slowing down a bit...

this time of year is craziness...it is, for everyone. it's seldom that i can afford to zone out around mid december because there is just too much to do. i didn't get a whole lot accomplished yesterday except for getting cookies baked for a xmas exchange thingy & then going to said thingy. there was a good hour in there where i could have done something productive, but i didn't. on the verge of beating myself up over it last night after i returned home & settled in, a picture caught the corner of my eye.

it is framed on the book shelf in the center room of our house & i pass it every day, but i really noticed it last night. i stopped...remembered this beautiful moment frozen in time.

the picture i'm referring to is of monkey & his very first visit with santa. he was just 5 weeks old. & he was such a good little traveler. it was a busy day in december. we waited in a super long line at the mall for the meet & greet with jolly ole st nick. monkey tried to stay alert; taking in all the sights & sounds without a fuss. unfortunately, by the time it was our turn...the wait had taken its toll & santa would encounter a sleeping baby. what would happen next was incredible & turned out to be my most favoritest picture ever!!

does it get any sweeter? when the man in red closed his eyes & posed as if they had fallen asleep reading together, i got so misty-eyed...kind of like i am now.

taking a few minutes to enjoy this picture led me to then losing track of time all together & looking at other old pictures for awhile. i think that's what this time of year is really about anyways. not getting too consumed with the hustle & bustle, but slowing down a little & looking back on special moments; people.

oh, & another pic that is close to my heart is one with our 1st child in it. delia wasn't a "dog," she was my sweet baby girl. this was our last christmas with her...i still miss her every day!