As I type this, I'm sitting here watching my boys decorate gingerbread houses with my mom as part of their Christmas fun. My dad is relaxing in the living room, and my grandmother is doing heaven knows what while puttering in her kitchen.  We're currently at my grandmother's house sitting at her dining room table while all of this is going on. One of the things I love most about this room (besides eating dinner in it, and the people I'm surrounded by) is that it's covered in photos of our relatives. My grandmother's parents, their parents, and their parents are all represented on the walls of this room, as are my grandfather's.  

It's hard to believe that I am once again writing this annual post. It seems like I just wrote the one at the beginning of 2016! But, here we are at the beginning of 2017.  

Justin and I are excited to announce that we are expecting a new addition to our family! Christopher and Joshua will have a new little brother or sister coming in February!

Henry Estrada has been the driving force behind the Los Lunas High School Tiger Band for the last 33 years. He has taught hundreds of students- including my husband and myself. He's given up time with his wife and three children, time with friends, and the pursuit of fishing in August to provide his students with the instruction that they needed to be the best that they could be. 

In this age of digital photography, one has to wonder, 'Why in the world would anyone take the time to shoot film?' Well, here are my reasons for shooting with film: 

I'm always amazed at how fast time flies. Each year, it seems as if the new year sneaks up on me, no matter how closely I watch my calendar. 

Christmas is my favorite holiday- but, not for the reasons that you may think. I love that this is the time of year when people slow down, when work becomes less important and family takes the spotlight. I love that I get to give people gifts, making them happy- even if it is for a few brief moments. But, most importantly, I love the traditions that my family has developed over the years.

I thought I could handle it, but I ended up crying. You see, my oldest son, Christopher, started Kindergarten about a week ago. He'd been in Preschool for two years already, and I thought that I would be perfectly fine dropping him off on his first day of Kindergarten. I wasn't. I'm not ashamed to admit that I was crying.

First off, please forgive the iPhone selfie. Sometimes, the best camera is the one you have with you, and that was the one I had.

I took the photo above of a couple of the girls in my Girl Scout troop last May. We were planting some bushes at Peralta Elementary School, where we met last year, as a service project to the school. Every time I see it, it reminds me so much of why I volunteer.

As I sit here trying to think up something genius to write about, all I can think is, 'I can't wait for Spring!' The Winter weather is doing it's usual central New Mexico thing: it's overcast and dreary without any snow. It's just nasty enough that you don't want to be outside.