Wednesday, December 28, 2011

After the holidays....

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Well hello there, I hope this post finds you all doing well.  :)

Again I seem to have neglected my little corner of the world and as the time goes by I find myself forgetting it more often.  I miss it though, I feel like a part of me is missing and so I've decided that come the new year, I am going back to blogging full time, back to sharing my life with you all, back to doing features and weekly posts of sorts and sharing my photos and recipes and crafts etc.

I've had a really good holiday season, had my wonderful in laws visiting for Christmas and even though they were only here for a week, I truly enjoyed the time we had visiting.

It was a super busy week, lots of catching up, eating good food, sharing the Lord's word and enjoying each others company, but as Christmas has come to an end, I am ready to get all these celebrations behind me and move onto a whole new year.

First let me show you a bit of what we've been doing around here.

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Couldn't be Christmas without some cookie baking and decorating :)

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And some very attentive furry friends waiting for a crumb to fall......and I totally mean Lola the pug, not the handsome man below LOL

Curt

My amazing husband, who I adore, decided to give me an early Christmas present.  My new lens for my camera and OH do I love this lens.

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When we first got married, I was told right away that this is a family that loves card games and board games, and I was also told that if I didn't like those things, I would have to learn to like them LOL And I did.

So while the in laws were here, we got some card games making with lots of laughs in between.

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Christmas eve came and Santa made it's appearance, leaving behind the empty glass of milk and the crumbs from some sugar cookies.

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He also left behind a gift that made the little 8 year old extremely happy....I wish I had caught his reaction with my camera.

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Half asleep kids who couldn't wait to get their hands on the presents :)

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And adults who were extremely happy with their gifts too....hubby and the Ipod Touch have been inseparable since then.

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But I can't really complain because I literally squealed when I saw one of my gifts.....from Cath Kidston of course :)

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My beautiful daughter who gets bigger by the minute :)

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And my handsome young man who gets cuter as each day goes by....

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Of course a new bike means he needs to get right on it and learn to ride.  No training wheels on this one, no ma'am.....

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And in less than an hour he was riding all on his own.  The joy on his face was indescribable, but I believe it may have mirrored the pride in mine and daddy's eyes :)

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Oh and big sis was out there cheering him on too :)

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So a wonderful holiday we had, but now the in laws have gone back home and it's just the 4 of us again.

We'll celebrate New Years like we do every year, just quietly, with a good dinner, some munchies and a quick Happy New Year at midnight before retiring to bed :)

But as 2012 dawns upon us, I am determined to return to my roots with this blog.  To go back to where it started, to use it as a means to talk about my life, my children, my dos and don'ts and to really focus on the reason why I started the blog to begin with.

For a few months now I have felt that while the blogging world began as a bunch of little corners in the world devoted to family and just talking about our day to day.....it has evolved into something much bigger and which quite frankly I do not like.

Blogging is no longer the place I met amazing friends, it's no longer a place where I went to look around and find new recipes, book recommendations, beautiful photos of families, homemaking etc.....it has turned into a big competition about who has the best looking one, who has the most comments, who has the most reviews and giveaways and who has gone from blogger to superstar.

It's not who I am, it's not who I want to be and more than ever I am really looking forward to at least attempting to take my blog experience back to the way it used to be.  I may not succeed completely at first, but I'm going to give it my best :)

Starting with this Friday....I am doing my usual A Year in Review, all the way back from January until December of this year.  If you would like to join in, just come back on Friday and let me know so that I can come and see your post too :)

Until then, have a wonderful Wednesday night, have a safe New Year's Eve and I pray for a Blessed New year for each and every one of you :)

God Bless,
Sandra

13 comments:

Mari said...

Love the pictures - and the joy I see on Curt in the picture of Nicholas riding his bike! I hear you on the blogging thing, and I've been mulling that part over myself. I like what you have to say!
It's always a pleasure to visit you here, because you are one of my original blog friends and I feel like I get the real deal here!

Meagan said...

I can't wait for the blog to return to it's roots. I can't remember how I found your blog but, it is the only blog I regularly check for updates anymore!i

Stacia said...

