'tis the season.

i finished this layout last night. it's been half completed for about two months now, but i decided it was time to finally be done with it. just in time for the holidays. :]
we set up a christmas tree last weekend, so i decided it would be festive to take photos of the layout sitting in the tree. the lighting was great coming in through the window. but it didn't last long today, even though yesterday was the solstice. another storm came, so it's dark and cloudy, and we're getting more snow. i don't think we'll get as much as last time, but i could be wrong.

when i went to the crop with mandee in rocklin, we searched all over for kraft cardstock. i saw the k & co. holiday chipboard at one store, but didn't buy it. later that evening when i was stuck on this layout, i was kicking myself for not buying it. well. i found them at a local store yesterday. on clearance. :] so i got out my punches for some detail and finally just adhered the photo, which i had been moving all over the place. i still wasn't thrilled with the layout until i added those little journaling strips. now i'm pretty happy with it. i have it sitting up on the mantle with the christmas cards. i never really do that with my layouts, but this one is perfect for the season. plus it's fun to see victoria as a baby. i can't believe how much she has grown. here is a santa photo from this year. she refused to sit on his lap. haha.
seriously. it's insane how she's growing up. amanda said that she belted out "feliz navidad" the other day when the song came on the radio! hilarious. i can't wait to spend time with her and the rest of my family in disneyland in january. victoria knows and loves the characters now, so it will be fun to see her excitement over them. i think about the upcoming trip everyday. :]

ok. i have some work to get done before dinner. i hope you are all ready for the holidays and taking time to enjoy the season!

p.s. for some reason when i publish my posts, the photos become less bright and vibrant. it's frustrating me because they look fine when i am composing, but then on the actual post they look lame. i don't really know what to do about it, but i thought i'd mention it in case someone has a good idea. i've heard that uploading from flickr instead of the blogger uploader can help, but it just seems like extra work. maybe i'll try it in the future though.

p.s.again. i know i still need to post the last three layouts i made. i should have taken photos today, but i spaced it. and i still need to post about thanksgiving. yikes. i guess i have some things to keep me busy when i'm at my parents' house for christmas. :]