My "kinda-sorta-first" bag

My sister, Sarah, has been making purses/diaper bags for a while now. They are super cute and a really big hit. Lately, she has had so many people ask her to make them one that we thought maybe I could start helping out, so at Christmas time she showed me how it's done and we made a bag together for my Grandma. She had a lot of the work done ahead of time, but she saved the difficult parts for me to see and help with. It was SO much fun & i'm really looking forward to getting into it more.

Here is the bag we made for my grandma...

Now I just need a sewing machine and all the goodies to get started! 

Christmas/New Year's in SC

When we finally made it home it felt like we had moved in for the first time all over again...

We unpacked a little, but there is still a pile in the living room waiting for homes LOL It was time to bring in the New Year. 

We rented 'The Words' and 'Total Recall' - both of which were pretty disappointing, and ate a bunch of junk food of course.

We had a sleepover...

& rang in the New Year right : ) 

New Year's day we decided we would celebrate our Christmas, just the two of us, first thing in the morning like it was the real thing...

My goods...

LOVE these salt & pepper grinders...

you pinch them instead of twisting!

Cutest thing ever, right?! They had this at Blockbuster and every time we went there it caught my eye.
My wonderful husband pays attention ; ) 

Jeremy's goods...

I hope you all had just as Merry of a Christmas
and Happy New Year that we did. Although,
I am very anxious to see how 2013 is going to beat 2012 : ) 

Christmas with the Thomas'

We celebrated Christmas with Jeremy's immediate family the day after Christmas. His brother and sister-in-law who live in Arizona couldn't be with us, but we skyped with them while we opened presents. Here's some more of our fun!

Reece got a lego tray, too!

 

Our goods LOL

: )

Reece got bored and starting opening up mommy's presents
- a new DVD player! LOL

& of course more wrestles...

Uncle Jeremy was warned that this would happen when he came home, but I don't think he was quite prepared for the extent of it!

Look at that face : )

Uncle Jeremy is "da winner!"

.....LOL

That about sums up our trip home. I ended up getting a nasty cold, apparently my body is very used to the weather in SC, but it didn't really matter. I am so thankful for the time that we got to spend with our families and how awesome they all were at sharing us. Of course, it wasn't enough time, but this way each and every time we get to spend with them will be even more special. Hopefully our summer trip can be just a bit longer!

Oh, I almost forgot this awesome lady...

One of my best friends, Meg, that I got to see while being home. Along with many of our other friends. Time was much shorter with friends than it was with family - but still special to us <3 

Thank you all!!! <3

Christmas day/evening ~

Christmas afternoon we spent with the Thomas side of the family and Christmas evening we spend with the Van Brocklin side of the family - of course, I either didn't bring my camera or didn't take any pictures, so here are some professional shots that I stole from my sister-in-law Amanda (our wedding photographer : )
from our fun times!

Absolutely L.O.V.E this shot

I dragged (literally) my mom along for Christmas evening up at camp because my dad was working & as Cindy Lou Who (or Amanda and I) would say: "Noone should be alone on Christmas!"

Amanda set up a little "photo booth" with fun hats and such for pictures...

<3 

...we're almost done, I promise! LOL One more Christmas in NY, then one in SC...and then it's off to other posts! : )