Old Christmas

If you are close to me, you know I am superstitious.

I am OCD on top of that.

In other words, I am crazy.

If I forget and I have to come back in the house to get it, I have to sit down and cross my legs (superstitious).  I have to cross and uncross them 3 times (OCD).  Do you follow?  It is strange.  I can't help it.

Anyway, my great grandma Reba was superstitious as well.

There is this thing called "Old Christmas".  I have always heard the term but I just did a little research and found out what "Old Christmas" is.

You can read all about it here but in short, in 1582 the Julian calendar was replaced with the Gregorian calendar.

However, Protestant Europe kept the old Julian calendar for almost 200 years longer than everyone else setting them back 11 days when they switched calendars.  Therefore after the calendar switched, Christmas was moved back from January 6th to December 25th.

These protestants raised hell claiming the 11 days had been stolen from them.  Blahblahblah.

North Carolina was oblivious to all of this calendar changing/loss of 11 days.  (Opps.)

So, North Carolina was still celebrating on the old Christmas date, January 6th.

And so "Old Christmas" was born when we started celebrating with the rest of the people on December 25th.

According to the website, some people don't remove ashes from their fireplaces during those days because they were superstitious.

Then there are those crazies like me that will not wash my sheets from Christmas (Decemeber 25th) to "Old Christmas" (January 6th).

If my Grandma Reba told us not to do it, we better not.

To be on the safe side we've carried on with the tradition.  My Mom, Aunt, and Nana will not wash our sheets.  What have we got to lose?  We don't have to wash sheets AND we don't have bad luck.  It is a win/win.

Washing sheets between Christmas and "Old Christmas"= bad luck

That is not something I have ever wanted so I do everything in my power to keep luck on my side.

So now that you understand "Old Christmas" and know that I don't wash sheets during those 11 days, today was the day I could finally wash these babies that we got for Christmas...

1600 thread count.

Smooth as silk.

Merry day after "Old Christmas"!

Here's to a good nights rest on a super soft, *fresh* bed.

Sweet dreams.

Courage

I have had this 50mm lens for a while.

I wanted a portrait lens and at the time found this to be what I was looking for.

The only problem with it was it would not autofocus with my camera.

Bummer.

However, it is a fixed lens and I figured it would be easy to manual focus.

Click... ADD TO CART.  PROCEED TO CHECKOUT.  DONE.

Fast forward two years later and I have never taken a picture with the thing.

It stresses me out.

I haven't ever really practiced with it.

That is until I pulled it out the other night.

This is what I got...

Big, sit still.

I need to see your eye.

 NOT like that!

STAY STILL...

blurry

Now, sit very still Bug.

Don't make any sudden movements.

FREEZE

"Last one ok Mom!?"

Just one more, Bug.  Please just one more.

So, I pulled out one of the nutcrackers.

He will sit still for me.

Not too bad.

Not bad at all.

I am figuring this thing out.  Even if it took me two years to get enough courage to do it.  Ha!

Merry Christmas!

Friday Letters: Santa Edition

Dear Santa,

I have been really nice this year (for the most part).  Here are a few things I need/want for Christmas.

xoxo,
Hailey Hill Lafone

1.  Black Riding Boots
These will do.

2.  I really need a pair of black leggings.
I like these in black please.

If you are feeling really generous, I would LOVE this D7000.

credit

Oh, and a XC70 too!  Oneday I am going to ask you for one and it is just going to appear in the driveway.  I have this good feeling about it.  I really do.

credit

Love always,
Hailey Hill Lafone

Christmas Card 2012

Most of our Christmas cards should be at there new houses so I will share with all of you blog friends...

I didn't have a back this year to add Zoey.  Darn!

So... Merry Christmas from Zoey too!

We hope you all have a fabulous Christmas!!!

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Christmas Card 2009

Christmas Card 2010- I guess I didn't send one?

Christmas Card 2011

Favorite Sounds of Christmas

These are my favorite sounds of Christmas...

1.  How amazing is this??  AHHHHH-MAZING!



2.  Silent Night by Taylor Swift




3.  Do You Hear What I Hear? by Carrie Underwood



4.  And a little Dave...



5.  This song makes me fist pump and let's talk about this house... I wish Ryan would do this to my house.



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What are your favorite sounds of Christmas??

Jack is BACK... maybe

Jack has been here for less than 24 hours and may or may not have been touched.

Caroline isn't really sure if she touched him or not.

She just knows that there was a piece of lint on him and she got it off and he fell over.

When an elf is touched, it loses the special Christmas magic that it has.

Has this happened to any of you?

How do I handle this??

The Elf on the Shelf website has an answer but what did you do??

Christmas Cards

I received an email that looked like this this morning...

Yes.  I took two days out of my busy schedule to take pictures.  I decided on a picture of the girls together instead of individually.  I put together 5 cards and we finally chose one.  I am so excited (and relieved).

The best part of the process, 70% savings!!

Saving a ton of money is one of the upsides to ordering super early.

What is even better?  This year people will get my card on time.  NOT three days before Christmas!