~ Blessed ~

When we look back at the year that was

what jumps out at you

was it the happy times

or do the sad ones seem to take over

with me I think about the ones that 

impacted me the most

like Mom's close call and time spent in the hospital

and Trev losing his job

but I can see how much we are blessed

Mom is still here with us

and Trev has found something else that he enjoys doing

he is happy to get up way to early in the mornings

and drive that big yellow bus

full of littles back and forth to school

see ~ blessed

this is us on New Years Eve

last year

crappy phone picture ~ but we are happy

we were with some of our closest friends

and that is how we started out 2012

this year I found beauty in a dandelion

fell even more in love with this little monkey

spent some time in the place I love the most

watched the sunset at the beach

stopped to smell the roses ~ the sunflowers too!

heard the crunch of the leaves as summer gave way to fall

and made some new memories with these 2

my nieces Sam & Kat

love love love these girls of mine.

So today as I reflect on the year that was

my word of the year will be

Blessed

that is my life and I need to stop and remind myself

every so often.

Happy New Year 

to all of my friends that I have met through blogging

I also feel blessed to have you all in my life.

Hugs & Love

xo

Family & Festivities

Hey out there

are you full yet!

I think we started eating last Friday

and have not stopped since

we joke at work saying that we have to dig to the back of the

closet for our buffet pants!

I honestly could not get a good picture of our tree this year

must be getting shaky in my old age

yeah ~ I know ~ excuses excuses

my girls ~ they are growing up so fast

on the 23rd we went to the Christmas concert at my brother's church

put on by the youth group

my Sambo was Mary

and hardly cracked a smile!

this is Ceara and Alayna ~ the other 2 girls in my life now

they are my brother's finance's girls

who are also in youth ~ Ceara made the cutest little angel

Katrina was there too ~ director, producer and wardrobe queen extraordinaire!

and she is here with Mom

Christmas eve I worked but got off early and 

after the candlelight service at church

we all came back here for drinks and finger foods

Christmas day was busy but not hectic

and Boxing Day we were home most of the day

before going to Trev's parents for turkey dinner

we had a great time ~ were spoiled rotten

and I feel blessed to be part of not one but 2 great families.

Right now we are in the midst of a snowstorm

and I will be ok ~ as long as we don't lose power.

Hope your Christmas was merry.

xo

Christmas Wishes

Taking this opportunity

to wish all of you 

a very Merry Christmas

everything is ready

bring on the food, family and fun!

xo

Friday Potpourri

When I was putting out my decorations

I came across my series of Coke Christmas plates

and along with it

is a musical snow globe

via

I wound it up and of course it played

that old song that I remember so well

and it made me smile

as I write this the snow is gently falling

I just finished my wrapping

sweet tray is made up to take to work tomorrow

via

I am all cozied up on the couch

with Molly by my side

and instead of thinking about the countless things 

I have left on my to do list

I am reflecting...

via

via

thinking about how thankful I am today

surrounded by friends and family

digging deep ~ trying to relax

and let the spirit of Christmas take over my thoughts

instead of the hustle and bustle

and commercialization of it all

via

one of my best friends lost her father in law yesterday

and my heart aches for them

there really is not a good time for it

but when it happens around the holidays

it seems sadder

being together ~ and not worrying about the tree

or the decor or the paper or the bows

none of that matters

it's the people that you surround yourself with

that do

sometimes we all need just a little reminder...

so this week-end I will be the rock for my bestie and her family

toast friendships both old and new tonight and tomorrow night

enjoy a Christmas concert at church on Sunday morning

starring my 2 favourite girls Kat & Sam

and spend Sunday night ~ curled up by the tree

taking in the glow and the spirit of it all.

xo

Wordless Wednesday ~ Sparkle & Shine

It's that time of year

when we can bling things up!

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

Happy Wednesday!

Festive Days

I was asked to pull the pictures from my sidebar

and put them into a post

so here it is!

via

via

it was go go go all week-end

tree trimming ~ cookies to bake

menus to finalize ~ grocery lists to make

and a little gathering on Saturday night

made for busy times

via

I will start my wrapping tonight

love putting on the music and just getting it all done

via

there seems to be something going on every night this week

but that is ok ~ I revel in it this time of year

via

via

after the tragedy of Friday

I stayed off social media for most of the week-end

I just couldn't do it ~ I was too emotional

as I was putting the lights on the tree on Saturday

I broke down ~ a snotty mess of tears

those families are in my prayers

via

I love getting around to visit the blogs right now

so many pretty things

via

via

via

Hope your week-end was full of more smiles than tears.

xo