And that's a wrap...2013

So Christmas has come and gone already and today is the last day of 2013...

In some ways 2013 sucked...

But I can't really say that because then I would be ignoring all of the blessings of 2013...

Christmas seems to take its time getting here...

But then it speeds by like a bullet train!

Already it has been a week since Christmas Eve...

Please notice the child yawning as he looks through his stocking...

Being the photographer I often don't have pictures of me...

Lately my husband has been doing better about grabbing the camera and taking a few shots of me...

This year he was too excited with his gift (see below) and the only shots of me are of my feet...

Another child yawning as he opens gifts...

Is Christmas boring to these guys?

No :)

It is amusing how much a few years change things!

When they were small we had to set a 7 am start time...

Otherwise they wanted Christmas to begin at 5 am and we were the ones yawning!

This year I had to wake them up by loudly mentioning down the hall that Santa had come by...

...And left presents!!!

I was so very thankful to have my guys together Christmas morning :)

Just the four of us opening gifts...and yawning :)

I have a hard time buying gifts for Jeff...

He is always appreciative...but I notice that whatever I purchased him usually stays on his dresser untouched...

Not this year baby!

I bought him a weather station and he couldn't be happier!

He has been tinkering with it ever since...

I married a nerd... :)

Josh seemed excited about his racquetball racket...

And the fact that we found clothes long enough for his crazy tall, skinny body...

Tyler scored big time with Blazer, Seahawak and Timber gear as well as a new blue tooth stereo...

Another picture of my feet and my new boots :)

Family trickled in throughout the morning and we had our annual brunch...

My adorable nieces showed up :)

Stockings were delivered again by NanaSanta...

It was a lovely day filled with family and food, puzzles and games.

On this last day of 2013 I am very blessed and thankful for my beautiful family and wonderful friends.

Happy New Year!

Frychik

The wedding dress 25 years latter...

I remember wedding dress shopping...

I remember I had a pile of gowns in the room but I already knew that the one at the bottom would be my dress...

It was gorgeous! I loved the material!

I loved that it wasn't overly poofy!

I loved it!

Such a shame to only wear it once...

 I loved it so much that I wore it as we left the reception and headed to the hotel in our little 

Dodge Colt...

I remember all the attention I got when we arrived at the hotel...

I like attention...

I remember Jeff struggling with the one million buttons... :)

I never paid to have my dress "properly" stored...

It is in a clear plastic bag which is inside another black plastic garbage bag and has been in the bottom of my cedar chest for the past 20 some odd years...

Until yesterday...

I have never wanted to try the dress on because on the day I was married that baby fit me like a glove..

I have since grown breasts and birthed two babies...

But I found myself digging it out last night and I couldn't help myself...

The arms were even tight!

I think my "girth" is at least double what it was 25 years ago...

Oh well...

The veil still fits!

This is a picture from our romantic anniversary dinner...

Ty was playing in his first ever official basketball game and there was no way we were gonna miss it!

He even scored a basket!

So that was pretty cool!

Besides we did have a pretty amazing anniversary celebration last month...

So no complaints!

Frychik

25 years later...

In some ways I feel like I've been waiting for this day forever!
In some ways I can't comprehend that it is here!
25 years ago today we said "I do"...

I try to never take for granted my marriage.

It has been the biggest blessing of my life.

Because of the man I married I have two more precious men to love.

Because of the man I married I have been able to follow and realize my dreams...

Because of the man I married I have been happier than my 20 year old self could have ever imagined...

This is true love :)

Frychik

Online Shopping - I'm in love!

I'm loving the cold weather :)

I probably wouldn't be if my furnace broke - which has happened to one of my friends..

Or my water line froze and burst - which happened to another friend...

But thankfully all systems are go and the only thing I have worried about is how high our electric bill will be this month!

Nothing looks better with Christmas lights then snow!

I have discovered the joy of online shopping!

I have done 99.9% of my Christmas shopping online this year!

There are several reasons I love this.

1. I don't have to get dressed

2. I don't have to find parking

3. They always have the size/color I want

4. Price comparison is much easier

5. They deliver it to my door!

6. And perhaps best of all - everything comes in boxes! Easy for wrapping!

I may never go to a mall again...

Frychik

SNOW!!!

It's silly how excited our family gets even when there is a light dusty of snow...

I feel sorry for those people that are jaded...

The ones who fear snow...

And maybe I would be one of them if I had to drive in scary conditions...

But being a teacher and now a photographer...

Snow days are just part of my life...

Snow = a break

I mostly love how it disrupts life...

It gets us excited about what is in our backyard...

It changes the ho-hum and makes it spectacular!

People come out of their homes...

And kids are making snow angels in the streets....

It's funny because its a day kids and teachers can sleep in....

But we never do...

We are too excited!

And snow before Christmas is the BEST!

First thing I did this morning in the dark was turn on all the Christmas lights...

Fires in the fireplace...

Hot drinks...

French Toast for breakfast...

I hope this is a very good sign...

Snow early in Dec.

I hope it means lots and lots more days of snow...

I'm greedy that way...

Frychik

Brothers

I have two sons...

One is blond and blue eyed...

One is brown and brown eyed...

One is touchy-feely affectionate...

One is not so touchy-feely....

One has his license...

The other his permit...

Both loved trains and Winnie the Pooh...

Booth are talented and intelligent...

Not to mention very handsome...

Both love snowboarding and music...

One plays the guitar...

The other the french horn...

Both have hair that looks best cut short...

Both have inny belly buttons...

One still lives at home...

And one has moved into a dorm...

Both are funny and athletic...

One is taller than the other...

Both love soccer and wear size 12 shoe...

One loves cookies...

The other brownies...

Both were born in the South...

But the Northwest is their home...

The one who isn't so touchy-feely always gives his brother a hug the minute he sees him... :)

One loves veggies the other fruit...

Both are loved by many...

But especially their mom and dad...

Frychik