Looking Back at 2013

"The little girl did not know it, but one day years from now she would look back on that day and remember how the sun felt and the smell of the grass...all the hot dogs and peanuts her granddaddy bought her, the feel of his hand holding hers as they walked home, and she would smile."

from Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg

And so I wonder, too, what will it be that reminds us, any of us, of a day or a moment years from now.

Might it be from 2013?

Christmas 2013

Here it is the last day of 2013.

Jack is deep into a new book.
Kayla is working quite independently on her sewing machine.
Sammy is scrubbing the marker off his face that served to camouflage him for a while.
Lucy has been playing peacefully with her dollhouse.
I love moments like this.
Before we hit the New Year, I want to be sure to remember this Christmas.  It was a little different because we stayed here for Christmas morning. 
A snapshot of Christmas Eve:  caroling with friends in the morning, delivering baked treats, playing games, a cold bike ride for the kids, enjoying the company of a friend for our Christmas Eve dinner, and a Christmas Eve service at our "old" church.
Christmas  Day:  an early start (of course!), kids playing with new toys for several hours (!!), a car ride to Mimi and Papa's.
Overall, enjoyable time with family, my side and Brian's.  Good food everywhere.  Fun cousin time.  Sweet memories.

One of my most favorite moments of the season