35, day 19 - ELF

"I'm in love! I'm in love! And I don't care who knows it!!"
Tonight's Ellenburg 11th day of Christmas movie was a family favorite - ELF

We all snuggled up and watched it together, with the exception of Madison, who would rather watch Toy Story 1, 2 or 3 instead. She's a tough crowd.
I love this movie. I received this movie as a birthday gift from my cousin forever ago and we've watched it several times since. I've got a ton of favorite lines -
"Hello, this is Buddy the Elf, What's your favorite color?"
"The best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear"
Do you have a favorite?
Hope you are spending the next 11 days of Christmas with those you love.

35, day 11

Sleepy Sunday. I stayed in all day. Believe it or not, staying in all day is my favorite thing to do on Sunday.
Spent the first part of my day endless cleaning. There is so much clutter left over at the end of every week - yuck. Mike finished the stucco on on his addition masterpiece. It looks great. Watched the Saints game. I took a nap - loved it. Then I tackled the Christmas lights with Mike and the boys.

I tried to explain to the boys that hanging the Christmas lights looks more fun than it is, it is a bit stressful and tempers will be short. Knowing this, they did GREAT. Those knuckleheads make excellent helpers. Madison watched from the windows with her mug of hot cocoa. She had the right idea, it was cold outside tonight.

My frozen assistant, Jackson. Grant was Mike's assistant. The lights are up. Hooray. Please note my super high energy efficient bulbs.

Magical Mike re-networked my fancy-pants printer and I finally got my printer kicking out my Christmas letter. I've got the first batch ready to go out in the mail in the morning. And in an effort to work on #5 - I made a list of everyone I sent my card to with the current address for an easy guide for next year.

After sealing over half, I was reminded of that episode of Seinfeld, you know the one where George's fiance licks all those envelopes for her wedding invitations and then dies because the glue is poison. Oddly, I think of this every year at the Christmas Card half way point, but never before - always in the middle. Maybe next year I'll remember at the beginning. Doubtful, but possible.

Daphne Ellenburg is the proud owner of Ellenburg Photography. Ellenburg Photography specializes in Wedding Photography and Family Portraiture. We are located just north of Mobile Alabama. We proudly serve all of Alabama, and Gulfcoast Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana.

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35, day 10

Today, was a GREAT day. I slept in. Mike almost finished the stucco on my addition to the house. I did a little shopping, watched a little football and edited some photos. I Love Love Love Saturday!!! More Saturdays should be like this one.
Enjoy these pics from the Santa visits yesterday.













Santa told my boys that it's important to read everyday, to get along with your brother & sister, listen to your parents and to remember to be good all year. I love Santa.

Daphne Ellenburg is the proud owner of Ellenburg Photography. Ellenburg Photography specializes in Wedding Photography and Family Portraiture. We are located just north of Mobile Alabama. We proudly serve all of Alabama, and Gulfcoast Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana.

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Christmas Letter Writers Block, 35 day 8

I was confident that I had at least two more days to pittle around with this Christmas Letter, but that formerly relaxing procrastination has been rained on by the arrival of the first Christmas Card - an attractive custom painting of downtown Mobile at Christmas and the arrival of my own awesome Christmas Cards.

Wow, I ordered them at 10:30 Monday night and they arrived at 10:30 this morning. No extra charge, my printer is just that good. I love love love them.
So, now I've got 50 holiday cards and half a letter. I went to kitchen Island to relax & write my letter free of distractions. That was short lived. It's Mike's birthday eve and him and kids are in full gear playing The Terminator. I'm going to just say it, that's a bit distracting.

The mask has that robot voice where Mike constantly says, "I've traveled back in TIME to destroy you" over and over again. Even Madison wanted to, "Travel to town" - we may live too far out in the country. This scenerio carried on until nearly 10 pm.
Back to this Christmas letter...I write, then I re-write. I cut and add and paste. It's exhausting. I'm pretty sure I had a drink when I wrote it last year. I'm just sayin. I wanted to write, It's been a good year, The End. But that seemed wrong.
Here's a peek...

