When you have so much to say, you can't think of anything to say...

I have so much to say.



There has been so much time since my last post...time filled with thoughts and feelings. Time filled with family. Time filled with friends, old and new. Time filled with events and activities. Time filled with school and work and play. Time filled with thoughts of the many things I still have yet to do.

Time filled...


Seems like that is a theme in my life right now.


And yet, on all the occasions I have sat down to update the blog, I can't even think of one thing to say. I write a little, backspace a lot and then just close the whole thing down.


How can that be? So much to say that you can't think of a thing to say.



So for now, I will start to update the blog with pictures and a little bit of commentary to go along. Perhaps in the midst of it all, I will begin to gather my thoughts and eventually be able to communicate the events of my life through the written word.



In the meantime, I'll keep that right hand close to the backspace button just in case.

January was filled with ...

What else! Swimming. Isn't that what you think of in January?

Snow...okay, that sounds more like it in January. But really our January snow was more ice than snow. The kids still managed to have a great time in it.

And take note of those IMPRESSIVE homeschoolers...finding a piece of ice in the shape of South Carolina! Always making the most of every educational opportunity!!

And then there was our trip to Snow Mountain for snow tubing...what a ton of fun! We really did have a blast hanging out with our friends, tubing down the hills and then visiting with my amazing parents for the weekend.

Paper Trees

I zoomed in on this part of the "puzzle" picture to show a portion of the paper Christmas tree collection.

The trees were made by every member of our family...the process to make the trees is simple. Take a piece of paper and put it behind your back. You may fold or tear the paper any way you like in order to make a shape that resembles a Christmas tree. At no time can you take the paper from behind your back and look at what you are doing . Once you bring it out, you are done. It really is hilarious to see what everyone comes up with!

Mine is the one to the far right that looks a bug/alien space ship. I think that it would really work well as one of those things that a psychiatrist uses...one of those ink blots that they hold up and say "now what do you see".

First time I saw this done was by our church staff last Christmas...they are such a creative and fun bunch!

Oh, that blasted puzzle...

My oldest sister (I would use her initial, but we all start with a B so it would be pointless!) brought a puzzle with her for us to work on while we were together.





She said that it would be fun...a good way to relax.



Well, let me officially go on record as saying that it was the hardest puzzle ever made and between times that I wanted to take a hammer and smash the puzzle, I had a lot of fun and was very relaxed.

Christmas Cookies

For many years, even since my sister's kids were young, we have had an annual Christmas tradition of baking and decorating Christmas cookies. Well, this year the tradition went on a road trip! Time passed so quickly during our Christmas break and we didn't get around to making cookies at home...but I made dough before we left for Mimi and Big Daddy's and we made sure that time was spent one afternoon baking, decorating and of course eating our homemade Christmas creations!

These are a few of my favorite things about Christmas at Mom and Dad's...

Awesome food.

Great people.


Even though one table may be full ...


...there is always a way to make room for more.





My amazing dad (and mom too, even though I don't have a picture of her from this year).




Spending time laughing together.






Presents! (and more great people).

Cute puppies and dogs. And more great people!

Wait...there is my mom on the sofa (kind of like where's Waldo!) I didn't think I had a picture of her.

Family.

Who doesn't love a good gumball?

Digging for change!

An Atlanta Classic

Every trip to Atlanta is made better when it includes a trip to The Varsity...chili dogs, rings and fries, Varsity PC! YUM!!!