Boy, it's been so long since I've posted that my fingers are stumbling across the keyboard like this is some sort of foreign endeavor. I guess it's true that you only surface when you want to be seen, and I guess I haven't felt like being too out in the open lately. There's a lot of stuff going on in the Krauss Haus and sometimes it seems like it's all I can do to make it to the end of the day in tact. This holiday season was a challenge. Amidst other things taking place, we lost our Grandma O. This is a loss that we haven't truly absorbed or made peace with yet. The sense of JOY that is supposed to be ever-present this time of year was a fleeting occurrence reminiscent of a candle in the wind. We tried. We went through the motions, we tried to catch the coattails of the kids' excitement, but that fundamental, spontaneous feeling was aloof. I know, this isn't the normal post from me and I'm quite aware of that. But as I am not in a position to disclose details, just trust me when I say that things have not been easy for our family the past few months. Sven and I are doing our best to make it through and we hope for an upswing in the emotional currents soon. Good riddance to 2016 and may 2017 bring new hope and happiness.
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| Em was SO excited to see Santa! |
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I'm glad they discovered they like decorating gingerbread men,
because after the second batch I discovered that I really didn't! |
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| Simple beauty-- I already miss having the tree in the living room. |
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| A tradition etched into the ages. I love making fudge with dad. |
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| And Em loves getting snuggles from Grandma awaiting her chance to lick the fudge bowl. |
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| No Krauss Haus Christmas is complete without a puzzle. |
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| I had this puzzle made from one of my Bitterroot River photos I took this summer. |
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| .... or TWO puzzles. Man was this one hard, Thad!!! Awesome though, right? |
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| Cake and pie, my oh my..... |
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| Thank you everyone who sent us gifts! We appreciate them and we miss you!! |
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| Waiting to go downstairs Christmas morning. |
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| Ok, yes... I admit it.... WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?! |
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| So many fun fishing gifts for our angler. |
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I'm glad our Christmas gift didn't make anyone cry.
It was already ordered and wrapped before Grandma passed away. =( |
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| The full picture of Christmas morning. |
I hope you all enjoyed Christmas and rung in the New Year merrily. With all the fun that was already existent, dad and I both got sick at the end of their visit and we're all still suffering/recovering from it. What a doozy this year was! Fingers crossed for next year!!!
