The most wonderful time of the year

Yes, it is that time of year again. Time for a Christmas card photo. Now we are trying to get three smiles instead of two. No worries, I am ready to tackle this head on.
Sunday morning before church seems like the perfect time to try to get a good picture. It makes sense right? Everyone is clean. Everyone is dressed. Nana has just sent cute Christmas clothes. It is go time.
After 20 minutes of saying "just one more picture," I got a few shots that will work. Here are the good, the bad and the really bad.

Matt got into this picture. Harper looks a bit terrified.






Harper's clothes are basically coming off. Good smiles Abby!
This was a fun idea and the pose kept their hair out of their faces.



Harper is offically over it...
...because you can see I am standing over her as I got my feet in this shot.

A week with only one

Will and Abby helped me ease back into work by going and spending a week with Shay-Shay and Papa Tim in Wilmington. As much as I missed them, getting out the door with just one was very easy. I didn't have to raise my voice to tell baby Harper to put on her shoes so we could get to school on time. Even though somethings were easier, I was shocked at the quiet evenings....and my boredom. I missed those little buggers a lot!

Matt and I did use the time wisely. We went out to dinner twice. We re-lived our younger days and ate only chips for dinner. We watched movies....without animated action heros in them.
This week we are all here together and I survived. We actually thrived. Three is just like two only louder.

My Ode to Maternity Leave

On my last day of maternity leave, I felt like going out--with a poem.

Good-bye shower free days and easy hours reading a mystery,
These care-free eight weeks are now maternity leave history.
I enjoyed my time, cooking dinner every night
Even though the big kids never tried even one bite.
We lived through a round of the chicken pox and swine flu,
I am still hoping that Harper won’t get sick too.

Early on Monday morning the rush will start again,
With shoes, car seats and a long lost computer log-in.
I am looking forward to getting back to my seat,
Which will cut down on the left over halloween candy that I eat.
While I have loved every minute of maternity leave,
I am full of excitement on this return-to- work- eve.

Halloween...Perryman Style

Halloween was ON at the Perryman house. This year, we had a very cute cheerleader, a cool Star Wars clone trooper, and the biggest Tigger in the neighborhood. I had a lady-bug costume for Harper but it was too hot for fleecy bunting. There was a neighborhood parade before we went out for some hard core trick-or-treating.


Will loves to do this pose. He's part storm trooper all cool guy.

She is the cutiest cheerleader I know. The bangs are banging.

Yes, that is a beer in my hand.

Abby was most excited about the candy. Matt made me wear that hat.

Why did I hate these as a kid?

When Becca and I were little, my mother tried to dress us in matching outfits. I have very vivid memories of crying and screaming that I did not want to dress like Becca.

When I learned that we were going to have a second little girl, I was so thrilled that Abigail and Harper would have each others as sisters. Yes, I am in for years of bickering and arguing if they are anything like me and Becca were, however they will be happy to have each other...by the time they go to college.

Until then, I have matching outfits! Harper is now seven weeks old and the girls now they have their first matching outfits. They will hate me later for this later but I am going have them wear these outfits in as much as possible.

Is she making fun of me?

I was getting a little work done the other day while Harper was sleeping and the kids were playing. I stepped outside to check on Will and when I came back in, Abigail had taken my place in front of my computer.

I asked her, "Abby, are you working?"
She said "I'm Mommy. I like coffee."
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Good Baby Harper

I can't believe I am even writing this down. We try not to talk about it so we won't jinx ourselves. Now she is six weeks old so I think I am in the clear. Harper is a really good baby. I mean really good. She only gets up once a night. She will sit in her chair and not cry. She doesn't freak out when Will and Abby get in her face.

I was really worried about having a third. What would it be like with three? How would I handle the screaming and the craziness? On the first night home, Harper let me sleep for three hours. My mouth fell open when I looked at the clock. Three hours?!? The clock must be wrong. I knew something was up that first day. I just couldn't talk about the goodness in case it didn't last. But it did last. Right now as I am typing this she is sitting sweetly on my lap making cute baby sounds.

I think I got this good baby so I could handle the craziness. The noise and the crying and the fighting from the other two can make me batty. I know that in a few years that Harper will be so wild that I will have to eat my words, but right now I have a good baby Harper.