Christmas/New Years

Another Christmas come and gone.  Another year come and gone.  Christmas Day was spent with my family.  It was also the day we took, our family Christmas picture.  We're pretty on top of things round these parts:)  But hey, New Year's cards are just as nice as Christmas cards.  Haley got really into opening presents this year.  I know, I know- it's nothing different than any other child around her age but it's just so fun to watch her get a thrill out of ripping paper apart. 

I just can't get enough of the little punkin!

One thing I love about my Christmas break is having time to sit down and play games.  Scrabble is a favorite.  My new game is a favorite too, now.  I got Ticket To Ride for Christmas and I'm hooked.  I think I've played it four times:)

New Years Eve was a lot of fun this year.  Last year I spent it with married friends and Kristi. Kristi had to work, some couples had new babies and some were just plain tired.  So my NYE party last year ended promptly before midnight.  It was kind of a drag.  Good company, just not for NYE.  This year I planned a party with my two dear friends, Katrina and LeaAnn.  And I just realized right now that I never got a picture of the three of us.  We had a lot of fun though doing it and having people over.

Other than just groups of people sitting around I didn't really get any good pictures.  But we had a really good time.  I stayed up much later than normal and came walking into my house around 4:20.  I was trying to be really quiet in order not to wake up my parents.  As I was tip toeing around I heard my dad jublilantly call out "Happy New Year!"  Talk about scaring the tar out of someone!  I walked into their bedroom only to find that as I was getting in and going to bed, my mom was getting up to get ready for work!  Poor thing. 

Now I'm sitting around killing time until 1:30 in the morning when I leave to go meet at the Gridley church for my Jamaica trip!  I'm so not used to going in January.  March is what I'm used to.  I always go in March.  This is trip number 10 and I always go in March.  But for some reason I said I would go on the January trip this year.  I admit, it was hard to get excited this time around.  There was just way too much going on, there wasn't even time to get excited.  And it was really a pain to try and pack for my trip two weeks ago when I was still in Alabama and trying to remember everything I needed.  At least I remembered  my passport.  Now, though, I'm getting anxious.  Now that it's here I'm excited.  I'm ready for the warm balmy weather. 

I'm ready to see the sparkling blue ocean.

I'm ready to see the lush green foilage. 

And I'm most definitely ready to see those sweet brown faces.

Yes, I am ready.  I had decided that since I slept in so late after my New Years bash I would just stay up until it was time to go.  Now I'm second guessing my decision.  My eyelids are starting to get pretty heavy.  1 1/2 more hours...... 1 1/2 more hours.......  happy new year everyone!