Right Now-December Recap

I'm listening to the silence of the house.   Hubby is off in search of warmth in the Arizona desert (with my blessing- I've decided I am not a December camping kind of gal), Thing 1 is nestled in his cave (aka the basement) and Thing 2 is at his downtown apartment (or at least that's where he's supposed to be).   Essentially, I have the house to myself, a quiet time to collect my thoughts, savor my coffee and enjoy what really is my favorite part of the day.

I'm loving that we made it through the holiday season, without getting our tinsel all in a tangle. 

My dad came for a long weekend- 

and in that long weekend we found ourselves....

 Catching up with the college kid 

with dinner downtown (right before the parade of lights apparently)

 Catching up with colleagues

 These 3 guys and their wives- worked with my dad at a residential treatment facility in Wyoming in the mid 1980s.   What a fun afternoon it was, remembering and reflecting on "back in the day".   I will be forever grateful to the kindness that they brought to my parents lives during what would turn out to be some pretty rough times for my folks (my mom was battling a terminal illness during most of her time in Wyoming).

Catching a one-of-kind art exhibit

My sweet friend, Fran, coordinated a group docent tour which was fabulous.  We learned so much about the works of Monet.   I say "one of a kind" as this particular exhibit included the largest collection of his work to be featured in one venue in decades.   If you live local, make time to see it before it heads out to Germany later this winter.

In addition to company, I found myself busy with the usual trimmings of the season

From a party 

or two...

where we celebrated the gifts of friendship-happy to see that Mr. C is enjoying his retirement and is doing well after having some health challenges tossed his way this past year.   

We celebrated "Early Christmas" as a family

 where gifts were exchanged...

Habits enabled...

and brotherly love was expressed through scoring the perfect gift

 for that almost impossible to shop for Thing 1

As Christmas Eve rolled around...I joined a friend at her church...

and cooked a roast for Christmas Day

With Hubby already on the road, Thing 2 happily agreed to carving up the roast..

"As long as I get the left-overs" added the perpetually hungry college kid..

They humored their mom by posing for a photo

or two...

 Keep smiling- you know how she gets...scoffed Thing 1

and of course, snuck in some bunny ears when I wasn't paying attention

Yes indeed, so much to love in the month of December...

I'm feeling the need to get myself moving.   

My buddy "Gym" is waiting for me...

Until next time...may you find yourself in balance..with family, friends and personal time...