Welcome 2020

New Years- starting a fresh, a new plan with a new year.  This year Bob and I had planned to spend the evening just the 2 of us.  The kids were all gone and we had decided to stay in and ring in the new year just like the old fuddy duddies that we are.... but Clayton had different plans.  He calls me early in the day of NYE, "what you doing tonight, lets get together".  Now this man-boy is 18, and he wants to spend NYE with ME, his old mama!!  Oh heck yea! I was gonna make it happen, he convinced Kayla and her family to come on over and we rang in the new year playing games, eating food, enjoying each others company and that is how I think I'd like to spend my 2020... With my loved ones around me having a blast..

Christmas 2019

Christmas is a magical time of year and this year was no exception.  We had to get a new Christmas tree this year, well I suppose we didn't have to but we did and we got it at an awesome auction website for a great deal (like we do with most things) and we needed to make sure it worked.  So in November, early November, we decided to put up our tree.  It was wonderful to see the tree twinkle each night, often turning on the fireplace and truly enjoying the moment.  We probably will never have the tree up that early again but man, I was so happy to have it up this year that early.

This year was new for us, our combined families and combined traditions, but I like to think we did a good job at blending.

We had Bob's family over for a Christmas party, and I got to meet more of his family, I really enjoyed that.  Christmas eve was spent at Leah and Bob's reenacting the nativity with all the nieces and nephews, of course I loved that.

But by far my favorite part of Christmas was Christmas Day with all my kids and bonus kids under one roof.  Alex was here, Cregan and Collin and Clayton and Cora.  It was wonderful.  It put tears to my eyes watching all this amazing people that I love so very much under one roof.

Christmas truly is a magical time.