Thanksgiving notwithstanding (using that word makes me feel smarter than I am), this weekend was my first photography-free weekend since September.  Well, that's not exactly true; Kylie and I did do a little mini shoot for our Christmas card on Saturday, but it was much less stressful to be the photographee rather than the photographer this time around.  Actually, that's not exactly true either.  I'm admittedly a bit OCD when it comes to photography, and I loath getting my own mug on the other side of the lens anymore, so my friend Tina had to remind me before we started that I was not in control and to let her take over.  Bwahaha... thanks for patience and for taking charge, Tina. For the first time in a couple months I was able to sit on the couch and shut everything off... no counting down the minutes 'til I'd have to get back up to go edit images, package up orders, schedule a vieiwing appt, etc.  For a moment, I had a flash back of a life before photography.  It was peaceful and pleasant time.  There were long lunches with friends, a gym with hours a'plenty to work out, more date nights, free time to work on things around the house, closets with space to spare for things other than gear and supplies, weekends... [insert sound a needle scratching on a record here] Back to reality. With the photography season finally winding down, it's starting to feel more like the holiday season, and splashes of Christmas decorations have popped up around the house as a tell-tale sign.  Christmas music now permeates the air pretty much at all times when we're home.  Holiday cards are starting to take over the fridge.  And, completely out of character for me, I even have a few gifts already purchased.  Crazy, I know... must be Christmasageddon.  Anyway, the break couldn't come at a better time.  I look forward to hanging out with my wife and recharging my batteries for the next several weeks and enjoying our last Christmas B.C. (before children).  Next up?  A baby!  Weeeeeeeee!! Here's just a couple random images I took over the weekend of decorations in progress. A candle holder on the kitchen counter.

For a short period, our manger scene was in a state of emergency as Joseph, Mary & baby Jesus - kind of important players - were AWOL. I looked suspicially at the dog, and she looked guilty, but her alibi proved solid when soon after we found the Big Three hanging out in another box.