A lot has been going on, and I'm still without a computer, but since students are on break and the weather is getting nice, I'm starting to get a short break in my schedule. I thought I'd do a little catching up and sharing photos...so, here goes nothing...
For Thanksgiving, my parents and I drove up to the Carolinas to see our family. This is me and my brother at the zoo in Ashboro. We decided to go to the zoo on black Friday instead of shopping. We used to always spend Thanksgiving at my mom's parents in North Carolina, but since they passed away, we've started new little traditions that have taught me a lot about family and everything they mean to me. It's not about the food, its how you work together in the kitchen. It's not about the structured "this year I'm thankful for..." speech that family members give, its simply about spending time and catching up with people you care about. We adopted some new family this year, but honestly, it made the day even better.
This was a small part of the Thanksgiving day crew just sitting on the porch (thanks to the Crotts for letting us borrow their lovely home). It was one of the most relaxed Thanksgiving Days I've ever experienced and I really enjoyed just sitting around talking and playing with the kids. I miss Rock Hill so much. These are the kind of moments that I dont ever want to forget.
I'm working on Wedding Day Survival Kits for my best friend's wedding. Each bridesmaid is getting one filled with goodies and things we might need in an emergency! (you know, like mouth wash, bobby pins, safety pins, tissues...) I'm really excited for the big day and I cant wait to share these with the girls! I've never been in a wedding before, well, other than as the flower girl, and I'm so honored to be able to share such an important and amazing day with Jackie...it's making me think about my own wedding someday (not that it will be any time soon)...
Lauren Randall and I (also known as the musical group Chinese Finger Trap) helped to lead worship at the FUMC girl's retreat this past Sunday and Monday. The theme was "one girl can change the world...get your shoes on." There was a huge group of girls and it was a ton of fun. I really hope that all of the girls took something away from their time there.
Every year, this house goes crazy with lights and inflatable things...its kind of ridiculous but its a nice tradition. There's a donation box if you want to help pay the light bill :)
This is the beginning of Christmas at the Bunce house. Sour Apples to Apples (only sold at Target...its pretty awesome) and Banana Grams (aka Speed Scrabble) along with hours and hours of movies...
Mom totally ignored the rules, Cameron usually made about three good words and then had a giant pile of letters, dad and I took the game seriously though...this is the way board games usually go at our house
We always make a ginger bread house...even though we're 22 and 24, we go pretty crazy on the sugar and decorating...this year we cheated though and got the easy-assemble kit...when we have kids, we'll have serious ginger people houses again; this, of course, will require the kitchen to become covered in a thick layer of powdered sugar and icing
Thursday at work, the weather got a little scary. The tv and radio were telling us to watch out for tornadoes and I certainly was...from the drive through window. I took this right before a major down pour. I'm just thankful it helped to cool things down.
Roux, a new restaurant in Montgomery, has some pretty awesome desserts. We went there after pizza at Tomatinoes the night my brother came into town.
I'd have to say, this has been one pretty great Christmas; and, honestly, I think it has a lot to do with being surrounded by people I love rather than getting into the materialistic hoopla that our society sells. The next few weeks will be packed for me and I'm so excited for all of it, but at the same time, I'm trying to find more time to chill out and remember the little things.
I hope you have a very merry Christmas!
