Today, 12/28, marks 11 years since I stopped smoking. I totally missed the 10 year anniversary of the blog back in August, but I certainly don't miss lighting up anymore. Although I do still get cravings sometimes. It's never easy. I ran 4 miles today to celebrate the accomplishment.
And since we're just on the other side of Christmas I wanted to share some pictures from the holidays.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1rN2mA2EasH1RML53oH3gMAlfDk6Ic7T9odzWIm_0IO1H7bvMkskyG5fMs-rQ00mzmnJIduxp8_SukbsLEtT1BSVqpb6ZSuLpdvp41x5Cj9OlSs6HBEVTTJojy5atJ736FCf74ZbCo8/s400/WP_20181126_19_42_09_Pro.jpg) |
Lena's gotten a bit peckish |
Evil Genius didn't want to pose for the family picture in front of our Christmas tree, so we had to use a skeleton stand-in. The skeleton ended up being buried under our new front porch.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-44F9bMFL_IeBQZ9VAkFY4sGc4ShlquFAImu8zRYHfb5az7jcJEtQ7fTNdy5_cDgOTGU5JPPlTA7A6377mao-gHmvMTfTnM5A6buKwNPASnL6TUGfqJ9dD9HMOxOHfZD5vrxXAqfOqk/s400/WP_20181126_19_37_27_Pro.jpg) |
It is a pretty tree |
Here's a couple of interesting pictures. I was working on the porch in shorts & a t-shirt on Dec 7, then we got a rare snowfall on Dec 8, about 4"!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5k5ZMRJc6R_H7AKv-spiRi3rrVux0F2hlW9nOohK7Fd19fudvR0iSLg8JSHF0Os8bBq73CgOPm9MiwhhrYKKUcUJknQQ0dIEzkBg-o7mlzDa8MYR0-JeUj6deh9Mf4sWi4JSQQGEHM_A/s400/WP_20181207_15_07_31_Pro.jpg) |
pouring concrete on a sunny day |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjwxSiVLdnZmM5H_fd3Aq65XtFV4iy-62cbMqz3Ah1CCDBy1LtUUX26ANdeo3MAg2Led-WMZgRtI0cWZaFpGNm4LT9zYvQAClqvEywv26AKAOwb9KNTKXYqbdMRn94WFJSe7hbgH1cF0/s400/WP_20181209_10_51_37_Pro.jpg) |
And tons of snow the next day |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVz4jHF_4HwEM3L8faKR-1GPxFTmN2OtryvVsZIia_X-EFbh4nUoUL-X-LqyLZ_bGWV-CP71pu3olFsSZ4HW0nZ8_Lg2u72GxMwPE3pSTOtDwvTFxt_AF5sBpcPZuUjDGRNgXxgN66e98/s400/WP_20181209_17_48_05_Pro.jpg) |
Kids walked with me to get Chinese food in the snow |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbypN4wDDRXiTc0SAFkhl8PvX-lhiIx-albVU5mQ-W6cN-O-PSgTa7GkWisRjWiRxbSFZWk4rjqOa-KJHjyAr38Luus6t1LBZPmA7f9rFCgKmThemTSiXUie9Yje5NbF7yQinAwyZzEs/s400/WP_20181216_14_39_58_Pro.jpg) |
And we got to go to a Hurricanes hockey game |
Work gave me a really nice thank-you gift for taking on an extra project - 4 tickets to a Carolina Hurricanes and a VIP parking pass. We got a suite, all the food was included, plenty of drinks, the kids had a blast. and the Canes won big!
So for Christmas this year we had a wild ride. We started with Kelley's dad's side of the family on Christmas Eve. I didn't get any pictures, but it was a big crowd. My kids were the youngest people there, which has never happened before, and the family who has been hosting since I started going to this thing 20 years ago said this was the last year they were hosting. So next year our Christmas Eve plans might open up.
