snapshots

So, I don't like cruising.

But there's so much I do like. Love in fact. And am grateful for.

It's nice to think about all that as the new year kicks into gear (and the kids go back to school, and yes, I'm grateful for that, too). But instead of writing blocks of text, for a change I will post some images from my holiday season, snapshots of my gratitude.

I'm grateful for:

Friends, dinner parties, Wonder Woman costumes:

My sister (and my brother but I don't have a cute shot of us!)

My big, crazy family (yes, we are wearing matching t-shirts! Mine says "double delight," right above my breasts. And no, it does not refer to my bosom but to a rose bush. Don't ask, but if you've read Jandy Nelson's THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE, let's just say Gram and her houseplants and my mom and rose bushes, well they're likethis).

Motherhood (most of the time):

Ice cream (all of the time)

Beaches like this (pictures of which will get me thru the winter)

Days like this:

My ridiculously cute nieces (the big one is going to Reed next fall. I'm so proud!!!)

Reconnecting with old friends we haven't seen in six years and having it feel like no time has gone by (anybody read YOU CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE? This is Astrid and Martin from chapter one!)

My husband, who puts up with me. Please don't tell I posted this shot of him, though. He'll kill me.

So, there's my gratitude photo album. (Notice, not a single picture from the actual ship!) What are YOU grateful for? What are you hopeful for 2011?

Give it some thought because tomorrow I'm launching a giveaway of a signed ARC of WHERE SHE WENT, but the twist (there's always a twist) is that you have to post something you're grateful for or hopeful for. Pretty easy, no?

Contest starts TOMORROW, new blog post. So start thinking now.