It seemed like such a good idea at the time - we'd make our Christmas gifts this year. Lynne and I decided on that last spring and we actually started some of our creations during summer vacation. However, events caught up with us and here we are on December 21 with no gifts mailed out.
We did mail our cards today which were more involved than usual this year. We almost always make our Christmas cards but this year I learned a beautiful technique of layering colored paper that I just had to share it with you.
Below, we've posted some pictures from each month of the past year. (Click the small photo for a larger version).
January saw us at the new Georgia Aquarium. We like it very much and have an annual pass this year. It is well worth the visit next time you come see us in Georgia.
February, Karen and the girls took a trip to Cumberland Island, the Okeefenokee Swamp, and Savannah.
This little wild horse thought he was hidden from us.
March seemed to revolve around Girl Scouts - especially cookie sales and delivery. Karen is the leader for the 16-girl Brownie troop, 2068. Starting in the fall of 2006, Karen also became the assistant leader for Tacie's 7-girl Cadette troop, 778.
Charlie graduated from his first obedience school. Tacie is completely responsible for Charlie's care and she does a pretty good job.
In April, we drove down to Disney World for spring break. We stayed in Disney's Pop Century resort and enjoyed visiting each of the parks the first 4 days. The 5th day, Tacie and Bruce went to all 4 in one day to ride the best roller coasters. Karen and Talia were happy at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
This little wild horse thought he was hidden from us.
March seemed to revolve around Girl Scouts - especially cookie sales and delivery. Karen is the leader for the 16-girl Brownie troop, 2068. Starting in the fall of 2006, Karen also became the assistant leader for Tacie's 7-girl Cadette troop, 778.
Charlie graduated from his first obedience school. Tacie is completely responsible for Charlie's care and she does a pretty good job.
In April, we drove down to Disney World for spring break. We stayed in Disney's Pop Century resort and enjoyed visiting each of the parks the first 4 days. The 5th day, Tacie and Bruce went to all 4 in one day to ride the best roller coasters. Karen and Talia were happy at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
While at Cumberland Island in February, Karen had hurt her arch walking barefoot in the sand. The doctor prescribed a special sandal and shoe inserts. By the time we went to Disney World, it was almost healed. The week before we left, Tacie sprained her arch walking in moccasins. The podiatrist taught Karen how to tape Tacie's foot. Tacie also got a special sandal and ended up in a wheelchair for most of the time at the parks. Luckily, Disney is very wheelchair accessible. We both are walking well now.
May marked the end of the school year. Memorial Day our Girl Scouts set flags out at Marietta National Cemetery
June marked the height of summer break. Both the girls both enjoyed a week of Girl Scout day camp. We celebrated Talia's 8th birthday. They went swimming at the neighborhood pool most days.
Bruce was able to stay in town most of the summer and work from home. Tacie is old enough to babysit Talia even when he had to leave so they stayed home and played day after day after day. Sometimes they stayed in their pajamas most of the day!
Bruce was able to stay in town most of the summer and work from home. Tacie is old enough to babysit Talia even when he had to leave so they stayed home and played day after day after day. Sometimes they stayed in their pajamas most of the day!
July we went blueberry picking with Karen's sister, Lynne one day. We ended up with 4 very large baskets of delicious ripe blueberries which we mostly ate out-of-hand. We froze about half to enjoy through the winter on cereal, in pancakes and muffins - maybe a pie too.
August was the beginning of the new school year. We took a short holiday in the north Georgia mountains the week beforehand. We visited Amicalola Falls, Cleveland where the Cabbage Patch Kids are born, and Helen. We rafted down the lazy Chattahoochee River in Helen. We spent quite a bit of time napping that week. We had to get our strength up in preparation for the new school year!
September we were in full swing at school. Talia is in 3rd grade and Tacie in 8th. Tacie moved to the newly built middle school closer to home. The building is nice but she misses her friends. People from the old school were redistricted to 3 different schools.
We took a break over Labor Day and went family camping at one of the Girl Scout camps. All four of us got to do archery, canoe, kayak, do crafts, tie dye, swim, and eat in the dining hall. We slept in a platform tent.
