Love, Traditions, and Laughter

New pajamas on Christmas Eve are one of the kids' favorite traditions.  (Right after the hot chocolate, that is.)  Getting them to pose anymore is one part bribery, one part begging, and one part a limit on the number of images I'm allowed to capture. Ahem. I've learned to keep taking pictures of them whether they're posing or not.  I get fantastic candid photos, and in between are the ones that make me laugh till my cheeks hurt.

JS and CG

Florida State Seminoles

Rose Bowl 2014
Florida State Seminoles
National Champions!

Florida State Seminoles 34, Auburn Tigers 31

Joy & Beauty

Scrapbook Layouts from 2006

Sometimes I miss the days 

when they were just my "littles"

RAKs

The concept of Random Acts of Kindness has become mainstream, and I've been the recipient of more than a couple.  My new neighbor ran down the truck and trailer carrying the new recycle bins when they passed me by after I yelled to them that I needed one.  A client at the office where I used to work brought me the loveliest place mats and napkins because she was happy to get an appointment on short notice. About 88% of my stolen jewelry was returned to me.  One of the guys from the lawn company who mows the yard at the house next to me always blows all the leaves off my porch and driveway.

It feels good to have given out some RAKs too.  I think they won't count if I share them, and I don't want to keep track, either.  There isn't a limit on how many to give or receive!

This is a unique RAK that I absolutely loved.  It's not often I get a chance to choose.  :)

I resolve to take action

Instead of resolutions, I've decided to make [another] to-do list.  The goal is to finish these items by February 28, and then make another list.

1) Get back yard cleaned up.  Monster task.

2) Read all the books I have piled on the first shelf of my bookcase, meaning all the books signed by the author.

3) Make outline for getting-longer-every-time-I-work-on-it story.  It needs a skeleton.

4) Clean top shelves of bedroom closets.  Not even sure what’s up there.

Sometimes resolutions I've made haven't resulted in much.  When my first list is done, I will have accomplished a lot.  Feeling satisfied with a job well done is one thing I "resolve" to do in 2014.

NYE 2013

2013. New Year's Eve around here:

Better-than-Cracker-Barrel brunch

Standard dinner

At the Bar

Sparkly

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2014!

Christmas Day 2013 Photos

With Holiday Love from Our House to Yours

16 minutes till Christmas Day

All the Christmas Eve traditions were repeated this year, including my lack of attention to the Christmas Carter Balls.

Cooking little smokies in the crock pot, drinking hot chocolate, riding around looking at Christmas lights, opening the one present that's always new pajamas, making sugar cookies with the homemade icing.  Repeated reminders about how anything in the stockings is fair game, and presents have to wait till I get up and have a full cup of coffee in one hand and my camera in the other.

An unexpected joy arose when the hand mixer stopped working just after I started blending with it. Unbelievable how long it take to mix icing by hand.  Note to self:  Make sure the $5 appliances are in good working order while you're making the grocery list.

I'll wait a couple more minutes to try to catch Santa, and then, night night :)

Ribbon Trees

Christmas crafting in full swing here.  Styrofoam cones + straight pins with tiny white pearls + oodles of ribbon = ribbon trees.

With flash

Same shot with no flash

Finished

Stinkin' cute!

We need two more star toppers, which I'm sure we'll be able to find in the arsenal of scrapbook stuff I have.  

Three days till Christmas.  

Holiday Poser

Christmas Pupper

Guardian of The Tree