Celeste, the pictures are beautiful! Instead of kids, the cats (except for Zeus who needs a big hug) are nestled all snug in their beds" Snow pictures are gorgeous...looks like a rainy Christmas for me...and a warm one. But our crazy weather yo-yos cold and hot, cold and hot. But all you do with weather is talk about it, right? Your grandson is precious...love the Santa pic. My two and four YO grands were here today to make cookies with Mimi. After frosting and decorating, the two year old went off to play with blocks, but the Noah, the four year old was made of tougher stuff. "Chocolate chips are my favowite Mimi, so we made chocolate chips, then peanut butter cookies, then "but waisin cookies are my daddy's favowite, Mimi, we have to make them." so we made raisin cookies, then their cookie buckets were full, as was an additional box of chocolate chip cookies. I had to sit down for a while before I even cleaned the kitchen. I'm already planning for next year. And Celeste, we all enjoy your beautiful pictures so much. The amaryllis are really pretty. They go in the ground here when they are through blooming, and they bloom in the ground the next Spring, sometimes twice. I enjoyed your Christmas card, Celeste. Here is a picture of my tree. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas. kay

Great cards! I can so relate to how many shots you need to take to get "the one" for your Christmas/holiday card. Before DD started college last year, every year I tried to shoot DD with the dogs. At one point I was shooting 3 dogs with DD. That was fun. Trying to get just one picture that makes the most of all subjects is a tall order. I would shoot about 20 pictures and then view them on the computer. Shoot more, repeat, until DD pronounced "enough already mom". Trying to shoot more would not result in anything better, as DD was sick of posing and the dogs can only eat so many treats in one sitting. LOL This year it will be just the dogs. Glad you started this thread, I need start working on our holiday photo this coming week.

Well, how did the evening go? Pink, I would take Deborah's advice, she is wise... -BUT- I would also set boundaries. Snooping-no way! You don't want her driving your child? - don't let her! You are the Mom control the situation. I would have been thrilled if my MIL had sent pictures of my child to friends and family. She was good to my child while she was growing up but there was always tension between me and her- I was always the outsider or outlaw(and the closest neighbor). I sucked it up and carried on, never called her on anything. She was never overtly mean to me but made little comments and made many demands around the holidays. My DH was always aware of it but never took a stand even when I ranted and raved over her. Ten years ago my husbands father died and there was a huge rift in the family, we didn't see or speak to MIL for over 8 years even though she was 1/2 miles down the road. I was shocked last Christmas when I saw her comming thru the yard on her walker! DH's brother had brought her to have Christmas dinner with us. She had had a stroke, and was much older looking than when I last saw her, but I greeted her with a kiss. Then I went out on the deck for a smoke and a drink! I stayed on the side lines and kept my mouth shut, just let DH and DD visit with her, it was strained, but at least they got to "visit" for a while, and all went well. It felt so good! I think she must have seen what shes been missing - family! She came back for Easter too. I am the one that cooks for the holidays now and the house is always full of her kids, gkids and ggkids and I like having her here too. I try to dwell on the good times, DH and DD are still wary (they were very hurt)but they are comming around. She taught me alot, about being the wife of a farmer, raising kids and how not to be a mother in law. I hope I can be a good future mother in law. Things change, be open to it.

#1 Dreaming of a white Christmas #2 Joy to the world #3 Away in a manger #4 We three kings #5 Deck the halls #6 Jingle bells #7 Noel #8 Walking in a winter wonderland #9 Go tell it on the mountain #10 I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus #11 Hark the herald angels? #12 Dashing through the snow #13 #14 #15 #16 O holy night #17 O little town of Bethehem #18 #19 Silent night #20 #21 O Christmas tree #22 Chestnuts roasting on an open fire #23 O come all ye faithful #24