Back at it and a 2012 recap

I've decided to start blogging again. I love being able to look back and see where I was and where I am going. Didn't write a single post in 2012. I do have an instagram account (@krisnyce) that serves me well in terms of looking back, but I miss the written part. SO I am going to slowly get back at it. Meanwhile, I am going to do a rundown of some random memories of 2012 (culled from IG photos):

January 2012:
Thomas was Mozart for his Wax Museum project at school:

Matthew won lineman of the year in football as a 7th grader:

February:
We repainted our entire house, mostly various shades of gray:

 Valentine's Day!

March:
Leah Kate's preK went to Oaland Island (a sort of walking trail/zoo/education center in Savannah)

 and of course St. Pats!

April was super busy!:
Easter at IPC:

Lots and lots of baseball:

We ran (walked) in the Susan G. Komen race for the cure:

Stayed home and sent spring break at Tybee Island:

SCAD Chalk festival:

May:
Met Paula Deen at the LDSS "Night of Champions" (we've both since lost weight haha)

Kids did a bike ride fundraiser "the tour de kids" and met Magic Mike:

Matthew was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society:

June:
School let out, Thomas' teacher Mrs. Warner's last year teaching (she's now a speech therapist!)

 Leah did Cheer camp:

Thomas trained for the Equestrian Special Olympics:

LOTS of pool time:

JULY:
  Spent the 4th at the Sand Gnat's game:

Took a 2.5 week roadtrip with the kids up north to see family:

AUGUST:
Thomas did Camp Buddy

He also threw out the first pitch at LDSS night at the Sand Gnat's game:

 
We took a 4 night Disney Cruise! So fun!

Matthew's school has a brand new building, and it's his last year before (gulp) HIGH SCHOOL!

Thomas turned in his Life Saver bracelet and we said goodbye to the very awesome Deputy Mitchell who has been with Thomas since he got his.. he's growing up

SEPTEMBER:
Thomas spent another awesome weekend at Lindsey's Place:

We went up to Athens for a weekend of GA football:

October:
Celebrated our 7th annual BUDDY WALK!

Matthew's middle school team was winning games!

Thomas had a photograph win 1st place at his school in the PTA's reflections contest (side note- it has now gone all the way to the GA state level!)

And of course, Halloween (sadly, first year Matthew didn't dress up)

November:
Kids (Matthew too- he helped Leah) ran in the Rock and Roll Kids Rock race:

Went to a special 3D screening of the Rise of the Guardians at the Savannah Film Festival:

Flew up to Philly/NJ for Thanksgiving:
With our cousins on Thanksgiving day:

Took the train down to the city to see the old Wannamakers (now Macys) light show:

DECEMBER:

Thomas had one of his photographs on display at the Jepsen Art Center in Savannah:

He also took home a bronze in Special Olympics bowling:

Walked in the Memory Run for our very missed friend Emma Blu:

Have been working hard in the gym and in the kitchen and lost about 30 pounds when this was taken:

Christmas Eve at IPC:

The day after Christmas we drove down to Ft. Lauderdale, FL for a few days to see Mark's grandma :)

All in all it was a wonderful year! This is just the very tip of all that happened, but it was all memorable!! Hope to keep a more timely record going forward!

Love, K

Oh my darling Clementine

One of the BEST things about Christmastime has nothing to do with the holiday, but instead with the season. To me December means CLEMENTINES!

Look at all that goodness- this box is about 1/2 gone already

They try to grow them all year in places like South America and Africa. But the REAL clementines, the BEST clementines, the ones you can peel all in one strip, that my kids BEG for as dessert, come from Spain and surrounding European areas and are in season from the end of Nov. through January

check out the peel- all in one piece, NO SEEDS

We go through a box a week this time of year- good thing they are also almost always on sale this time of year.


Nutritionally they are a great snack (from SparkPeople:)  40 calories, no fat, 1g protein, 200mg potassium,  9 carbs (8 sugars), 2g fiber and 145% of your RDA for vitamin C!

So STOP eating all the cookies and grab a box :)

Have a great weekend, we have 2 parties tomorrow, plus tons of other stuff. Going to squeeze a run in today then finish my cards :)

Christmas Photo Display- 13 years in the making...

13 years back, when Matthew was a month old we took him to see Santa. Came home, framed the photo, and a tradition was born.

See baby Matthew in photo to the right :)

Every year since I've added another photo to the collection- every 4 years or so another little face appeared in the mix.  For the last 8 years I've begun to also frame that year's Christmas card (which typically includes a photo of the children as well).






I love watching this get bigger each year, and am so glad I began this tradition way back. I clear off all the "everyday" photos, etc. from my shelves in order to display.  Also a great time to really dust those shelves, ha ha.





Finally decorated our tree last night too.  We got it on Saturday, ha ha, I think those branches have fallen down as much as they are going to ;)





School lets out next Friday, I am so excited to have the kids home for 9 whole days before Christmas- lots of baking, crafts (well, attempts) and movies! 

Also, I started running again yesterday- haven't really run much since the half, it felt GREAT!