The long and short of it

Normally I wouldn't feel the need to make excuses but two months is pretty pathetic..so here's the "short" story. I've been lazy..okay...there it is...plain and simple..."lazy".

It was kind of addicting to be honest. Going to an event, or having a "moment" without carrying a camera and feeling the neurotic need to obsessively snap pictures in order to document them...it was liberating I have to say! However, as liberation tends to go (at least in my case) it was inevitably followed by feelings of sadness and guilt (dang it).

The truth is, I've missed my blog. I miss you guys. I miss silly comments that boost my spirits, and feeling apart of a little community of bloggers that enjoy keeping up with each other's simple happy lives. Most of all though...this blog is a record for me, and I miss being able to look back and see my family and all the important moments of our lives, wrapped up into tiny little packaged pictures and entries. I miss it all. So... I'm back.

The other part of my absence is due to the fact that our MAC crashed for the second time in six months. Let's just say that MAC is lucky that their headquarters didn't get a giant flaming bag of dog poop on their doorstep for Christmas! It's taken forever to load and organize all 40,000 plus pics again. Uggh. Well I won't bore you with any more rambling. Here's the goods of the past two months. Sorry for the overload. What can I say..I mean it's been two months!

Totally fun finding and cutting our own tree this year. Definitely a tradition we'll keep.

are the fluorescent orange pants sweet or what?

Maddie helped me make all the cookies this year. such an eager helper. i love this girl.

gingerbread houses at grandma Annette's. This was taken shortly before it hit the floor. splat.

Our Christmas eve program with Brent's family.

all of us.

Christmas morning at Pappy Dave and grandma Debbie's. Andrea made the kids these matching PJ's. aren't they adorable. i seriously got none of the craft genes..what's up with that.

Big Daddy Dave never disappoints on the "big big breakfast" Christmas morning. I seriously think tanner ate like 12 french toast that morning. That's half a loaf of bread T-mac..."I'm not sayin' I'm just sayin'." lol

B got a vacuum...in attempt to curb his need to take mine apart all day long. best 20 bucks ever spent.

Maddie unveiling the hermit crabs that Santa brought. Stupid Santa. R.I.P Shelly and Hermmie.

This is what happened with every gift that maddex and B got.

We made all the grandparents silhouette ornaments of the kids. Eat your heart out Pottery Barn.

Brent has wanted a glock since we met. what can i say, it was his year. he even got laser grips for it. sometimes he gets it out when 24's on and pretends he's Jack Bauer...i think it's hot.

My parents got Andrea and I an all expense paid trip (just reminding ya mom) to Ohio in May for the Country living fair. aka Mecca of the antique/flee market world. way excited for that trip.

Only our bunch gets out the china, goblets and name cards for a dinner in our PJ's. Except Maddie of course, who's sporting her undies.

love this picture of Andrea...sporting the fire engine red, circa 1970's, tapered leg snow suit. Somehow though..you still rockin' it girl.

We were so glad that michelle and Justin were able to come home at the last minute...it just wouldn't have been Christmas without them.

We had so much fun when the cousins came. I think in this picture we were all putting something in our mouth. A theme that continued for two whole days.

The "guys" making bologna. What I wanna know, is how soon did after this did brent kiss me?ewww..sick.

It's been a good, good winter. Here's to comin' outta hibrination.