On to the next!

A few highlight pictures from Christmastime.  I want to post them, I said I'd post them.  Let's post away and then get on with more relevant holidays.

That isn't to say that Christmas wasn't wonderful, and being home wasn't absolutely amazing.  It was.  But as I was walking my dog this week I saw someone with Christmas decorations up and said, aloud, IT'S TWO WEEKS PAST NEW YEARS!  And I'm kindof a "take down Christmas stuff before New Years" kind of a girl. 

So, here it is, a trip home in a few pictures... the highlights.

OH, THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

This is my parent's house.  It's wonderful.  I walked in there at 12:30 AM Christmas morning.  I know my mom doesn't feel like it's "her house" and has a hard time associating "home" with it, but I suppose when you're grasping at straws, you'll take a straw.  It was wonderful to walk into a house that felt like home.  The tree was lit, my parents were awake and wrapping presents or sneaking cookies.  That was the longest I've gone without seeing my parents ever.  And being home felt so refreshing.

WHEN BABIES ATTACK!

This is Oliver.  He's my youngest nephew.  He was born right after Matt and I got engaged.  And he is wonderful.  And when I left he was a baby.

But now....

Mobile, walking and attacking baby.

I had heard that Oliver was walking, but seeing it for the first time really did make me cry.  I was standing there and kept thinking "listen, family, I know you've been seeing this for a month, but this is a special moment!  Show some feeling, this little dude is walking!"  They didn't.  Obviously because it's not new to them... but it was new to me and, dang it, crying is a totally acceptable answer here in my eyes.

I should also point out that I should have taken pictures of the rest of my family.  I spent most of my time with them, I etc etc etc.  but I just don't think about taking pictures myself, when my dad and his million dollar camera are around (ummm.... million might be a slight exaggeration, but whatever.  I'm sure you've all seen my dad with a camera.  feel free to go to http://www.davidtimms.com/ if you'd like to see some snapshots of his work.)

... WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

I loved seeing my people.  This is Jon... about 40 mintues before punching started (see previous post).

Becky.  (this was the pose she struck when I walked into the movie theater.  Priceless.)  And you may say "ooh Sarah if you were really friends you wouldn't post this..." but I say "we ARE really friends, and you should see the pictures of me on her blog.  They are hideous  Ugly pics are what you do around your real friends."

Crystal.  (who, in the most Samantha and wonderful thing in the world, offered me her hair appointment with our mutual stylist, Lisa.  Luckily Lisa is some kind of a saint because she worked me in AND Crystal still got to have her hair done.  But this is, for both of us, pre-hair.)

Elisha.  Okay, I didn't see enough of Elisha.  (I didn't see enough of anyone, but Lish I should have seen more.)  But we did have a lovely lunch, gift exchange and mall adventure.  It's amazing how many things we can cram into three hours.  With this lady around, I plan my life more effectively.  I have to or else I look stupid.

OOH, HELLO.  COME ON IN.  I MISSED YOU.

I missed the following things and helped myself to them while in Utah: I missed Cafe Rio.  I missed risotto cakes.  I missed Red Mango.  I missed knowing where everything in the city was.  I missed driving around in my old car I sold to my parents.  I missed Arctic Circle shakes.  I am currently jonesing for a Sconecutter.  I missed Van Winkle Expressway.  I missed Papa Murphy's take and bake pizza. And I missed having a whole wall of rootbeer options.  I love rootbeer and am sad because in Georgia if you get it in two flavors, that's noteworthy.

ALL IN ALL...

(Ooooh... I didn't mention Scott.  This is Scott.  he taught me how to do lifts in Jr. High. Like partner lifts in dancing?  He also taught me that even if you don't see someone for like 8 years, it doesn't mean you're not friends.)

During this trip I was reminded that I am a social person.  I forgot that being so isolated from people and strict schedules.  I forget that I used to have a whole different style of life.  It was faster.  There were more hours in my day (I swear to you, or else how would I have been able to work so many hours, commute for so many hours, find my sorry way to the gym, cook dinner for my husband and have a thriving social life... without "vitamin D"). 

And now back to life, back to work, back to dog, back to husband (who can live in the woods?)

It was great to be home.  But I felt really divided.  It was still home, but I wanted to come back, too.  I missed my family here (small though it is).  So I look forward SO much to visiting home again.  Those are people who mean something in my life.  They all do.  And they all have known me for so long, that we can go for months without seeing each other.  So even though I have a life here, too.  My people are back home.

P.S. Becks, at least I didn't use this picture.  For those of you who aren't aware of this fun game... just take a camera, point it at your friends faces and have them blow a raspberry as big as they can.  While they're doing that you take a picture.  Hilarity ensues.