cup runneth over.

{yes, updates are coming, i've been a HUGE slacker}

ruba {dub dub}

a little tiny soaking in the tub: every night my little tiny looks something like this in the tub {she & i share a passion for this time of the evening}. she is loving to splash, playing with the faucet when the water is running, munching on a few tub time toys, & drinking the tub water from the dunking bucket {yes, my little tiny is kindof yucky, but i love her none.the.less}. she is perfect.

i am behind on posting {there are a few updates in the making, so check back soon} because i have been so busy chasing my baby around the house. she is walking all over now {not quite a skilled walker yet} & is constantly running into things. she is also climbing everything {& has a new bump or bruise or scratch everyday}. life is perfect.

a little tiny nice & shiny.

also shutterfreek {website has contact information} has sessions available for holiday family portraits. check back for more details!