when your 17 year old says
"i'll come with you"
unexpectedly for a drive you thought you would be making alone
and what was
going to be
a quick trip out to deliver some
photos & little cards/paintings to
Muddy Crick Market
(and let's be honest,
you were a little nervous about
bringing that stuff out there,
it feels a little out of your comfort zone
and a lot of "who do you think you are, why do you think
any one will buy the stuff you make")
you say yes.

and then,
the whole night changes.

we stopped at my parents and hung out for a bit...
drove up the road to see the very sweet & talented jenna
at Muddy Crick Market (blog post to come soon about this place!)
and then went for ice cream at
richmond dairy bar
(meaning one more dairy bar to cross off my summer bucket list)
(and i also have to add that the girl that waited on us
was seriously adorable and quirky...to the point
that i felt it necessary to comment on it here...she
made us laugh the whole time we ordered.)

AND then we
stopped for a walk on my most favorite beach in the world
union corner

and he lets you tell him stories of growing up in the country
and who lived where
and that person used to babysit me
and the bookmobile used to stop at this house...

and even lets you take selfies with him...
:)

well...that's my favorite kind of night.

SIDENOTE: and you know...i have been blogging for so long
that he is not only ok with fact that i blogged this
but he expects it...they know me so well.
he'll often say...oh yeah...that'll be on the blog later.
it's funny that it's the "norm" here...
but i guess...i have been doing this since he was 5...
12 years.
that's kind of mind boggling all on it's own, hahahaha.

SIDENOTE #2: i forgot my camera so all photos were taken with my phone...
which is not great quality...(I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NOTE 8!!!!!!)(dual camera!!!!)

SIDENOTE #3: one of my favorite bloggers, saltwater princess, wrote about MY SUMMER BUCKET LIST on her blog!!! I am telling you...I will never get used the idea that someone beside myself reads this damn thing. Everytime i get a comment or a like or a mention (!!) i react with the same level of excitement/stunned bewilderment...thinking...what...someone else actually READ this. Like...the whole blog post? :) :) :) And then i clap my hands and do a little happy dance around my living room. I am totally not kidding.

And also...Chris Bohjalian is now following me on twitter...like...as in the author of the book that i posted about Monday...(i am so glad that i was nicer about this one than i was about drew barrymore...)

I know that it has been a while since I have been here...
and that I said I wasn't going to power through December...
but
I did just that.
I am guilty again of
just trying to get through
and keep my head above water
without too much cursing and crying,
without resorting to pushing and shoving
while shopping
or bursting in tears while wrapping present.

And yet,
again, when Christmas Eve got here,
and the stores were all closed,
I suddenly felt myself slow down.
I could breathe.
Whatever was not done
was just not going to get done
and that's that.
And the world would continue on.
And chances are, people will not even notice whatever
details it is that I thought I had missed.

We spent Christmas Eve with my husband's family
where there is always wine and Christmas carols being sung
and little ones and laughter.
Then, we had the typical family singalong on the drive home that included
"total eclipse of the heart" (twice) and rage against the machine.
Opened our Christmas pajamas (including some for the pug, of course)

and went to bed.

Christmas Day was perfect.
We got up early and finished the final touches while heating up meat pie for breakfast.
The kids got up and we ate first (first time we have ever done that!)
and then stockings and presents.
Had a nap.
Then out to my parents for the second part of the day
where there is always dart guns and balloon popping,
lots of chaos and yelling and loads of laughter.
Coloring books and new crayons,
gift wrap flying.
I love Christmas. I really, really do. :)
And this video...well...this is one of the reasons I love it (and my family) so much.

next up:
new year's resolutions and S's birthday...a new years eve wedding and play rehearsals...
getting ready for 2016.
:)