mostly pictures today….still so many to sort through.  i’ve already mentioned it’s The Year of the Snapshot, but you may not know it’s also The Year of the Photo Album.  every couple of months, i’ll be putting pictures together and printing them up.  this was sparked in part by the fact that we’ve only got ONE photo album with pictures taken since em was born, and that one was a gift from a friend for my birthday this year.  the thing is this, though: my attention-span is really spastic at the moment.  we’re shut in to avoid the cold, but i can’t sit still (is that what they call Cabin Fever?).  and since both of the above labels could be wrapped into The Year of REALLY Enjoying Pictures, i refuse to feel guilty about the pictures untouched, and i refuse to edit/play with them if it’s not fun.  maybe next week.

don’t tell anyone, but……..the christmas tree’s still up.  this means we’re mere days away from becoming That Crazy Family who leaves it up past all reasonable limits of propriety.  i swear we’re taking it down this weekend (fun or not…), but i just can’t find daylight hours this week, and i’d rather spend the evenings cooking, cuddling, reading, and taking long hot baths.  

i heard, via a trusted source in the funeral industry, that deaths were down 30% statewide in NY last year.  random info, right?  not so much when you’re a funeral singer.  and i hate to revel in others’ sorrow, but i’m pretty glad i’m singing THREE of them this week.  all jokes and glibness aside, singing funerals is really one of my favorite ways to “give” with my voice; one of the times when i really know my voice can/does give people some comfort and aid.  think of it this way: when we go to a wedding, beautiful music is nice, but not necessary. unless it’s tremendously good or bad, most people won’t even remember the music at the wedding, they’ll just remember the joy of the occasion.  even if the music’s bad, it won’t ruin the wedding.  at a funeral, music has the power to fill your heart and soul with a comfort beyond words, to hold you up and carry you just a little bit.  that’s my thinking, anyway.

let’s seeeeee….what else do i have to tell you?  did i mention it’s reallyfreakingCOLD here? 

[she likes to 'read' to Ollie, right before they take a break to jump on the bed]

[Emma adores her Tito Aaron (eric's good friend since high school).  it's pretty clear the feeling is mutual...]

[sure glad she finally decided to wear that apron and hat i got her....goes with the still-decorated tree]