rhythms of life

life has been C R A Z Y since we returned home from thanksgiving. I have so much I want to share with you! so we'll just take it one photo at a time {grab a cup of hot cocoa and stay for awhile}. we had a wonderful thankskgiving visit with my dad's side of our family in maryland.

this was the store my grandmother's family owned; it stands at the end of my aunt's road.we then had an active (with five young adults/children how could it not be) visit with our family/friends the Quicks. you remember lisa. it doesn't matter how we spend the time; there is never enough of it and never a lack of things to do.

after a wonderful visit, it was then time to travel home. growing up, one of our family traditions was the annual "car packing" for the trip home from thanksgiving. I can still remember my mom, sister and me lining up all our "stuff" on my grandmother's front porch ready to return home from Maryland. after a lot of shopping, our "stuff" would inevitably be much more than was originally brought. and each year you could almost guarantee my dad's response: "how am I going to get all this in the car?!?!" {or something close to that} these photos show my husband now playing the part of my dad. his job was to get all our "stuff" in the back of the van! and I'm proud to say {just like my dad did every year} he got it all in!!

once home it was back to work for me with a show Thursday. then Friday was family night as the holiday decorating and family chill time began. Saturday brought the completion of the outside lights and inside we decked the halls. Saturday night was our annual date night and will receive it's own post all together. Sunday the boys starred in the Christmas program at church. and today...well today was catch my breath and organize day. I can't handle messes. And until today I didn't have one room completely "clean" and straightened. so it's a good feeling to sit and share knowing the bedrooms are all set, the living room is back to being a room without piles and suitcases, the kitchen is now my staging area for tomorrow's errands, and the family room is comfortable and cozy. the hum of the dryer and the splash of the washer are what I hear as I sit in the quiet. tonight the Christmas cards were completed and ready to mail! Yeah!! I was also able to touch my holiday planner tonight. are you like me? do you enjoy checking things off your list? by the end of this week, we should be all Christmas set.