Time is Going By too Fast!

I can't believe that it is already the 8th of January! Can we just slow down time a little bit?

The kids went back to school on Monday and husband went back to work, after being off for 11 days straight! I won't even say anything about that!

On Christmas eve I went into work with husband(at 8:00 am!) so I could attend their office christmas lunch. As soon as I dropped him off I headed to main street and a sweet little coffee shoppe! Once I got my "fix" I headed out to visit the antique shops that line the street. I really didn't need anything, but was keeping my eyes open for deals!

In the first shop I found this bowl of old ornaments and paid ONLY $2 for the whole thing! There were some shiney brite ornaments, of which I am a huge collector, and then some from around the 70's. I thought $2 was a great buy!

I spent the whole morning looking and since it was christmas eve, there weren't very many other people looking for antiques!

We have always attended the early mass on Christmas eve. But after seeing the numbers from last year's services, (over 1,000 at the 4:00 mass!!! And this is in a church that seats 600 comfortably!) we thought since the kids were older we would try midnight mass. Now, it probably wouldn't have been so bad except for the fact that I got up at 5:45 that morning to get ready to go to work with husband. By the time midnight rolled around, I was so tired I felt sick! Husband kept looking at me during church and finally asked if I had a migraine. I didn't but felt as if I could fall asleep with my eyes open! By the time we got home and gifts were put out for the morning, it was 2:00 when I got into bed! Luckily, I was allowed to sleep in a little on Christmas morning!

This is a beautiful ornament that daughter gave me! I just love it!

The day after christmas we went to Myrtle Beach to see husband's parents. I didn't take any photos of my gifts, but I got more of the little original putz houses for my collection. I was thrilled. We had a quick visist then headed back home. None of husbands siblings made the trip from Charlotte to the beach and weren't sure, the last I spoke with them, when or if they would visit. So we just left all of their gifts at home and thought we might make a quick trip to the mountains of NC before new years and swing by to drop them off on our way.

We went to the lake house for New Years eve. We always have a big party there with our neighbors with lots of good food and fireworks at midnight.

This year didn't disappoint! We had oysters, shrimp, bbq pork, mac and cheese, pasta salad, meatballs, chicken wings and much more! It was yummy!!

Here are a few photos from the night:

(Enjoying the oysters)


(A few of my lake friends!)

(Singing along to some song!)

(Fireworks at midnight)
A funny story from the lake: I am the president of the HOA in our little neighborhood there. One of the houses sold to a new family a couple months ago and I had not yet met them. The man came up to me at the nye party and introduced himself and asked me some questions about hoa fees. After I answered him, I asked where they were from. He said Charleston and I said I lived in a nearby town. He said actually he lived in that same town. I asked him where he lived in that same town and he told me the neighborhood. It is the SAME neighborhood that we live in! What a small world, or big neighborhood, I had never even seen them before!

On New Years day the husband and I drove to Myrtle Beach to deliver gifts. It ended up that his brother and his little boy decided to make the trip after all! So, we got up, left the kids with their buddies at the lake and made the drive!

Since we had NEVER been to Brookgreen Gardens, we thought we would stop on our way. Even though it was cold and drizzly at first, we enjoyed it.

This was one of the displays. A christmas tree made of poinsettias!

A few more photos from the gardens:

My mother in law goes to the gardens often and said they are spectacular in the spring. Maybe we can make a visit then!
Maybe since everyone is back in school and work, I will have more time to post. I have been sporadically reading my favorite blogs and have a lot of catching up to do!

Have a great weekend!