Cans for Comments = 25

Last Sunday at midnight was the deadline for Cans for Comments...though I included comments that came in on Monday as well. ;-) That brought the grand total to 25 comments. I had looked at the Community Services League pantry needs and therefore bought more than just cans to best meet their needs. So I shopped for approximately $25 worth of cans/boxes/packages/jars/etc. to make it easier. It's not a lot but I figure every bit helps, right!? :-)

Maddox Loves Evey 603

CANS FOR COMMENTS! I will donate one can for each and every comment left anywhere on this blog through Sunday 12/21! Please be so kind as to leave a comment. :-)

A little background to this story...Maddox is a numbers guy. He loves numbers. I first noticed this a year or two ago. He would ask how big something was and my answers weren't cutting it. For example...

Maddox: "How big do you think that couch is?"
Me: "Pretty big."
Maddox: "No, how big do you think that couch is?"
Me: "Really big? Not very big?"
Maddox: (getting frustrated) "No! How big do you think that couch is!?"
Me: (getting frustrated) "Ummm...7 feet?"
Maddox: "Yeah, that couch is 7 feet."

So then I realized that whenever asked a question, if possible answer with a numerical measurement. It didn't really matter what the number was, but he wanted to hear a number. He still asks these questions but not as much as he used to. Now he is really into how much things cost. He loves to find a price tag and tell me how many "dollars it costs." This desire to assign a quantity also translates to how much you love something or someone. He will ask me how much I love my sandwich, and I have to provide a number, such as 84.

I'm sure you get the idea, so let's get back to the reason for this post...

We have had a rough patch for a few months now where Maddox insisted that he loved Evey zero. Not good...very sad. I so want for them to be close. Evey of course thinks Maddox is the coolest person on the planet so it would be nice if he at least enjoyed her a little! ha

Well, I am happy to report that Maddox seems to be coming out of that phase. Here lately I've been catching him hugging on her again and when asked how much he loves Evey, he now says he loves her 603. We still have a long way to go since he says he loves me 153 million...but a vast improvement over 0. :-)

Last night before bed, Evey was inspecting the tree as she often does...





When Maddox came along to give Evey a hug...awwwwww. :-)



Then he took off running, and Evey followed.



They ran around the house in a circle quite a few times before ending up in Maddox's room on the Elmo couch together. Maddox can very easily crack her up. She laughs for him more than anyone else...



And a little more hugging. :-)





So that's 603 down...152,999,397 to go! :-P

O Christmas Tree

CANS FOR COMMENTS! I will donate one can for each and every comment left anywhere on this blog through Sunday 12/21! Please be so kind as to leave a comment. :-)

Just a few pics of the Christmas tree...

Mr. and Mrs. Claus

CANS FOR COMMENTS! I will donate one can for each and every comment left anywhere on this blog through Sunday 12/21! Please be so kind as to leave a comment. :-)

My very favorite Christmas keepsake is my little Santa & Mrs. Claus salt & pepper shakers. They kiss. :-P



These once belonged to my Grandma Mock. I don't know if it is my fondness for my grandmother or my fondness for salt & pepper shakers that makes me cherish these little momentos so much. I'm guessing it's the perfect combination of the two. ;-) My Grandma Mock was a Christmas fanatic and she always made the holidays so special for all of us.

So when I saw Maddox excitedly jerk these precious little statues from their box and exclaim "LOOK!"...I about freaked! "AAAAA! Okay. Don't move. Now...very carefully hand them to mommy...." And a big sigh of relief when they were in my hands and safely perched out of reach of little hands. :-)

I decided then and there to get a few photographs just in case tragedy strikes...photographs are less fragile, right? One more...how about a little dramatic mood lighting....



What is your favorite holiday keepsake or tradition?

The Rimel Elves

CANS FOR COMMENTS! I will donate one can for each and every comment left anywhere on this blog through Sunday 12/21! Please be so kind as to leave a comment. :-)

We elf ourselves every year...Maddox finds it endlessly entertaining. Watch us get our groove on... :-)

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

:-P

Cans for Comments...

Early this past week I came across a Cans for Comments post on another photographer's blog...the amazing Anne Ruthmann. I believe the idea started with Chris + Lynn. I absolutely love the idea! There are so many great things about it.

First of all, I absolutely love getting comments on the blog. Feedback is great and it's nice to know somebody is out there and my words and pictures aren't disappearing into a vacuum. :-P But having those comments go towards a greater good...in this case, a donation of food to those who are in need...that's an amazing thing to be a part of. The current economic situation is impacting food pantries across the country, including local food pantries her in the KC area.

I will be making my donation to the Community Services League here in Independence. I plan on having Maddox help me purchase and deliver the food. With all of the commercialism that comes along with Christmas...it will be a great opportunity for him to get out of his sheltered little bubble and experience something more in keeping with the real spirit of the holidays. :-)



So, here's how it works...you leave comments, I donate cans! Easy! Simple! :-)

I WILL DONATE 1 CAN (OR FOOD ITEM) FOR EVERY COMMENT LEFT ON THIS BLOG THROUGH SUNDAY 12/21/08!

So PLEASE leave a comment! You can comment on this post, maybe check out the articles (links above) and leave your thoughts on this situation. Or scroll down and enjoy some pictures, and leave a comment about your favorites. I will try to find some fun things to post this week to prompt your participation and feedback, giving you a reason to come back and leave more comments! Then next Monday, I will tally and post the results.

And even better, please forward this blog post on to your friends and family encouraging them to leave a comment as well.

Thanks!

The Plaza Revisited

I headed back out to the plaza, this time with my friend Christie. It was a lot more fun than wandering around all by my lonesome! We had a great time. Once again, I have posted some of my favorites from the shoot for your viewing enjoyment...





I had fun sneaking pics of Christie while she worked. :-P

















Make sure you check out Christie's photos from our little plaza photo safari. She got some amazing and very creative shots. This is Christie taking the very first picture you see on her blog post of plaza lights.



I couldn't decide. Which is better? Color...



or black & white...?

















So festive! Definitely gets me in the mood for the holidays. :-)
What gets you in the mood for the holidays? Leave a comment and let us know. ;-)