Happy New Year!

Can you believe we are 12 days into 2015? I know I can't! The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of events but one of my goals for 2015 is to get back to blogging more regularly and to stop and to use my SLR camera more often. As convenient as having an iPhone is I miss have good quality photos on my blog! I'm also hoping to bring back some of my "series" post. I slacked off big time in 2014 so that has got to change.

New Years Eve and New Years Day seem to come and go in a split second but I do have a few pics from our New Years Day family dinner to share. Its been a tradition on my mothers side of the family for as long as I can recall to get together New Years Day with the family for dinner. I've hosted a few myself. But it began a long time ago at my grandparents home. This year my mom agreed to host. Needless to say it doesn't take much for our clan to get together and we had an awesome time!!!

 

You can't have a great New Years without some awesome food.

My Aunt Julia the 93 year old matriarch of the family!

The family gathered around for prayer (just like my grandfather use to have us do). We even broke out into song lead by auntie. If your my friend on facebook you might have seen the video. LOL

Marc and I surprised everyone by bringing my Godmother to dinner. She was the First Lady at my home church for many years. Some of you may have heard me speak of my Godfathers passing last year. I was so glad that she was available to come. She told us several times just how much she enjoyed the day! 

Marc and I had purchased and had names monogrammed on aprons for my daughters, my sister and my mom. Somehow I forgot to bring them Christmas so I took them to give out New Years. Nicki was sick that day so my cousin Babs stepped in for her. LOL

 

I am grateful that we have been able to keep the tradition that my grandparents started going. And I'm even more grateful for the family that God placed me in. Do you have any New Years Day traditions?

Day Date to Williamsburg

 

Marc and I went on a day date to Colonial Williamsburg right after Christmas.  I grew up less then 40 minutes from the historical area and I've always loved visiting since I was a child.

This picture does not do this tree justice. It was huge!

We went window shopping at Merchants Square and I even got a chance to go in a Williams Sonoma for the first time.

As many times as I have been to Williamsburg I had never been during Christmas but had always heard about how beautiful the decorations were. I finally got to see it in person. I may have to incorporate some of their ideas next year. LOL

My other favorite thing is all of the Colonial looking homes. It was always my dream that when I got a home it would look like this. I cam close with my porch just not the dormer windows. LOL

Next year we are hoping to go to Busch Gardens for their Christmas Town set up. It was great having Marc home those few days and it was especially great to just get out and hand together.

What I Got For Christmas

 

I'm a big fan of YouTube vlogs. One of my favorite families to follow is The SacconneJolys. My girls know just how much I love watching this couple and their adorable children. So Nicki surprised me with their calendar for Christmas.

 

Marc wouldn't tell me what he had gotten my mom for Christmas until a few days before Christmas because he said I would want one. He was right! So imagine my surprise when I opened up one for myself! 

I've eyed the Pandora bracelets forever, especially once they started producing Disney charms. I just couldn't justify the cost. I did find some alternative bracelets by Alex and Ana that I love )and that are on my wishlist as a future purchase) but my oldest daughter and son surprised me Christmas morning with this.

 I thought the Cuisinart was my only gift. Boy was I surprised when I opened up this beauty from Marc!

 

Disney seemed to be the theme of the day. My sister gave me this Christmas ornament and my mom gave me Mickey pajama pants. LOL We had a great Christmas and got to spend it with family the entire day. So what did you all get for Christmas?

Blended Family

My step sister and my niece, nephew and great niece came in town from Maryland to visit my mom just after Thanksgiving.

Second Home!

Marc will graduate in May but he's been taking a few intensive classes so I've been going up to Richmond with him and this last session I actually set in the class with him (I will have more about that on the Blended Souls site next week).

 

This is the food in the lounge for faculty and ministers/pastors at VUU. I could soo not eat like this everyday!!! 

 

Sporting my new Kenneth Cole boots that were and early Christmas present.

 

Once again my sister was able to get us the use of the suite at her apartment building.

 

The food was soo good!

 

I felt so guilty for eating such heavy food I got a salad  for dinner!

 

You can only eat one meal like this per day!!!! 

 

Christmas lights in the building across from our suite.

 

Our last morning in the suite. We will be back in a few weeks though. LOL

Girls Nite In!

 

These photos are from our Girls Nite In Christmas Party. Needless to say there was lots of laughter and fellowship!

No place like home!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back at the beginning of December Nicki and I made a random overnight trip to my moms just to play Bingo with her and my cousin the next day. These are the pics from that day and yes I know my blog is way behind and I plan to do better now that its 2015 but I still wanted to post all of the blog post that have been waiting for editing. So the next couple of post are old but at least the pics will be nice to look at. LOL