Mexico - can we go back??

The week before Christmas, Chris and I got to take a trip to Mexico.  It already feels like forever ago! We had such a great time.  Lots of relaxing, reading, talking, sleeping and eating! It was perfect.  Here are some pictures from our trip: 

Time goes by so fast!  I'm glad there are pictures to look back on.  I can't believe that it is almost New Year's and my break is over.  Three more days off school and three more days of time with family.  I'm going to enjoy it as much as I can! 

Happy New Year! 

Swap?

I'm getting excited about growing my blog, meeting other bloggers, and learning more about writing a blog.  I didn't realize how much you can get to know people and how much of a blogging "community" there is out there - I am loving it!  Yesterday I worked on making a button for my blog! This last year I've been learning a lot about myself when it comes to patience and it even has been applying to this blog.  I see lots of possibilities with blogging and with my etsy shop but know that everything is going to take time. (Which I'm not so good when it comes to waiting for things!)  I thought about sponsoring other blogs, which I will probably do soon, but I thought maybe I'd start with swapping buttons first.  Let me know if you'd be interested!! 

What I wore - Christmas

This is the outfit that I wore Christmas Day .  My very talented sister made me this scarf for Christmas and I LOVE it!  I can't wait to wear it again and again.  Last night my family went and saw Mission Impossible.  It was excellent!   On the way home I was telling my family how the other day my husband asked me who Michael "Bubble" was.  We all got quite the kick out of that.  

Happy Wednesday!

Christmas snapshots

I'm so thankful for pictures.  I'm always sad when Christmas is over but looking at pictures makes me feel so much happier.  I'm loving all the family time the last few days and look forward to another six days of being together.  Here are some of our Christmas pictures: 

Chris and I tried for about 15 minutes to get a good picture of my niece and nephew.  I now understand why my sister doesn't have more pictures of them together.  Here is one of the many fails: 

My sister's beautiful family!

After our Christmas Eve church service, we went back to my parents for dinner.  As we were finishing eating the power went out in all but one room - the one we weren't in and the one without the Christmas tree.  After spending much time trying to find out how to fix it we decided we'd move the kids' presents into the other room where there was power.  Here's my little helper with his own head light. : )

While it was definitely not our normal Christmas Eve plan it ended up just fine and we'll definitely remember it! (the power did come back on a few hours later)

Christmas morning we spend with Chris' family, eating breakfast and of course opening presents with his parents, brother and sister in law, and their kids. 

 me with my niece and nephews

 My niece, Gracie, was so excited to give me my gift.  It was a piggy bank that she picked out herself and was so convinced it was exactly what I needed.  She was so excited to give it to me - it was adorable and I love her!

 Yea - a sewing box!

I'm excited to share some of the gifts that I made for my family in the next few days - more pictures to come!

My brother was with his fiance, Lauren, this Christmas and they come home on Wednesday, which means continued family time!  I'm also very happy to have more days off school and enjoy more time with this sweet baby before she goes home to Vermont: 

Hope you all had wonderful Christmas' and are still able to enjoy time with family this week!

Merry Christmas Eve

I'm so excited that today is Christmas Eve!  I'm soaking up every minute of Christmas music that I can right now.  I'll be off in a little bit for breakfast with my family, and later going to church.  Our Christmas Eve service is not anything special but it is one of my favorite times to be at church, singing Christmas songs, sitting with my family and celebrating Jesus' birth.  Thinking back on the year and all the things we have to be grateful for.  Then tonight at my parents we eat dinner filled with all kinds of random foods that are each of our favorites.  We read the Christmas story and talk about what God's done in our lives this year.  And finally it is time to open presents!  

I hope you are enjoying time with your families today and tomorrow!  Merry Christmas!

Home

We're home from Mexico!!  We had such a wonderful time. I plan on spending today looking through and uploading pictures, doing laundry, picking up our house and finishing a few Christmas projects.  I am so excited for Christmas Eve tomorrow - my family does all our traditions and presents then and my sister and her family come in tonight.  I wish the next week would go by really slowly! : ) 

I definitely did not wear this outfit today, as I will most likely be in sweatpants the majority of the day.  Here is another pinterest inspired outfit I wore last week: 

 Hope you've all had a great week!  I missed reading all your blogs while I was gone.  I hope to catch up today!!

Looking forward to . . .

Some of this . . . .

Lots of this . . . 

Coming home in time for Christmas . . . 

loving lots on these girls . . . 

especially this beautiful niece . . . 

and lots of loving for my very favorite little boy. . . . 

Happy Christmas break!!! I'll be back next week!

One more day

Today is my last day of school before Christmas break. (I wore my red shoes to show my holiday spirit.) Which means one more day with hyper kids, holiday parties and my least favorite 5 minutes of the year where the teachers have to stand in the middle of our gym, walk in a circle, and sing "You better watch out" to all the students at our school. Let me tell you - I look forward to the end of the school day today! Especially because tomorrow morning Chris and I leave for Mexico for six days! Then my sister and her family come in for Christmas. I could not be more excited!