Christmas

 I know, "Wait, wasn't Christmas over a week ago?" yeah, I know, but for us, it ended not that long ago. We started our Christmas by spending Christmas Eve at my parents and unwrapping all the handmade amazingness that all my family spent so much time on! The next morning we traveled up to spend Christmas with David's family and eat a delicious Christmas morning breakfast.

After Christmas toy reorganizing and a day of snowboarding for David, we packed up and traveled all day to see some more of David's family in Wyoming. It was a long trip, but Everett did amazing. We saw lots of pretty scenery both ways, spent some time in the natural hot springs, and did some coyote hunting, but mostly stayed indoors visiting and trying to stay out of the frigid cold. I feel like a baby after complaining about our cold weather here in Colorado after visiting Wyoming!

The deer eating their daily dose of fruit peelings in front of the house in WY

We arrived back home late at night and rushed off to my brothers Birthday party the next morning and celebrated new years eve that night. We had our traditional New Year's Day potato pancakes at my Grandparents New Years Day. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year as well!

P.S.

We had a little early Christmas Morning for Everett at our house too. I can't help, but adore the faces he makes after opening something!

My Favorite Posts of 2012

In the middle of no where Wyoming two days ago

Here's a recap of some of my favorite posts this year:

I started off 2012 with: News Years Resolutions: A better you V.1, V.2, V.3

and then continued with my New Year  Clean Eating Posts

V-Day

Perfection.

Visiting with Goats 

Officially Official

Reel Day

Rachel's Bridal Shower!

And then the Wedding part one, and two

Home I and II (I promise, I'm STILL planning on doing more of these)

Unexplainable

Our Weekend

On Turning Twenty... Something

Importance of Beauty

Whole Food Goodness

Writing

Lil' Froggy

Deceptive Friday

Marble

Pumpkin Patch

Visit to the Goblins

Hallow's Eve

The Moments You Stop and Think

2012 in Pictures

Happy New Year. Here's to a great year we had and an even better one ahead! xo -Liz

                         

The Moments You Stop and Think

Sometimes, during a rare moment, I'll look over at Everett and think, "what happened? How did I get so lucky to have this kid in my life? When did he grow up to be a kid, and no longer my little baby? How did I get so lucky to have a kid like this?" He reminds me so often about what's important in life and how to have real fun. I forget often... and he reminds me... often. Most of the time I feel less like a Mom and more like a kid again. It's amazing how many experiences I had as a kid that I can have all over again with this kid. He's like a blank canvas and every experience and memory we make together, we're making his life's childhood memories. It's pretty amazing.
But I can't help think, how did that all happen so fast. When did I become not a kid anymore and then suddenly have one of my own? It seems like not long ago at all that we were just young, irresponsible kids ourselves and now, I look over and find myself in a home of my own, almost just as wrestles as I was when I was a kid, but having the two people with me that mean the most in my life, and it feels complete. There's just no words to describe the love I feel and want to constantly show the two loves of my life and I feel quite lucky that we get to fill our whole house with the love we have for each other. I'm quite blessed.

Currently(and Sandy Hook Incident)

Ugly sweater day=almost every day

loving... Christmas everywhere. This season's so cheery don't you think? Even though it does come with some stressful parts.

Reading… Just finished That One Time With Julia that I got from my cousin as an early Christmas gift and now. I'm on to finally reading The Help. I hate reading books after I've already seen the movie, but it was such a good story, maybe it will still be worth it.

Obsessing Over… Getting every thing done in time for Christmas! I know I'll make it, but with a ton of birthdays in the mix it's feeling a little too overwhelming. When are people going to stop having babies in December?!! hah

Thinking about… A lot. Life in general is the best way I can describe it, even though it's way too vague. I love how much I'm still learning about life and constantly trying to better it.

Watching... I've been slowly working my way through The Office seasons all over again. It's one of the best shows(it comes close to Parks and Rec). I'm currently on season 7 when Michael proposes to Holly!

Anticipating… Christmas! Of course.

Wishing... That things like the Sandy Hook incident would never happen. I know a lot of you, including myself, might be wondering, "If there really is a god out there, why would he let such a horrific thing happen?" But we have to remind ourselves that God is the one who gave us free will. He didn't create us like robots, to roam the planet. He gave us the free will to follow him or not. To learn from our mistakes and suffer. I'm not trying to justify what happened what soever, but we need to quit suddenly blaming the one who gave us the freedom. That's like telling a parent that it was their fault bad things started happening when they give you more free will, because you made the wrong decisions with it...

Listening to...

Eating... A green smoothie... preparing for all the amazing Birthday's and Christmas foods I'm about to partake in this week!

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My sister an BIL had time for a quick little 3 minute photo shoot and I'm pretty happy about the way they turned out:

Merry Christmas

Here's a peek at our Christmas card this year, I did a little more than just some photos this year, unlike normal. I really appreciate Christmas cards, but I'm even more happy when I receive a little more of a family update with it. I'm really lucky to be blessed with the time and patience to conquer what I did this year. I also tried to keep it as simple as possible, so it wouldn't be so overwhelming. Mostly, I just had a lot of fun designing and playing around with it, so here's our final result. Merry Christmas! And a Happy New Year!

xo -Liz