My spread out family

 Happy holidays!  There were actual snow flakes falling in town yesterday (for about two minutes)!  Snow always makes me think of my ski-loving sister, who is currently snow-less while teaching abroad.  I have been thinking of my family an awful lot, what with Christmas coming and the non-stop talk of presents and shared meals on the television. 

I'm one of those people that likes a good deal of clutter around.  Piles of things don't bother me (organized piles that is), especially when it comes to pictures - the more the merrier!  I'm sure there are plenty of ways to make the pictures look better, but today when I was putting Harper down for her nap (before her elevensies meal...that's for all you LOTR fans) it was great to look up and see my family starring right back at me.

I spend most of my days at home in the living room/kitchen.  My bookshelves are piled with photos on top.  I made a special note to get some updated pictures a few months ago, and it was a great choice: my niece and nephew picking out pumpkins, my sister and brother-in-law with their photo booth costumes, my brother and new sister-in-law from their travels abroad, and my new family courtesy of my wonderful Dan. 

The combination of my siblings spread about the globe, and my avoidance to make phone calls, I find a lot of comfort in these pictures.  I know they are no substitute for quality time, but nothing is.  I don't know how your refrigerator looks, but mine looks like this...

...and it makes me happy every time I open it!  I hope you all have happy reminders of the people you love and who love you.  It's a squishy, sappy, thing, but sometimes it's good to have squishy, sappy things.  


This last photo is for my sister.  On her last visit she gave me the blue eye hanging on the key hook. It's is thought to give protection, or ward off evil...or some such mojo.  I like it because I get to think of her every time I leave the house!