this poor neglected blog is about to get inundated with photos.

we just got home from a much needed family vacation.

i took too many photos to post but as i work through the editing process, i wanted to post some of my favorites.

enjoy!

We survived Christmas and New Years and we are now back home, getting ready for the everyday routine.

It feels good.

Here’s a glimpse of the last two weeks:

The new year always brings with it the required

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

Ack!  New Year’s resolutions and I start out friendly enough but by mid-March we tend to part ways amicably with no hard feelings.

So this year, the only resolution I am making is my

Project 365

I will post one picture everyday for the entire year.

By the end of 2010 I should have a pretty good picture of what our year was like.

I’ve decided to park this project on a new blog.

You can find it HERE.

Happy 2010!!!

my good intentions were just that.  good intentions.

i’m way behind on my advent countdown.

there are too many things to do.

this whole count down business is making me nervous.

day 15 was spent online shopping.

day 14 didn’t happen because my kids staged a picket against having their picture taken for any more of my blog posts.

so that leaves us at day 13, i think.  i don’t even have a picture of bag #13.  oh well.

advent activity:  go out to eat together (my kids were back on board for this, although i did have to sneak some photos by shooting the reflection in the window)

our town leaves much to be desired.  true.  but this is the place the kids always want to go to if the opportunity arises.  best place for a burger, fries, cheeses sticks and a chocolate shake.

only 13 days until Christmas  (i think) !!!

advent activity:

take pictures of a favorite tradition

we unpacked the german Christmas candle carousel and lit it to make sure everything still worked.  the boys were fascinated by the spinning angels.  or maybe it was just the open flame.

only 16 days left before Christmas!

wow!  it is really creeping up on me this year.  i better get shopping!

advent activity:

go for a bike ride (where did these activity ideas come from?!!)

temperature outside:

ummm, we’re taking a pass on day 17.

only 17 more days until Christmas!!!

Advent Activity:

Drink hot cider

only eighteen days left before Christmas!

YIKES!

time’s tickin away.  i’m off to start my Christmas shopping.  i sure hope there’s something left at amazon!

advent activity:

make silly hats out of construction paper and craft supplies

only 19 days until Christmas!

activity:

it’s 21 degrees right now.  this may or may not take place tonight…

Only 20 days until Christmas!!!

activity:

discover how to say “i love you” in 4 other languages

(i know this picture resembles a mug shot.  that’s what  kids look like when their mom is constantly snapping pictures of them.)

1. sign language

2. quechua (ancient inca)

3. greek

4.  japanese

Only 21 days left until Christmas!!!

i don’t know who made this advent calendar, but whoever did, did not plan very well.

they should know better than to plan a time consuming activity for a crazy day like a thursday when people are running here and there.

today our advent activity read:  ” make and decorate sugar cookies together”.

if you’ve ever made sugar cookies with kids (or without kids) you know it’s not a quick little project.

there are steps involved.

first you make the dough.  then you refrigerate the dough.  then you clean up. then you roll out the cookies and bake them.  then you clean up. then you let them cool.  then you make the frosting.  then you decorate the cookies. then you clean up. again.

well, it’s almost midnight and as promised, i am blogging about our advent today.

we made the cookies and frosted them. (well most of us did.  one of us was caroling with the cub scouts.)

here’s the proof.

Only 22 days left before Christmas!