P.S. I'm loving my new macbook pro - I was never a laptop kind of gal, but am conforming quite nicely. I will continue this exciting, and possibly never ending Holiday letter tomorrow.

Daphne Ellenburg is the proud owner of Ellenburg Photography. Ellenburg Photography specializes in Wedding Photography and Family Portraiture. We are located just north of Mobile Alabama. We proudly serve all of Alabama, and Gulfcoast Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana.

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I heart Pottery Barn! 35, day 6

Hidden among all the Toys R Us coupons and the EVIL Bed Bath and Beyond Flyer, there is was. The most magical of all the Holiday mail -
The Pottery Barn Christmas Catalog.

This is my new 1984 Sears Catalog. I LOVE IT. I can look at it over and over again, and still not feel like I've read it enough. Sometimes I even look at in different rooms in my house, and plot and scheme and yes, purchase. Here are some things I'm in love with:

See, I knew it was fashionable to have cameras laying around. Awesome.

This frosty favorite has a shelf life of one month each year, but it will be the most fun month of the year. He will look amazing on the bar pouring out a white Russian or a Candy Cane-tini. Yum. Just Sayin.

This was my biggest dreamiest thing. I already have this window with seat - ready to create this magical seating area - minus the pumpkins. Loving the drapes, not crazy about the storage under the table - only because I imagine it cluttered
with random legos.

I always love this.



Michael has voted that I not dangle large stick stars from our dining table, but I really just like the shelving behind this. I didn't take his vote away from him - it's his birthday week.

These guys always do the BEST trees. The only thing that can top looking at this catalog over and over again, is a trip across the bay to the Pottery Barn store. Friday. Yep, going FRIDAY!

Daphne Ellenburg is the proud owner of Ellenburg Photography. Ellenburg Photography specializes in Wedding Photography and Family Portraiture. We are located just north of Mobile Alabama. We proudly serve all of Alabama, and Gulfcoast Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana.

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35, day 5

Finish Family Christmas Card, check. This has been on my list for weeks...but something has always gotten in front of it (Birthday adventures, Thanksgiving, Holiday Shopping, The Plastic Christmas Army...). I narrowed it down & finished it off this evening. Looks pretty fantastic, yep, pretty sure.
Monday after a holiday is a real downer. I always want just one more day and that day is Monday. I spent Monday wishing it were Sunday. My husband spent Monday, dreaming of ways to make the Plastic Christmas Army more energy efficient. He's changing entire bulb fixturing from the 90's and adding LED bulbs. He's the green in our relationship.

Daphne Ellenburg is the proud owner of Ellenburg Photography. Ellenburg Photography specializes in Wedding Photography and Family Portraiture. We are located just north of Mobile Alabama. We proudly serve all of Alabama, and Gulfcoast Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana.

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Holiday Cheer, 365 Day 4

I did something today that I said I would not do. I bought more Christmas gift. I've got to stay out of the stores or cancel my subscription to the Mobile Register.
Regardless, my day was very enjoyable. I slept in. I did some #5 and cleaned my room, while Mike worked on some Stucco for the downstairs addition. Memaw made a giant Gumbo - yum. I hung some more Garland on my Fireplace Mantle (I was straight out of that 3M commercial), put up a tiny Christmas tree in Madison's room and started my outdoor lighting. Mike and I dragged out the Plastic Christmas Tree Army from it's cozy home in the attic.

Every time I see the plastic Christmas Army, I remember a Windy Christmas 3 years ago when the Army still lived at Aunt Angela's house. We arrived at her house on Christmas morning and all the army was overturned and everywhere. Grant stepped out the car and exclaimed "It's a Christmas Massacre!"
My hands were frozen, but those guys are lit and in my yard. Tomorrow, the porch and the start of the ice sickles. Oh, Boy!

It's really starting to feel like Christmas at the Ellenburg Home.

Daphne Ellenburg is the proud owner of Ellenburg Photography. Ellenburg Photography specializes in Wedding Photography and Family Portraiture. We are located just north of Mobile Alabama. We proudly serve all of Alabama, and Gulfcoast Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana.

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