{phew…}

i think i might have survived. i think. i mean, although the holidays are not over, i dropped off my very last shipment to the post office today, and it felt very much like relief as i walked out the doors. i have been there, literally, every.single.day for 3 weeks.

this year i have really enjoyed putting gifts together for my parents. being parents, they are happy with whatever i give them. but last year, i thought i would forgo my normal “photo” gifts (because i thought they might be board of them!)  and get them what i thought were totally awesome gifts from real stores. i bought my mom a pair of earrings from Anthropologie, and my dad something from LL BEAN. and you know how it is when you think you pick out the BEST gift for someone…you imagine them opening it, filled with joy at the sight of it, and you feel they will forever hold you in the highest regard as the best present-finder-ever? that is how cool i thought i was. this year, i was pre-approached around Thanksgiving and told “i hope photos are on the box this year”. hint. thanks mom.

i got it.

i feel pretty safe posting these as my mom is so busy these days taking care of everyone and working 50 hours a week, i don’t think she even turns her computer on at home any more. and, my dad (who has a computer) doesn’t know how to turn his on, so i am good there too.

this is one of my image boxes. i sell them very frequently to my customers…especially to the customers who can’t seem to choose which photos they want because they LOVE them all. the box, custom made and designed and printed, is overflowing the photos of the girls i took throughout this year. i recieved the last of the photos in the mail yesterday…and it is always SO amazing to see how much the girls change and grow in just one year’s time. i reluctantly shipped this out today, and them came home and ordered myself one. (Merry Christmas to me.)

Quote: “I just painted the living room, and there is such a bare spot on the South facing wall. I wonder what I could put up there? (long pause) Something big and pretty. Maybe something framed.” {my.dad}

subtle.

i opted for a HUGE print for my dad. god forbid a bare space. i also bought my parents little matted folios of the girls. you can either tuck them away or fold them out for display…so nice.

sigh. parents…