I have to be honest & say that I am ready for 2012 to be over & just pray that 2013 is a happy, HEALTHY New Year!

Here's a bit of trivia for you...2013 is the first year since 1987 to have 4 different numbers...pretty interesting, huh!

I have spent the last 2 days taking down the Christmas decorations & getting the house back in order!  I remembered why it was that we had quit buying a real tree when I took this one down. What a mess! lol..but it was still worth it. I am thinking we will do the real one again next year.

We had a nice Christmas. It was fun having hubby around for 4 days. We didn't even really do anything, just was lazy & played here at home, but it was nice. Now doing the same thing during this 4 day holiday.

Here are a few pictures of our Christmas holiday..

Miss Pepper loved sleeping under the tree!  Lori looking cute(r) with her knit headband from her Aunt & Uncle!

me & hubby with our loot! lol..my big gift was an upgrade on my point & shoot camera..hubby's was a Samsung note 2 tablet.

Our Christmas celebration with Lori & her boyfriend, Craig.

Hubby showing off the cup I got him from Uncommon Goods. lol...it has a place (the mouth) that you can put cookies or a bagle or whatever & then it holds either a hot or cold drink.
My 2 fur babies..it is still so sad without Big Red around.

 

Reflections...

On this final day of the year, I must honestly say that I am relieved that a new one is about to begin.
2012 started with receiving the diagnosis of my MIL, hearing about & then watching her decline, although she put up a strong fight! Our family lost a wonderful woman in July.
My father was diagnosed with Colon Cancer in August, had surgery in September, followed my some scary complications, but thank God, is still with us & doing well!
I spent time away from home helping to care for both, my MIL & my father (and mother) and must say that I am so fortunate to have been able to. I wouldn't trad that time for anything in the world, even though it was some of the hardest of times.
I became closer to some family members, and was also reunited with others.
The final month started with us losing our fur baby..1 of our 3 cats that we have had since they were born. He was 14 1/2 years old & I still find myself missing him each day.
The year has not been all bad of course. I have a wonderful life with blessings that I do count every day. I am married to the most wonderful man who is a hard worker & my best friend. I have a beautiful daughter (inside & out) who I am so proud of & enjoy seeing her life blossom.

I want to wish all of you a very happy & most importantly, a very healthy New Year!

Hmmm..my last post was from Thanksgiving! yikes...my bad!

Here is a quick catch up of my month of December...

We usually (the last many years..) have used an artificial Christmas tree, but this year we decided we would get a real tree & actually go to a tree farm to get it!

 

a glimpse around the house....

  

 
I made ornaments this year using wine corks! It was so much fun.

 

Baking! only a few pictures of some of the goodies I made up. The peppermint hearts were a first this year. I found the idea on Pinterest! Loved them. First you lay 2 mini candy canes to form a heart, then drizzle a thin layer of white chocolate, then a layer of chocolate, then sprinkles! So cute & so easy. I did some alternate ones too, starting with the dark chocolate & ended with the white chocolate on top. they look so cute in the goody baskets that I make up. The middle picture is the M&M bark & the 3rd picture are the rum cakes...mmmm...to die for!

 

December 9th, we finally got snow!

 

We ended up with about 18"

This was the next day...a beautiful start to the day... well, except for hubby who had to get out & plow the driveway, which ended up taking close to 3 hours!

It made for some fun photo ops!

 

Friday night, 12/14 was date night for hubby & I. We went out to one of our favorite restaurants & then afterwards drove through my favorite park that has a Christmas light display...

These next 2 are my fun with lights "artsy" shots!

 

1 of our 3 cats, Big Red ended up starting to lose a lot of weight & was having trouble breathing. I took him in to the vet at the end of November. First diagnosis was Diabetes. We had to give him insulin shots twice a day & then was suppose to bring him back in 7-10 days to see about readjusting his insulin. Daughter & I brought him  back in on 12/10. He was actually acting strange that morning. They ended up having to put him on oxygen at the vet & we also found out that he was full of cancer. He only had 1 small portion of 1 lung that was not affected, which was why he was having so much trouble breathing. The doctor told us he wouldn't make it long at all once the oxygen was taken off. He suggested that we put him to sleep. Me, hubby & daughter all met up at the clinic that afternoon & said our goodbyes. He literally died in daughters arms with me & hubby on each side.
It was so hard & so sad for all of us. He was 14 1/2 years old. We had him from day 1... we bottle fed him. He was a part of our family. He is greatly missed.

 

I received my photo back from the Chippewa County Tourism department. This was one that won & was in the 2012 tourism magazine & hung throughout the area. They had it matted & framed. It made a nice Christmas present for the family who I photographed!

This next one was an honorable mention & was also in the magazine, but didn't get matted & framed. I did end up buying a frame for it.

 

I also had 2 photos that were finalists in a new restaurant that opened in Eau Claire. They wanted entries for people & places in the area. I got 2 $25.00 gift cards for those! Fun!!

 

 

my parents sent us this yummy gift basket & also another gift box with sausages & cheese.

 

Gifts from my brother & his family...Twilight Woods lotion & bubble bath, a really neat necklace & earrings, a gorgeous tri wrap watch, a beautiful glass bottle stopper & 3 yummy smelling candles from Bath & Body Works.  Loved them all!!!

 

Lobster Gram! OMG...what a great gift! It included 2 live Maine Lobsters, 2 lbs. of fresh littleneck clams, New England Clam Chowder,oyster crackers, 2 servings of new potatoes & corn on the cob. Even had a lemon, clarified butter, 2 shell crackers & seafood forks, lobster bibs & moist towelettes!  How fun & how delicious!!!  A vendor that hubby does business with sent this to us. I will definitely keep them in mind for future gifts. This dinner for 2 was only $99.95..not sure how much the shipping was.

 

Daughter had my old 2000 Taurus. It was in & out of the shop & had well over 100,000 miles on it. Hubby decided he wanted to one more big thing for his baby girl....

So he bought her a 2012 Mazda 3! Nice! She of course, was thrilled to death. Best Christmas present ever!

 

We went to her boyfriend's "end of the world/30th birthday party" this past Friday night 12/21/12...it was fun. They went to Green Bay for the weekend. They got to go to the Packers game yesterday! *jealous*!

They are going to his mother's today & his dad's tomorrow, so hubby & I are spending the holidays with just each other. Enjoying some quiet time together. Daughter has to work on Wed. so we will celebrate Christmas with them on Thursday evening.  I remember those days when we would have to travel to all of the relative's houses. Even though we are missing our family right now, it is also nice to be able to just relax & enjoy the quiet!

Wishing you all a safe & Merry Christmas.