2011 blog in review

2011 is drawing to its close. I'm sitting here in my recliner, plans foiled by a nasty little cold that has me a bit whiney and irritable. {Sorry Aunt Vickie - I really wanted to celebrate the New Year with y'all!} My sweet hubs has steaks on the grill, a salad is made and potatoes are baking. (really sitting in the microwave waiting to be cooked when Vee gives me the word!lol) Brownies from the mix my SIL, Julie, gave us for Christmas are baked and sitting on the stove. Their scent filling the house with warmth. And a lovely adult beverage of Anejo, Coke and Lime is within easy reach on my end table. Not a bad way to end the year at all! (despite the cold that needs to evacuate my being PRONTO!)

I've been looking through my blog month by month for 2011 and pulled out the pictures that highlighted those particular months (at least for what I blogged about...)

January - beautiful snow! Hope 2012 brings some too!

February - Wintertime fishing with my guys.
March - silly family fun and weekend getaways

April - Track season drawing to a close..Ste got first place in shot put at each meet.

May - marked the end of Stephen's first year of band and we delighted in the end of year concert.

June - the wedding - Colleen and Eric Frampton

July - we had sweet visitors staying with us in our home for a bit during July.

August - Stephen's first shave

September - beginning of 8th grade football!

October - many [MANY] band competitions

November - girls trip ♥

December - Christmas, Thank you Heavenly Father

Family ~ Friends

Goodbye 2011. You treated us well.

Christmas 2011 in pictures (mostly)

Our 2011 Christmas card

Christmas Eve at Jill & Kevin's home

With our stockings!

Our Ste on Christmas morning

Christmas Night at Jules & Tobias' home

A Winter Morning Walk in the Woods

Today we headed out to Isle du Bois State Park for a morning hike.The air was crisp and fresh. Doesn't cool, winter air smell so crisply clean?
We saw deer, armadillos and all manner of birds.

I didn't have my camera with me, but Virgil had his iPhone so we were able to capture a few shots.

Much of the trail was carpeted in fallen pine needles, so our steps were muffled and the scent was

perfectly outdoorsy.

We never fail to be amazed by God's glorious creation on a walk in nature.

I'm so thankful for these two guys in my life.

And the sunshine.

Christmas Photo - Woods' Grandkids

How it started...And after eleventy hundred tears, wiggles, and reminders to "Look at the camera!"
we ended up with this:

I can handle that!
And I think the grandparents were pleased with their gift.

Good King Wenceslas (on double bass)

Exciting times in the Woods' home this week! Stephen expressed a desire to learn the double bass earlier this year. His dad made a deal with him: how ever much money he saved up to purchase a double bass, we would match. Stephen saved and saved and on Thanksgiving evening found a double bass online for 50% off and free shipping. So, yep, we ordered it.

It was delivered this week. Wow! It is huge!

Stephen also bought himself book 1 in a series of Double Bass books. He is already learning chords and songs. I ♥ how he just goes for it!

We arrived home yesterday from work and were greeted with the first part of Good King Wenceslas (which I pronounce wrong in the video [eyeroll!])

Hope you enjoy it too!

Christmas Concert 2011

Stephen's band Christmas concert was last Thursday night. I absolutely LOVE going to school concerts. Puts me in the spirit of the holiday every time! This year the 5th grade music class (they all play recorders!), the 6th grade band and the high school band performed. Below are a couple of videos from the High School band performances. Hope you enjoy them! [Ste is the only Tuba player. :)]

He lights up our lives

The Nutcracker Ballet

I have been looking forward to this day since I purchased the tickets in early November.
Today was the Nutcracker Ballet! Can you believe I've never attended?

Making it extra special was that I took my niece, Megan, with me!

And we went with my dear friend Robbie and her little God Daughter, Lydia.

Photography was not allowed.
So naturally I sneaked a shot at the curtain call (no flash of course ;) )

A great memory maker!
♥

O Vintage tree

I've been collecting these delicious little morsels for the last couple of years.
Shiny Brites and other vintage Christmas tree ornaments.

I love that they're flocked!

I love that they are made in the USA!

I love how they look on my NOT vintage, Wal-mart brand silver tree!

It's beginning to get festive 'round here!

Meet Matias

There is a precious new addition to our family!
our nephew
Matias Ifechukwu Ikpah
was born on Tuesday November 29, 2011 @ 7:37 pm.
He weighed 8 lbs and was 20.5 inches long.

Can't wait to watch him grow!!!

Welcome baby boy! Love you!!

Country Kids

Cindy, one of my oldest and dearest friends, shared these pictures of her youngest and her hubs with me today.

Country kids do things differently! I was a country kid..no animal was ever safe from being ridden!

My son is not a city kid, but he's a town kid. He likes being outdoors, fishing, hunting and camping.

But this? You'd never see my kid do this! Even if Dad was there to break the fall!

Cindy shared that each time Eric flew of the cow (or is it a bull? :) ), Jason fell down too.
She was laughing too hard to get a pic of that.
Darn!
;)

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

From our home to yours!

girls weekend

I don't think there is any earthly thing that can rejuvenate the spirit like a weekend in the woods. In the Autumn. With a group of lovely ladies.

Stay in a cabin called "Front Porch Lodge" complete with hot tub, outdoor fireplace and massive amounts of porch, and well, all the better!

Visit a folk festival set up in a State Park that boasts a beautiful river,

and gorgeous, tall trees with rusty orange and brilliant yellow leaves

and remember what it is that inspires you in the first place.


Stand at an overlook, on a scenic drive, on a blustery, cold day and remember to be thankful for your sisters.
Because they love you.
No matter what.

happenings

This time of year is always stacked with tons of activities. {and I love it!}
Earlier this month we went to dinner to celebrate niece Katrina's 14th birthday.
These two cousins are two weeks [and TWO FEET!] apart in age.

We also watched nephew Cole perform in his Junior High One Act Play.
He is quite an actor! So proud of him! (he's the gray haired fella!)

My sisters, Aunt, cousin and I enjoed a lovely, long weekend in an Oklahoma cabin last weekend. I'll be posting more about that soon!

Football and Marching Band season ended for us last night with a loss to Mart at Area. Concert season and track are next for us, but not until after the first of the year.

So...

Bring on Thanksgiving and Christmas!!!