Hello January!

Gosh, where do I begin?

That's the hard thing about taking a break from blogging.

Does a person back track, like I'm going to try to do today? Or does a person just start today and skip the part where I was taking a break?

Here goes (hope I don't bore you too much)

Here's Sweetie Pie happy as can be, as long as we don't

try to hold her or anything.

That's the best picture I got the whole time, all the parties and special gatherings, all the pretty dresses, this is the best I got.

Her, trying to escape.

See? Do you think she'd sit with the others? Nope. This mama has to get creative and stand back so you can see her in the background.
Busy, busy, busy, that describes her right now.
On the move constantly.
Wait, am I describing myself?

Tom and I celebrated our 14th Anniversary on December 20th.
14 just doesn't feel like very long. I feel like it's been so much longer, and I mean that with all love in my heart. I feel like I've know him and been with him my whole life.
It's been the best 14 years of my life and I can't imagine my life without this man.

Shake, shake, shake!

This pose inspired by Margaret.

My hands down favorite Christmas gift this year, was not even my own. It's Babycakes beautiful flower headband from Santa. It's just so darn cute on her!

Our wall of Christmas friends!

Can you see yourself?

A good friend sent me a picture of her and I (and another friend) from 15 or 16 years ago.

Boy, my first thought was "wow, I was skinny back then, and wow, I used to wear make up, and my skin looks so young!" Thanks Nic, that was so fun to open and see!

New Years Eve, we Fondued, here's just the dessert.

and we played games all night.

We started with little kiddo games and sent the littles to bed and then played

Quelf until the bigger kiddos went to bed about 11:15, so hubby and I had some smooching time!
Quelf is a great game by the way!!!

Lots of acting and funny things to do.

Silly boys who don't like their picture taken!

I should stop here.

I should, but I won't.

These Kisses are the best Kisses (aside from real ones I get from my hubby and kiddos)

They are mint truffles.

We (I) stashed some in the cupboard for when I need that little taste of chocolate, or when I need to bribe someone to pick up toys.

My in-laws bought us, our whole family, a trip to Cancun, Mexico!!!!

All inclusive, food, everything.

They are even paying for our passports.

We are leaving in March.

We are counting down the days.

It's like 80 some days away.

It's like 4 degrees outside right now.

It's 80 some days away....it's 80 some days away....it's 80 some days away.

I bought this exact make up and it only came with one little applicator.

See? One little applicator.

SO, I use all 3 colors and one color gets all mixed up with the other one.

How dumb.

Why do eyeshadow companies do that?

Last year, I was given a gift certificate for a "spa place". A $50 gift certificate.

I'm not really a spa kind of gal.

I had to use it up by the end of December.

A friend told me to use it on products.

Great idea! I went there and grabbed big bottles of this kind of shampoo,

The price said $21. Thinking this is pretty expensive, since I only pay like $12 for that size at Sam's Club, for a different brand though, of course, I took it to the register, where the beautiful, young, all dolled up gal told me, that that size is actually $87 per bottle. (I had the conditioner and curl enhancer too)

Ummmm, ok, I guess I'll get the smaller size. The size that you can't even buy in the regular stores, because it's too small.

I still had to spend $15 above the $50 gift card.

I felt sick to my stomach doing that, but I couldn't see the gift card wasted either.

People actually spend that kind of money on their hair.

Ridiculous.

That's all I can say about that.

This break was good.

It's always to take a break from regular things.

Breaking from the computer freed me.

It puts things back into perspective.

I still love to read my blogs.

BUT

I will slow down on my comments.

I will slow down on my posts.

I am replacing it with exercise.

It's the only way to fit it in.

Ever.

And it's still hard.

I love being more free to my children.

I love not feeling pressured to get a post up.

And, did I tell you about

Cancun?

And that it's

only 80 some days away....it's only 80 some days away....