We are on our way East – homeward bound. It’s been 11 days since we left home headed West. We haven’t been gone this long since I don’t know when. It’s rather sad to pack up and leave the fun times with family behind but I have to admit I’m ready to go. I am ready for my pillow, my own, bed, my own shower…
Not that the accommodations were not satisfactory. On the contrary they were more than wonderful. My sister has a marvelously large house with plenty of room for us all. There’s just no place like home and I’m ready to be in mine. Even if I do have to look at 10+ inches of snow out my windows.
As we head West into a dark sky that will soon be lightning as daylight approaches, I am filled with contentment. This Christmas has been so wonderful and blessed. Spending time with my family, eating delicious food, spending time with friends, laughing, talking, laughing some more. There is just nothing better than deep, wholesome laughter shared with people who have been a part of your life for years and years.
My girls and their cousins spent pretty much every single second together. Playing, talking, laughing, pretending. It is so fun to see them grow up together and love each other.
Legos are a huge part of our kids life! They can’t get enough of them. And since they are such great brain builders I say bring it on – anything that helps with learning is great in this homeschoolers opinion 😉
The many American Girls dolls did make an appearance as part of the Christmas pageant that was performed for us but Legos pretty much ruled the days. The kids were able to play outside some and one day we took them to the roller skating rink. They slept very well that night!
Reflecting on 2012 I am amazed once again at the swift passage of time. It feels like just yesterday I was packing away the Christmas decor for another year. And now it is time to do it again. I am going to have a bit of a hard time packing it all away as soon as I get home but I have some cotton, and some ideas for some fun Winter decor, so I will most likely get at it pronto. It was a little hard for me to pull the plugs on all my sparkling Christmas lights before we left. I stood and gazed at them for a few minutes before I did and whispered to them that I would turn them on and enjoy them a bit before they were banished to the plastic tubs for another 11 months.
I will very much miss my Sister‘s kitchen. She has a lovely, huge, new kitchen. And she very much deserves it. Her kitchen in their old house was not very user-friendly. I’m so happy for her that she now has this lovely kitchen to work in.
Looking forward to 2013 and eager to see what God has in store for me, my family, my friends, and my business!
Happy New Year’s Eve!!
Happy New Year and safe travels to you Jill! Thank you for sharing your beautiful Christmas celebrations with us! Those lego houses are truly something! I clearly have not caught up yet with all the new designs of lego’s since I was a girl! Guess that’s in my future with my little one 🙂 I’m looking forward to even more fun together in 2013! ~ Hugs, Jennifer
Thank you, thank you Jennifer! Yes, Lego’s have come a long way in the years since we were kids! They are a good brain builder too so it’s not hard to convince myself to buy them more 😉 Happy New Year and God bless you and your family!
I am so glad you had such nice time with your family, Jill. Your sister’s kitchen in beautiful and so is she. I love that your kids were able to play together. I grew up with a bunch of cousins and we had so much fun-they were like siblings almost. I know going home is bittersweet…happy to go home….sad to leave. God bless you and your sweet family in the upcoming New Year- I am so glad to have met you here- xo Diana
Thank you Sweet Diana! You are the best 🙂 Happy New Year to you and your family!
Happy New Year Jill! How nice to have all that time with your family, but I have to agree, I LOVE coming home after a vacation. See you in 2013 ;)-K
Happy New Year to you too Karen! Going to be fun following along with you in 2013! Can’t wait to see all your ‘trash’ and everything you ‘redoux!!
What a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas, Jill! Legos were the hot item at our home for years, sadly that stage is over. 🙁 Wishing you and your sweet family all the BEST in 2013, and looking forward to more pretty inspiration on your blog!
Thank you Pam! Legos is about all my kids want these days! Emma was overjoyed with her Colts jersey too and her iTunes gift card!
Love your sister’s kitchen…you are lucky to have a sister you know. :o) I always wanted one…safe travels. Be careful and Happy New Year!
Thank Ann – her kitchen is totally amazing! tons of space and so beautiful. And yes I am very lucky to have a sister! Happy New Year to you – we made it home safely last night and I’m not going anywhere till I have to!
Thanks for sharing the pictures, especially of your dear sister =) Hi Deb! Lovely to see you!
🙂 I have more pics to share – hopefully soon!
Where ever I wander, Where ever I roam, there really, oh really, is no place like home!
So thankful to have a home and to love to be there. I do know a couple people that don’t have happy home lives and don’t look forward to home. Makes me realize what a huge blessing loving home is!
Amen. To everything you said.
What a lovely glimpse into what your Christmas was like. How wonderful that the cousins were able to spend so much time together. I am sure those are memories that they’ll hold close to their hearts for years and years. I hope you had a safe trip back home and that you are enjoying the comforts of all that is familiar with being home.
Thank you Amy – we are so blessed to have family that enjoys being together!
That kitchen….WOW! And where do you find those kinds of lego sets? I never see that kind of them…just the annoying Harry Potter, super heroes, blah blah blah stuff. 😉
All of these were ordered – either through Lego.com or amazon. If you go to a Lego store they will have some of them. The Lego store at Castleton in Indy has a ton of cool stuff. My girls also got some Lego Friends sets – the ones for girls and they are just the cutest things! I need to get some pics of them too.