I'm loving the new types of photos you are capturing with your new lens. You are a really great photographer. :)
I know what you mean about blogging. while I have never had or wanted a big audience on my blog it is a simple way to stay in touch with family and friends with no pressure on posting.

Khyra said...

You're blog is my favourite so keep it up :)
About the "competition" thing, heck I come here to read about you and your family, not to win any prizes...

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Dear Sandra ~ what a lovely Christmas you described and showed with your wonderful photography as always.

May 2012 be a fantastic year for all of you.

I look forward to visiting with you and being inspired and encouraged through your posts.

Love and hugs to you ~ FlowerLady

Kristy Jensen said...

Hey Sandra,
I totally agree with you about what blogging has become. I myself included in the reviews and such. I have decided to take my blog back as well. You have inspired me to once again re-evaluate my blog and make it more about me and my family. Not reviews and giveaways. I love your photos and all of your Christmas memories!
Happy New Year!

Jana Endris said...

I recently found your blog and I'm so excited that you are getting back to it!! I look forward to learning more about your family and the the things you love to do.

Carol said...

A friend and I were talking about this very thing the other day - about how the bloggy world has changed. I'm with you. In the next year I want to take back my blog as my personal space. I'm done with the giveaways - what a pain! Can't wait to read more of your day-to-day. You're definitely one of my online friends I'd LOVE to meet IRL one day. Happy New Year!

Andrea said...

I'm relatively new to your blog, so I am looking forward to the changes you have in mind. I started my blog with the same idea. See you next year!

Anonymous said...

I want you to keep on blogging about your everyday life. I love hearing what makes you happy. It is encouraging and uplifting.

Have a Happy 2013.

Debbi

Jennifer Summerfield said...

Hi Sandra,

I just wanted to offer you some encouragement, as you have done for me many times through your blog. I love your blog. I love that the things that you write are simple and real. I love that God is part of your life. I love that you embrace being a stay-at-home mom. When I first became a stay-at-home-mom, I didn't like it at all...and was really hard on myself, even believing the stereotypes a little bit, and thinking less of myself because I ddin't "work" outside the home. The last 5 years have been a journey of coming to accept this change in my life...and not just accept it, but embrace it. Over the last year you (through your blog) have been part of that journey. I LOVE the quote on your page...I had never seen that anywhere before, and it is SO true. Now I am all about the simple things in life...loving God and serving Him with my life, taking care of my family by making our home safe, warm, and beautiful. This year I am going to be learning how to can food - I have never even tried it. You recently inspired me to make homemade salsa and can it. I also just got a new sewing machine...I didn't even know how to turn it on when I got it, but I am getting there : ) Anyway, I just wanted to say that your blog is wonderful, and just the fact that you care about getting better will make it awesome in 2012. I read your blog every time you post. So...keep up the good work : ) You and I have never met or talked, but in a way, I consider you a friend.

Lesley said...

I prefer to see an old fashioned blog where you don't have to worry about competition, were I can see pics of your family and adorable pug and handsome husband. Your sister has such beautiful red hair. I like to read mommy blogs as I have no kids of my own, just 2 cats and a boyfriend of 5 years and I like to see photo's of kids and families just being themselves.
What made my Xmas special this year was spending time with my nephews from Salt Lake City and my cousin from Australia here in Miami Beach.
I also loved singing Xmas carols at church, enjoyed the incense and bells and church choir.
My favorite Xmas loot was my Tracfone SVC and my husband got an Ipad.
Next year I want to foster some animals from the Humane Society as one of my charity projects. I was born to do this.
Wishing you all a happy and prosperous new year!!

Elizabeth said...

May you and your wonderful family have joy and peace, love and laughter all through 2012 :-)

I am very happy to read that you will continue blogging, returning to your beginning ideals, sharing your family times and personal peeves and laughter, because you are a really cool gal, Sandra, and I enjoy visiting you here! I am looking forward to seeing you more often (!), but don't wear yourself out..take time to decompress in the kitchen! I think it's no fun to compete on these web pages, to make it a race to the 'top' as many bloggers seem to do. Thanks for all that YOU share.

Your post today was so delightful with beautiful photos (a new camera lens, you lucky dog!)...your kiddos are scrumptious! And, wow, looking so much like you!

Have a happy weekend.