Our 2009 in Review

Zoom!

That's how it feels when I think back on our 2009.

Time is moving so quickly and it just reminds me that I need to appreciate each and every day.

Here are some of my favorite memories from 2009:

Sorry there's so many pictures - apparently there are a lot of great times that I want to make sure we don't forget.

May you have a great New Year's Eve and a blessed 2010!

Christmas Wrap Up 2009

Whew....finally a moment's peace to sit down and visit some long distance friends.

It has definitely been busy around here as I'm sure it has been at your house as well.

We're just getting back from a quick two day trip to NC for family gatherings and
to tell you the truth......I'm pooped.

I'll just post a few pictures of our wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and just let me say that we are blessed beyond all measure with good family and friends. Thank you all so much for what you do for our family, and if we haven't seen you yet during this hectic season, we're still making the rounds and hope to be in your neck of the woods soon.

The aftermath:
That's all I have time for now - my rubbermaid containers and I have a date.

Lots to Celebrate

I'm hoping this finds you all tuckered out from your Thanksgiving celebrations, eating and shopping adventures from the past few days.

We certainly are, but we don't usually do much shopping - we do enjoy the eating though.

Thanksgiving is always a busy time for us for we also have two birthdays to celebrate after the turkey dinner is finished.

November 27th is the day that our little drama queen made her appearance. Sometimes this actually falls on Thanksgiving - much to her dismay, and November 29th is the day our first born arrived - a little late to celebrate his first Thanksgiving way back in '97.

Here are some pictures that summarize our trip back to NC:

I can't believe my babies are now 9 and 12. The time is going by so quickly.
I have to preface these next pictures by saying - my son hates a camera.

After several attempts it was clear that this was as good as it was going to get - it became kind of funny. I do wish he could just look at the camera & smile - oh well.

Hate to rush off but I've got my own decorating to do.

Thanksgiving's over now bring on Christmas!

It's Almost Turkey Time

From our family to yours.

We're traveling to North Carolina today but wanted to wish you all the best this Thanksgiving holiday.

Happy Mother's Day

To all the current mother's in blogland and to all the future mother's....

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Enjoy your families and have a wonderful weekend.

**********************************************************************

"The hand that rocks the cradle usually is attached to someone who isn't getting enough sleep."

- John Fiebig

A teacher gave her class of second graders a lesson on magnets and what they do. The next day in a written test, she included this question: "My full name has six letters. The first one is M. I pick up things. What am I?" The teacher was astonished to find that almost 50% of the kids answered - Mother.

- Unknown

Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day

With little time to stop & pray

For life's been anything but calm

Since You called on me to be a mom

Running errands, matching socks

Building dreams with building blocks

Cooking, cleaning, finding shoes

And other stuff that children lose

Fitting lids on bottled bugs

Wiping tears and giving hugs

A stack of last weeks mail to read

So where's the quiet time I need?

Yet when I steal a minute Lord

Just at the sink or ironing board

To ask the blessings of Your grace

I see them in my small one's face

That You have blessed me

All the while

And I stop to kiss

That precious smile.

- Unknown

The Price He Paid

As we all gather with family and friends around our tables, and as we listen to all of the beautiful music during the church services that we'll attend.....let's be sure to remember the price He paid for sinners like you and like me.

It's because He is such a loving Father that He sacrificed His own Son so that we might have life everlasting with Him in Heaven.

As we celebrate this time of rememberance, I pray that you all have your own personal relationship with God. If not, please ask Him to open your heart and your mind to His wonderful ways. You can always trust and depend on him - in good times and bad. He will NEVER foresake you.

Just remember to come to the cross.

May you all have a blessed Easter weekend.

On a different note:

We will be taking a quick trip to my parent's house for Easter this weekend. We can't leave until after B's baseball game (which they may or may not cancel due to last night rain - I really need to know that now people.)

Please be in prayer for us as we do a lot of traveling in a short amount of time and also for my step-dad who has been in the hospital for over a week. This is not anything new, he has a weak heart since his heart-attack six years ago, but it's just getting weaker and he had kidney damage from the same attack and they are betraying him now as well. The function of one depends on the function of the other & the tests are showing that he had another small heart attack last week.

We're going up to check on him and my mom and enjoy time with my sisters and their families as well.

Again, I hope all of you have a wonderful Easter celebration & I'll check back in with you next week.

Valentine's Day

Well, it's that time of year again. Valentine's Day.

Yuck.

Don't ask me why I really don't like this holiday. I don't know the answer to that.

When you think about it, a girl should love a holiday where she's showered with flowers, candy, jewelry and poems of love.

Not me.

I think it's a completely over-rated Hallmark holiday.

Don't get me wrong. We usually do the card thing - just because it's always nice to tell your spouse how much you love them. We even do the go out to dinner thing (on a different night) because, let's face it, any excuse I can get for not cooking is an occassion to celebrate.

Since we've had children, we do celebrate this "holiday" a little more just for them but we don't go over the top. Just candy, cards and a little something extra.

I do hope all of you who celebrate this St. Valentine's Day have a happy and memorable weekend. Don't eat too much chocolate.

Last Family Gathering

With all of the holiday festivities going on and college graduations, we couldn't all schedule this get-together until after Christmas. So, on Sunday morning the kids and I hopped in the car and traveled 4 hours to my cousin, Kelly's house.

Here are some pictures of the days activities & Kelly's house (cause it's purty).

This is my cousin, Jed & his daughter Ava - cute isn't she?
Ok, if you can get passed all that cuteness....check out the lovely blue paint & the bird prints on the kitchen walls. (I may have to ask the name of the paint to use in our bedroom.)

I'm not quite done with the cuteness yet - she is adorable.

This is a painting my aunt Rita & a friend did of Kelly's boys. It's hanging in their family room.

(I may have to ask about this paint color too - it's a nice neutral without being boring.)

The dining room.

Looking into the foyer.

Aunt Debra & cousin Tori.

(Check out the wet bar behind them - complete with a wine fridge.) This is our host for the day - my cousin Kelly and Jed again.

Time out for a birthday boy - Grayson's 6 as brother Parker looks on.

Mimi & G enjoy the party.

The Christmas tree topped with peacock feathers.

We're all partied out - literally.

What a Christmas season it has been. We are so grateful & thankful for all of our friends and family. It was great seeing everyone.

We're looking forward to New Year's Day when we have friends from Indiana coming to visit. She's a fellow blogger so stay tuned.

Now, back to straightening out the house.