Santa came to visit the kids, and left way too many toys & clothes. Kelley's mom and sister came home with us from Biscoe and stayed for all of the festivities. Then Kelley's dad and his wife came by, eventually also our niece Kailiegh and her boyfriend came over as well and stayed for breakfast (or brunch? it was around noon).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqP9u4tzLDEjWoIf7fkiBx7930whIkR3NL1lDIVE-cDT3CN328B0ps0b9LDHQRBoDPk9C8X4pbc152mcxfr5y5pDkxe61YD_mpEsHy9G4OLEU8nrEojtVbelkgLgc9jpVTuFUVBgf30f0/s400/WP_20181224_22_27_06_Pro.jpg) |
Girls in their new pajamas |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqy0F61uR1vgnslZT0RTd9cXYEPUOWRJC5vCKTfVDNbnstOIJRrTwKTqRO164beUwskVzHI7LdQveySvc1FxZ9VJ8ADBS-hrEyaveERKHDVgUC-fyDhuUKvfKX6iDAhbww1ltrYZvp-yU/s400/WP_20181225_07_45_03_Pro.jpg) |
Playing with the new loot |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZquQBIXUl54LVvrBFh6XacuskmJMp3A5Xj5mruFEr_u7ZeXf0XD2PAn_wUC53_9CizvJ66XPoaxw3PKqdOmJT7M4EaEkdHz7jlSqt5VzXqMCxTQOjgpoL00ueJUwlY4uC1-LGmiswgc/s400/WP_20181225_08_13_11_Pro.jpg) |
Kelley handing out presents sitting down |
Then around 3:30 we got on the road to go see my parents in SC. They had a pretty chill Christmas day, but the day after was quite hectic. My brothers came over for our big breakfast and opened presents. The big reveal was that my youngest brother Morgan and his wife Martha are finally pregnant, after 5 years of infertility treatments! We are all so happy for them.
And to finish the holidays we had to take family pictures
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6un2STJCTqwBSTL8N9DSn69zv6H7709A2fzkhOjm_A_eS9SeloawJVB7lJShyhqu1nUaMVcUVWQJOdcelRBXiH4_paBdoYYmdzb4pNhdtJYT_xZ_-XJnxsTf3mudCRcOpaxymBQbXK8A/s400/WP_20181226_12_11_33_Pro.jpg) |
The four of us in our Ugly Christmas Sweaters |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9O_BNyLR6BME9CjjyMS9rdWqdQCm2hZrnyIm5ZSg8PuAhhI521YD02oxPGY2S7bTHUCfWM-_46fjrixJA0GHvY-UWOE4ECDz6wZjGEguruN-P-qUoO4Mrf_Tjyqh9QL7SVlbONoGHOc8/s400/WP_20181226_12_13_26_Pro.jpg) |
My parents and the grandkids |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBZPgfiIG3Pn0ECStduMOU-DAIAGKoSvdehPPwO42Mko2yqUqrVzVIORUvDUw3-E91ivvSzLHbYnvTr3Sn5SZFOoboBe7_1bF4ReobbZ1ZEEoyCF8jRomEkcqyAFt5a4zKdQg-dnRK1o/s400/WP_20181226_12_14_47_Pro.jpg) |
I'm on the right, with my parents and brothers |
Then all of my mom's family came over later for our big family Christmas. It was fantastic getting to see everyone again, most of those folks I haven't visited with since last Christmas. Again, I didn't get pictures.
Thursday my God-parents came up from Atlanta to visit with us and a few others who came to the house, with my brother who lives in Los Angeles, his wife, and I got to get my hands on his baby for the first time! Cute little guy was great.
Then the weather forced our hand a bit so we came on back to Raleigh. Overall we had a wonderful holiday filled with fun times, lots of family togetherness, and love. Hope you had as much fun as we did!
2 comments:
I've only known you as Healthy John so I can't imagine you smoking!! Congrats on that milestone, though. That is a huge!
Sounds like you guys had a busy but fun Christmas. That is so exciting that your brother and his wife are expecting after so many years of fertility treatments. I know you and Kelley can relate. Phil and I were so very very lucky to get pregnant so easily. I don't take it for granted at all.
Our Christmas was so lame as Paul and I got the stomach flu on the 22nd and it tooks me days to recover and get my energy and appetite back. Paul also got an ear infection so it was a double whammy for him. Then right when we started to feel better, Phil got a nasty cold/sore throat and now he has pink eye. We just can't all be healthy at the same time!
Wow you guys had a busy busy Christmas! Ours too - lots of shuffling between family events. Feeling so grateful Olivia can grow up around so much family though. So exciting for your brother and his wife!!! What awesome news for your whole family.
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