Ho Ho Ho- HA HA HA!

SYDNEY, Australia — He is an unlikely revolutionary, but this Christmas, Santa is a rebel with a claus.

He is having the last laugh on political correctness — and it's a great big fat belly laugh.

Santas across Sydney, Australia, are rebelling against attempts to ban their traditional greeting of "ho, ho, ho" in favor of "ha, ha, ha."

Recruitment firm Westaff — which supplies hundreds of Santas across the country — has told its trainees that the "ho ho ho" phrase could frighten children and could even be derogatory to women.

For the rest of the story, click here.

Painting With Lydia

Lydia and I did our first painting together last week. It was so much fun! I taught her different painting techniques all with craft paint, a paintbrush, q-tips, toothpicks, and cotton balls. She caught on so fast! First, we talked about what she wanted a picture of. When she said a castle, I told her to look in her books for ideas. She got to decide where everything would go, including the ground and sky line. She painted the sky, the grass, bushes, flowers, the tree, a lot of the details on the castle, and the princesses' shoes, some of their dresses, all of their accessories, and all but one bird in the sky!

We are working on another painting today!

Ryan's Senior Recital!

Yay! Ryan had his senior recital on Sunday and it was INCREDIBLE!!!! I was seriously one of the coolest concerts I've ever been to (and I'm not just saying that because I am so fond of him!) He has worked so hard for this. It's so great to be with him and watch his dreams come true. He is such an amazing husband, Dad, musician, friend, and so much more. During and after the recital I was grinning from ear to ear. I couldn't be more proud!

I am also so glad to have this over too, because now I have my husband back. This recital has consumed him all semester. Although he was physically near me, his mind was always on this recital. Now we can just talk about anything!

Violet Loves Her Mama!

This is such a cute video of Violet! Ryan walked in with the camera as she was supposed to be taking a nap. She obviously had other plans...

Sorry about the video being sideways at first. Ryan's still figuring out the video thing.

If I Could Make My Girls Clothes

If I could make clothing for my girls (someday I'll give it a try), these are some designs that inspire me...

Aren't they cute? I found them at

willarie.etsy.com

I've Been Bad...

Sorry I haven't posted in a while! I've been super busy. I've been working more hours at the Ibis in the mornings before Ryan goes to school and working on lots of side projects.