2011: A Year in Photos

2011 was a year of some major transition, from hair to geography to jobs, we covered it.

Looking back over this piece of web space is like a dream world...how could this have all just happened in one year?

I'm sure every year feels like this when you look back. It seems like forever-ago, but yet like it shouldn't be over yet.

So here it is, 2011 in a few photos and links to past posts:

{Snow}

{Bangs}

{Big surprises}

{Parties}

{I met Ms. Brandi...eek!}

{Beaches}

{Deserts}

{More Parties}

{Fun Things}

{Weddings}

{Moving? Yes. Moving.}

{Goodbyes}

{Hellos}

{New Traditions}

{And a Whole Lotta Love}

Through this change-full year, I've been learning to stretch...be ok with things, let go of some unnecessary expectations. And hopefully by this time next year, we'll have transitioned from the transition period and see how much we've grown.  It's not all been easy, this year of 2011, but it's all been worth it. Very much so, worth it.

I pray 2012 finds you and yours happy, healthy, and cozy.

I will be spending the weekend organizing, recording goals for the year, hiking?, and watching movies.

Have a great weekend!
See you next year!! (sorry, I just couldn't resist)

xo,

{alicia}

highlights of a low key christmas

I loved this Christmas.

Here's some highlights:

Christmas Eve was busy with preparations so I didn't have to do a darn thing on Christmas day. I set the table for Christmas Eve dinner before church so it was all ready. This year, I set each place with the last week of ornaments from our Jesse Tree.

So after dinner I read the Nativity story and the kids put the ornaments on our Jesse Tree.

We did it by candle light. It was lovely.

Some of our traditions are: Christmas Eve service, a yummy Christmas morning breakfast, Christmas day with family, and new jammies.
We did all that again this year, minus the family part. But we did Skype with them, which was SO fun! we loved that!

Christmas morning is what they've all been waiting for...when the paper and craziness really happens. Here's a few snaps...

She's eating chocolate. It's like 8am. She doesn't think we know what she's doing. Oh my gosh, I was laughing so hard. Every once in a while she'd pop her head up with chocolate all over her teeth...kinda gross, kinda cute :)

The Crayon Maker from Santa rocked! And so did Jenga! And by the way, she wore that crown ALL day. I don't know how her head didn't hurt!

Here's a little video I made of us on Christmas Day, just to show you how laid back it really was. At one point during the day I was like, "oh my gosh! everyone is quietly doing different things...this is amazingly quiet. i must document!" so I did.

Jarrod is putting together a dresser I got him from IKEA. He loves it.

Noah is building a giant roller coaster from KNEX.

Sophia got her FIRST Barbies for Christmas, so she's all about the Barbies.

And Jack is playing DS.

Oh. And I'm recording the activities, looking more tired than I really am :)

Enjoy.

(music is Joy to the World by Sufjan Stevens)

By the way: I love this week. It's like the pep rally before the new year's goals and plans.

This week I'm taking Christmas down, writing out a few goals for 2012, planning my winter etsy line, planning school for this semester, and filling in my new planner...how bout you? Are you ready for the new year??

xo,

{alicia}

here we go, it's Christmas!

December 23rd makes me remember when I was a little girl.

It makes me treasure what I have, being a mom of little kids making memories.

When I was little, my dad would tell me the same stories every year. That dude should write a book of all his crazy stories...I still don't really know which ones were true and which weren't...

so we had a conference call with Grandpa Bill to hear the story about chasing down Santa Claus and accidentally making him fall over...

Everyone is smiling, secreting, can't wait to see what their stocking will have in them Christmas morning. We're all eating badly...sneaking cookies. (I'm sneakily eating Mexican tea cookies before my kids wake up...)

I was balancing my checkbook in the computer yesterday. It was raining, so I thought the little *rustlerustlerustle* (ever so faintly, mind you) was just the rain.

No.

It was a little Christmas elf-person, sneaking Puppy Chow...covered in powdered sugar.

I laughed.
It's Christmas.



We had a torrential downpour last night with thunder and lightning.

What the??????

It's December for heck's sake!

I'm used to blizzards, not thunderstorms...

Crazy.

Magic.

We made these collage thingies yesterday.

I love how they turned out.

Sophia decided they should stay out all winter, because they are wintery.

I agree completely.

Sophie's

Jack's:

Noah's: (he totally gets the whole depth perception thing. I love that)

So here we go, it's Christmas!

Here's our card. Greetings to you and yours.

I'm going to love love love on my babies this weekend. Soak up all the magic there is to be had. I'm ready. I'm excited. 



Merry Christmas, y'all.

xo,

{alicia}