Happy New Year... a little late

Did the holidays completely wear you out?  The weeks in between Thanksgiving and Christmas are always a little hectic - even for me who makes it a point to do as little "Christmas shopping" during the actual Christmas season as possible - with parties and visits to Santa and Christmas services, etc.  Add to that the seemingly unending Crud that we Gowings were passing around and it just seemed draining!

Our Christmas trip to North Carolina was a blast!  Mom put together a beautiful setting for us to celebrate Christ's birth, with a couple of new family members.  We got to spend time with my dad, back from Iraq for a few weeks, my brother and his fiance, and my sister's sweet little family.  Audrey loved the extra attention, and Santa Claus (and "RaRa") nailed it with the gifts for Addison, who cannot stop playing with her new princess toys.  We normally watch a little too much TV, and December I was worse than usual: instead of a few episodes on Disney and a movie now and then, we enjoyed those Christmas movies that were playing almost nonstop!  Apparently Addison misses them: on Sunday she informed me, "If the Grinch's mommy would just give him a bath, maybe he could be pink instead of green.  If he were pink then he would be happy, like Christmas, and love Jesus."  What?!?

 Right after we returned, I threw the gals and some laundry in the car to head south the Pensacola for "cousin camp" with the McPherson side of the family.  What a crew!  I loved getting to visit with the kiddos, watch Addison attempt to wrestle with the big boys, "ice" skate at the Blue Wahoo's winter wonderland, visit with some sweet friends, and generally enjoy a house full of loved ones.

Thinking about the year that has passed is a little overwhelming!  So many changes...
Our little family of three was in a new town

Then there was a baby on the way

 

New House.  New Adventures

Addison turned two

And started preschool

And learned where my make up is

We welcomed sweet Audrey Lynn

Addison loves her baby sister

And we started functioning as a family of four...
We are learning how to manage.

Happy New Year!  I pray you have a blessed 2013.  And that you're finding places to put all your Christmas stuff.