Pieces Of Us.

{ Good-Bye 2010}

So, I am not going to lie, this is the Keepin' it Real (but remembering this is public) version of {Good-Bye 2010}.

The truth is, 2010 has been one of the very hardest and bumpiest years of my "grown-up" life.

I have no doubt in my mind that I have worried, cried, prayed, wondered, feared, and doubted more this year than probably the past 15 years combined.
It's been rough.

My heart has been shattered.

I have doubted myself in just about every area of life.

It hasn't been a pretty place to be.
And though I am working hard to claw and climb my way back out, that isn't easy either.

I have learned so much about myself though, and believe that I am learning and growing, and that I am a stronger person now than I ever have been.

(Enough about that!)

This year we lost a friend to Cancer, at only 40 years old.
She was a beautiful woman who was loved beyond measure and who left her husband and 5 year old son behind. 
It is heart breaking. 
And so unfair. 
And I just don't understand it. 

And it leaves me contemplating, and wondering and sure that I need to live my best life now, while I have the chance.
And as I saw all of her friends and family spring into action when she was sick and also at her funeral, I sat there dreaming of making myself worthy of that much love and support.
And when I left there, I couldn't help but wonder, what will people say about ME, at MY funeral?

And so I head into a new year with a fresh new calendar, and a fresh new start.

And I hope, and pray that 2011 finds me with a whole new outlook on life.

{Good-Bye, 2011}.

{ Cookies for Santa }

The kids and I decided that Santa would like some Sugar cookies this year.
This was our first time decorating sugar cookies to leave out for Santa, and we had tons of fun.
So we baked a couple dozen cookies, and the kids decorated them, and then they each chose their "best looking cookie" to leave out for Santa.

 

 

 

 



We even put the camera on a pot, set the self timer and posed for a picture together! 
And then after all that, we were sure to set the cookies out for Santa before bed.
Except we had to leave them on the mantle, because we were afraid Annie would try to play Santa and eat them, if we just left them on the floor.

And then, apparently Santa didn't see them on the mantle, because when the kids got up on Christmas Morning, the cookies were still sitting on the mantle, much to their dismay.
Oooppps, I am sure that Santa was just full from eating all the cookies at every stop the whole way here!  :)

{We're Ready}

 

The stockings are hung.

The presents are wrapped.

The house is clean, and the laundry all washed, dried, folded, and put away.

The kids are bursting with excitement.

By this time tomorrow, they will know what most of their gifts are and will hopefully be sleeping away, dreaming of Santa coming.

This feels like an extra low key Christmas, so far.
And I can't believe what I am about to say, But we never ended up getting a real tree.
We always have, and totally planned to this year.
But, Life Happened, and it's the one thing we never squeezed in.
We have a fake tree that we always put up in the dining room to tie our Christmas cards to, so we decided that since Christmas is practically here already, we would just be happy with our silly little fake tree, with our loved ones faces adorning it for decoration.
We didn't even dig out the Christmas tree decorations.
{Sad, isn't it?}

But, really.
Our presents are still wrapped and sitting beautifully under it, and there isn't a pine needle on my floor.
So, I am not going to complain.  I will just say though, this will NOT become a tradition, and next year, we WILL have our usual real tree!

On another note, I have so completely enjoyed getting all of the Christmas cards, pictures and letters in the mail this month!  The have made my heart FEEL {HAPPY} and {LOVED}!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

{A Cold Winter's Day}

*Sleeping In
*Baking and Decorating Cookies
*Missing the biggest Sister, who is staying with her cousin
*Laundry
*Sledding
*Anticipating Christmas
*Snuggles and Kisses and Smiles and Laughs

Hello Christmas Break. 
Welcome to our home. 
Enjoy your stay, we sure are!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

{december catch up}

Did you know...
That I started this blog 5 and a half years ago.  Back when there were pretty much 2 blogger choices out there.  This one, for $8.95/month, or Blogspot, which was free, but you really couldn't personalize it and make it pretty, at least not nearly as user friendly as you could with typepad.
And I was all about having the cute little banners and pretty colors, and even music playing in the sidebar.
Times have changed, and Blogger is just as good as Typepad, but even better...  It's FREE!  and 66 months later, I have now paid $590.70 for my blog.  {Sigh}
But I LOVE IT!  And I don't want to give it up...  And if I stop paying, I lose the past 5 and a half years of my families memories. {Sigh, again!}

There are 7 days left before Christmas.  I am {almost} ready.
We don't have our tree up yet.  {Sigh, again!}
But we have presents bought and wrapped, Christmas cards sent out in the mail...And we are all happy, healthy and together. 

A tiny glimpse into the silliness that goes on around here~

 

 

 

Oh' and just for the heck of it...  Deven took this one of John and I, as we were getting ready to head out to the LS Christmas party.

 

 

Today marks day 1 of Christmas break.  Deven made Pancakes for breakfast.  Ashlyn served them to me in bed.
I have spent my morning pouring over pictures, and catching up on some blogs that I love to read.
I have plenty to do,, don't get me wrong, but what's the rush, I have the next two weeks off.  So for this morning, I am officially being lazy! 
And as of tomorrow, no more being lazy. 
I have a long list that must get accomplished this break!

{My Ashlyn Mae}

 

 

 

 


{You}

Are the sweetest surprise.

Are the baby of our family, the completion to our circle.

Are beautiful, and funny.

Are loved, more than you will ever be able to comprehend!

Love,

Mommy

{Hello, December}

Here's what's been on my mind~

*First of all, we have all been enjoying the snow!
I LOVE the way it makes the world look so fluffy, and soft.  I love to sit inside, feeling all warm and cozy, and watch it fall to the ground.
The Kids have been LOVING the snow.  They have been spending hours and hours outside playing in it...
Snowmen have been built, and their very favorite thing to do ~ pull each other around on the tube, behind the 4-wheeler.
John on the other hand, worked all of his days off, and put in several 12+ hour days in a row.
He has been tired, but we appreciate all his hard work, to take care of our family!

*I had an awesome couple of months of picture taking.  Which is a dream come true for me.
Just the right amount.  I wouldn't have wanted to do much more, but had plenty to keep me busy and get some good practice in.  I was very happy with my work these couple of month, and not too many things make me happier than seeing people light up, when looking at their families captured in my images.

*Thanksgiving has come and gone, and as usual, we enjoyed a yummy feast with the Hofbauer clan.

*The kids Christmas programs are over, and we lived through another 3+ hour program.

*John's parent's are gone to Iowa right now, and we are babysitting their Golden Retreiver, Hannah, who also happens to be Annie's Momma.
We have loved having her here, and she has been spoiled rotten.
She has gone from being a mostly outside farm dog, to an inside, sleep and eat all day, lazy, kid smothered house dog.  She hasn't complained yet.

Today, they kept me company while I worked on a federal report that I have spent hours, upon hours trying to get finished up, and I couldn't help by snap some pictures of them.  They looked so cute and peaceful!

 

 

 

 

 

Now that I think about it, I guess they weren't much company!