The star that my dear friend Trudy got me for Christmas a few years ago.

One of my favorite Christmas ornaments.

Santa and snowman chess …

Oh Christmas tree …

Christmas in Mansfield …

On Saturday my family came over and we strolled through Dickens in Wellsboro …

I love Christmas …

Saturday morning I had a family shoot with the *J* family and their three daughters.

Thanks again *J* family – can’t wait to do a summer session with everyone!

Jared and I have decided to take the plunge and get a puppy – a great dane.

Our friend Mary has a blue dane who is so beautiful and even-tempered. We researched and researched what kind to get – but fell in love with Chai – Mary’s dane. Our little puppy – who Jared decided to name Schrute – will be with us January 23rd. He was born late November and is the largest of the litter. I was searching puppyfind.com and found him – we both saw him on the website and fell in love. We are so excited to have him with us as the start of our expanded family – now all we need is a baby ;).

Visit www.bigpineydanes.weebly.com to see pictures of our little guy – the breeders are calling him Moose right now.

Oh – and Schrute is the last name of a character on The Office – in case you didn’t know.

Jared has spent COUNTLESS hours improving my gallery for me – I cannot thank him enough for his support and work and love. Check out the gallery and let me know what you think.

I have a renewed spirit about the upcoming things in our lives – EXCITING wonderful things – stay tuned for details as they unfold!

Thanks again to all of those that support me and cheer me on – I couldn’t do it without your support every step of the way!

Tuesday I spent the afternoon with my good friend Johna and her sweet babe. We went to lunch, looked for little Christmas dresses (with no luck), played with the babe, worked on Shutterfly, and just plain hung out and caught up. *M* is such a little sweetie. She steals my heart.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS – always have. I love the music – the smells – the coziness – the decorations – the season – the reason – ALL OF IT.

Out wood stove – which we no longer have to use – YAY!

My Grandma Geiger got me this when I was in middle school – I think. She got us a different ornament every year – I have always loved this one.

I LOVE THE LYRICS OF THIS CHRISTMAS SONG – RELIENT K

And with this Christmas wish is missed
The point I could convey
If only I could find the words to say to let You know how much You’ve touched my life
Because here is where You’re finding me, in the exact same place as New Year’s eve
And from a lack of my persistency
We’re less than half as close as I want to be

And the first time
That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior
And the first breath that left Your lips
Did You know that it would change this world forever

And so this Christmas I’ll compare the things I felt in prior years
To what this midnight made so clear
That You have come to meet me here

To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did
That you were born so I might live
To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me

And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life

From the game at Bucknell …

For the complete series of 5K pictures visit – full album.

Saturday morning I went to the start of Home for the Holidays with Amy and her kiddos. We had breakfast at Holy Child Church – which was EXCELLENT. From there we went to the park to catch the start of the 5K (pictures to come) – then we waited in line to see Santa for about an hour and a half –