The best days of my life....

I have been feeling quite philosophical lately. It must be because of the holiday season. I love spending so much time with family, hanging out and visiting. I have been thinking about how I have everything I ever wanted.  Now I know I am lucky to have everything I have and I am very grateful for that but at the same time I am sad.  I am sad because these are the best days of my life.  My kids are young and they live at home. I enjoy doing all the mommy stuff, all the running the kids around and living a crazy, stress-filled life. (remind me that next time I have a stress induced break down... oh ya, I have drugs for that... Anyway...)
I have never been the kind of person that can't wait for retirement and can't wait until my kids "get out of my house and let me live my own life again".  That is just not me. I actually dread the day that my kids are gone.

So I asked my parents "If these are the best days of my life, when they are over what do I do?"
Their very wise answer was "Pray for grandkids!"

I also asked my very compassionate and sagacious friend and fellow teacher who shares my feelings. She told me that we just have to live for today and to soak in each and every memory that we create with our children during this special and short period of time.  And as for what to do when they leave... she said that is when we finally have the time to scrapbook all those wonderful memories.  Right now is the time for making the memories... when we retire, that is when we remember the memories.  Isn't my friend inspirational?

Now I want to share all the holiday memories that we made this holiday season... Enjoy!

Christmas Eve at the McClelland Farm...


Mike hanging out and visiting by the Christmas Tree.



The McClelland Granddaughters... it's not very often we have all
Nine Granddaughters together!



Christmas Morning at the McClelland House...

Hmmm... notice that Mike and my stockings are
Empty... I hope Santa returns to fill them ;)

Good Morning Girls!!!

Christmas Day at the Worsley Cabin...

All 11 of Grandma and Grandpa Worsley's GrandChildren..
Do you only count 10?
That is because the 11th is in Auntie Robyn's tummy!

"Patiently" waiting to open presents!



What is that I hear???????



Santa stopped by on his way
home to the North Pole!

Santa is soooo tired from his long trip.

The kids had so much to thank
Santa for.

Shallen LOVED Santa!

Grandma proved that you must
believe to receive!

Finally time for the parent's to party. 
All of the Worsley sibling and their families
were home this Christmas and I must say it ROCKED!
What a very special time.

Off to the Bartake Wedding in Melville for New Year's Eve.  It was so much fun to dance and visit with all the cousins, aunts and uncles and families.

The happy couple,
Bert and Megan Bartake

The Teeny Boppers!

The little "party girl"



The little party girl taking a nap!



Rhiannon and Jorja had my camera hostage all night so there were very few pictures of them.... though I do have a few interesting photos they shot.



Amanda and Addison
(Amanda is the one who makes the cute TuTus!)



So there you have it... my holiday memories.  Hopefully I will be back soon with more special memories to share!