so far...

We've been baking,


and they've been helping.


We've enjoy Christmas lights galore.


We've given Santa our Christmas list,


and been an angel in the nativity.


We've partied hard at classic skating [adam took this]


and spent good times with cousins wearing the pjs Nana made.


We've learned how quickly you can make reindeer antlers with panty hose and balloons (Adam's extended family Christmas party),


and squishing each other off the one remaining chair being the best way to win at musical chairs.


I've found subliminal messages from Megan on her board,


and a really cool arrangement of crayons thanks to Tess.


We've enjoyed making and counting down with our advent,


and the changing weather, or not. Man it's been bitter cold.


We've brought home classroom projects,


and a classroom pet...but you already knew that.

...it's been a good month.

thursday night classic

My last two years of high school were some of the roughest years of my life, but I don't think a lot of people knew that. I kept myself busy with school activities and tried to pretend that everything was ok, but deep down inside I was struggling to keep myself afloat. I've often wondered why I was so eager to get to collage (I started the summer I graduated) and have since realized I subconsciously needed to get away from everyone and everything that reminded me of those times. I've been disappointed with myself that I let so many good friendships dissolve because I think I really needed them I just didn't know how to ask for help.

With the revolution of Facebook I have recently been able to reconnect with some of my oldest dearest friends. It's been so good to hear what they've been up to and see where their roads have led. A couple weeks ago my friend Jeremy found me. After adding him I told him how I was just driving by Classic Skating and couldn't help, but think of all those Thursday nights we spent there with Christie and Scott. Apparently it struck a chord because the next thing I knew we had made plans and the four of us met at classic skating with our families. We decided it was the first time we had seen each other in about 10 years, although I've seen Scott randomly around town, and it was like nothing had changed. They looked the same, talked the same, and it felt like no time had passed except the fact that they had spouses and children.



It was a crazy night with so many people there, I guess going during dollar night is not the way to do it, but I had such a good time. Our kids even hit if off. Tess is already asking to have a play date with Christie's daughter which thrilled me because Christie is one of my oldest friends (we've been friends since kindergarten & she has a scar on her head to prove it). We left promising to each other we would keep our tradition alive so if I have anything to do with it we will definitely meet up at classic again.

It wasn't until I left that I realized how much those Thursday nights meant to me during those difficult years. So to the three of you...thanks for keeping me from going completely under.


edited to add: I totally forgot to remind all of you who wanted to do the 12of12 challenge to take photos on the 12th because I totally forgot myself until now. I'm just going to use my photos from today and mention in the journaling that it was actually the 13th. I think I need a really big note to remind me next month.