When was the last time?

That you had 20 free minutes, or even one hour to google relentlessly at all of the things that come to your mind? Man, I haven't done that since I don't know. Since Kate was a baby? Sure I have my normal sites that I visit daily, or in the evening when I get a free moment or two..but I mean, really just aimlessly google? I finally did this evening, and man do I feel a sense of accomplishment. It is crazy to say it that way..but I always have in the back of my mind, oh, I need to look that up when I get home, or ooh..I want to go on Pinterest and get some new decorating ideas! Just fun, really interesting things.

We are back from our week away at the beach..ok..more like 5 1/2 nights, and 6 days. I found myself still able to post on facebook, and I don't know if that was a good thing, or a bad thing. I was so interested in seeing what my friends had been up to for the weekend, and I didn't want to miss anything. We had a great, fabulous time. Had we been home, we would have been rushing around, working, working, working..and we would have crammed it all into one solid day, and then poof! It would have been gone, ended until next year. We made cookies one day, put together a gingerbread house the next day, played a ton of games, opened presents a little each day..it was nice. It was relaxing. When someone wanted a nap, we napped. When we wanted to drink, and be merry; we did. We ate really well, (a little too well) and just really enjoyed each other. We only left to go into town one day, and that was a fun little jaunt. The rest of the time, we were just still. We stayed with our family, and loved on our kids, and we had soo much fun just being with each other. That is what Christmas is all about. Not some gaudy gift..(yes, I bought a few of those too!) but I really had dreamed for weeks and weeks about the one on one time I longed for with my husband and kids, and that is what we got.

We were able to go on the beach a few times, and my sister and I really got some good walks in. It was great. I will forever remember our Christmas at the beach 2012...but I also love having that good ol fashioned family Christmas at home too. Thank goodness for TBS coming in on the tv there..wouldn't have been Christmas without 24 hours of A Christmas Story. :)