Good riddance.

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So long, 2011.  

Although I did make some beautiful memories with my family and friends, I won't miss the most HEARTBREAKING year of my life, AT ALL.

I am ready for the NEW YEAR!

I know the year to come will hold it's own share of issues.  I realize life just isn't perfect.

But I sure am ready to move forward...in lots of ways.

In honour of the new year, I'm giving you some sparkly inspiration for this 

Fascination Friday...

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Welcome, 2012.

Soooooooooo happy you are almost here!

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Have a SAFE and HAPPY NEW YEAR, my friends.

✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳✳

My ♥

I don't know how we could have made it thru the last six months and the last few holidays without Mister Christmas.

Evan took this photo of us under the mistletoe at the Kloewer's.  There were people EVERYWHERE but somehow, he managed to snap this picture at just the right moment.

This photo is very special to me.

This man is VERY SPECIAL to me.

I love you, Scott.  

Happy New Year.

Christmas 2011

Here's a little peek at our holiday festivities,

including Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day...

I hope your Christmas was MERRY and BRIGHT.

Stay tuned for a look back at my year...

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2012 is almost upon us and MY, MY, MY - I am ready for that!!!

What are your New Year's Eve plans?

Do share!

Finders of fun...

 I'm not going to lie.

Christmas was really rough for me this year.

But, these two inspired me.  They are so strong, and sweet, and sensitive, and they are growing into amazing young men.  They really blow me away sometimes with their kindness and compassion for others, including me.

They have really been enjoying their time at home, and I have been savoring every minute of it...

Whether they are playing in the snow...

...or enjoying a couple of "frappies" at Starbucks...

...they always manage to find the fun in EVERY situation.

They are so inspiring to me.

I hope you all had a VERY MERRY Christmas.

I will share some shots of our holiday, very soon.

Thanks for reading, my friends.

XO

Torture

I enjoy seeing the sights during the holidays, but there's no sight quite like seeing my dogs in a Santa hat and a Santa suit.

They torture me every day with their licking and their obnoxious behavior.

It's about time I torture them for a change.  

Don't you think?

Aren't they just ADORABLE????

(Even with that look of misery in their eyes.:)

Snowbound.

It's a cozy, wintery, lazy morning here at our house.

Here's what it looks like outside...

And, here's what it looks like inside...

The monkeys are lounging...

The pups are staying cozy...

Rodrigo is curious, as usual.

He is mesmerized by the snow outside.

We are all staying warm and RELAXING.  

I'm so glad all of my Christmas shopping is FINISHED!!

I just have a few presents left to MAKE. :)

Last night, we checked another holiday activity off of our winter break to-do list.

A GINGERBREAD HOUSE

I did the icing. (I'm pretty proud of those icicles!!!)  

The monkeys applied the candies.

I think we did a SPLENDID job!

This could be our best gingerbread house EVER!

Wherever you are, I hope you are staying nice and toasty!

Baking day!

Monday was BAKING DAY!

The monkeys and I went over to Natalie's house and we baked cookies all day.

The kiddos had a blast decorating the sugar cookies...

We also made chocolate button cookies, peppermint bark, and thumbprint cookies.

We were baking ANIMALS!!!

Speaking of animals...

...Bigsby even (reluctantly) donned his Santa suit for the occasion.

We are making a gingerbread house, tonight.

And Mister Christmas is bringing us a SURPRISE dinner!

Hope you are all staying WARM and FESTIVE.