Worlds longest post...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It was gone as fast as it came...but we made the morning last forever, and cherished every moment. It started with Christmas Eve,





And after a great night spent with Mark and Mary and my folks, it was home and quickly to bed..or Santa might not come.


A few pics of our exciting morning;


























Then, a few days later..was the beginning of yet another perfect celebration at the lodge with my family. I love this more then Christmas morning...and just found out, my girls do too.

Five glorious days spent together. Laughing, loving...just being. I never wanted it to end.

This is what heaven will be. For sure.

















































And these two...like two peas they were...and somehow they found each other daily. She loves him.

I think he might love her too.










(slideshow and home movie night!)

(pillows made by "seamstress Crisilee" with a bit of help from her grandmother..special gifts for her "room two peeps")












You haven't seen a scared face until you've seen a face like this one:














During this afternoon where everyone went sledding, I trudged up and down this giant hill to get a walk in. I didn't want to venture too far away from everyone, for fear I would miss out. And I have to write about this, as I never want to forget it: How all the older cousins took care of our Darby. Watching over her like mother hens. As I was walking I'd hear "I got Darby" or "It's ok Darby, I'll help you" "Darby, sit in my lap and we'll go together"...loved it. Never want to forget how much love they all had for Darby and the way they all genuinely would protect her.

There were times where, in her sled, she would vear off towards the woods. The panic in their voices that something might happen to her brought tears to my eyes and made my heart full and thankful for this loving family. Special thanks to Billy who dove in front of a tree to stop her from crashing...wish I had a picture of that.

A prime example of the love;

Then of course, the last night there was spent watching talents. Talents the cousins spend an entire year planning.









These people are the best people in the world. The people I love the most. Oh how I hated the week to end! And if you don't know them...you are missing out.










" A happy family is but an earlier heaven"