In October we're enjoying the cool of the fall. Tacie's new teachers are very enthusiastic this year. The Advanced Learning Program students are going on 9 field trips including the yearbook factory, Savannah, the Oconee River, and the Georgia legislature. The first one this year, families were invited to go too on a Sunday to the Etowah Indian mounds.
August was the beginning of the new school year. We took a short holiday in the north Georgia mountains the week beforehand. We visited Amicalola Falls, Cleveland where the Cabbage Patch Kids are born, and Helen. We rafted down the lazy Chattahoochee River in Helen. We spent quite a bit of time napping that week. We had to get our strength up in preparation for the new school year!
September we were in full swing at school. Talia is in 3rd grade and Tacie in 8th. Tacie moved to the newly built middle school closer to home. The building is nice but she misses her friends. People from the old school were redistricted to 3 different schools.
We took a break over Labor Day and went family camping at one of the Girl Scout camps. All four of us got to do archery, canoe, kayak, do crafts, tie dye, swim, and eat in the dining hall. We slept in a platform tent.
In October we're enjoying the cool of the fall. Tacie's new teachers are very enthusiastic this year. The Advanced Learning Program students are going on 9 field trips including the yearbook factory, Savannah, the Oconee River, and the Georgia legislature. The first one this year, families were invited to go too on a Sunday to the Etowah Indian mounds.
We had a belated party to celebrate Tacie's 13th birthday. We invited 8 of her school friends over for "Once Upon a Murder". Eight storybook characters are under suspicion of the murder of Jack (of Jack and Jill fame). Tacie played "Scarlet Hood". It was a great success.
A few days later for Halloween, Talia dressed as "Dorothy" from The Wizard of Oz. Tacie was "Little Red Riding Hood".
We executed a large part of our landscape plan. Over the summer we had a landscape architect draw up a plan for the front and back of our home. The previous owners had done little - what may have been nice 17 years ago in the front was overgrown. The back had never been touched. We don't like plants that need a lot of attention and watering and the landscaper took our preferences into consideration.
One Friday in October, we rented an amazing machine from Home Depot. It included a trencher, a scooper, a scraper, and 3 sizes of augers for digging holes. We used them all. We installed a sprinkler system in the front, dug up a number of overgrown shrubs, and dug over 100 holes for new shurbs and trees. The next weekend, we went bought 2 trailer loads and 3 mini van loads of plants. Over the next weeks we planted. We still have some liriope that needs planting but all the large trees and shrubs are doing well.
One Friday in October, we rented an amazing machine from Home Depot. It included a trencher, a scooper, a scraper, and 3 sizes of augers for digging holes. We used them all. We installed a sprinkler system in the front, dug up a number of overgrown shrubs, and dug over 100 holes for new shurbs and trees. The next weekend, we went bought 2 trailer loads and 3 mini van loads of plants. Over the next weeks we planted. We still have some liriope that needs planting but all the large trees and shrubs are doing well.
In November, we were thankful to host our family this year at our house for Thanksgiving. Ken, Carla, Riley, and Rowen came, as well as Lynne and Sharon. We had a pretty big group to enjoy all that good food.
December has already been busy. This year Lynne, Carla, and we decided that our families would make all of our Christmas gifts this season. We've been busy for months preparing but it looks like they all won't get done in time. We've also been making our Christmas cards by hand and that's been a fun project too. We've been to a bunch of parties and have a few more left.
I hope you've enjoyed our 2006 photo highlight. We wish you and your loved ones a wonderful 2007.
Love,
Karen, Bruce, Tacie, and Talia
December has already been busy. This year Lynne, Carla, and we decided that our families would make all of our Christmas gifts this season. We've been busy for months preparing but it looks like they all won't get done in time. We've also been making our Christmas cards by hand and that's been a fun project too. We've been to a bunch of parties and have a few more left.
I hope you've enjoyed our 2006 photo highlight. We wish you and your loved ones a wonderful 2007.
Love,
Karen, Bruce, Tacie, and Talia
