Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's 2009 already! I'm not a huge fan of January (except for my dad's birthday, of course), and even though I love winter there's so much of it ahead with not much to look forward to. Easter is late this year and no one recognizes Mardi Gras as a holiday here, so there's nothing to break up the monotony between now and then.

My resolution this year is simple.....to have no resolutions. They're always the same so I've decided instead of the typical losing weight and exercising that all of us always plan, it would be best to make a permanent change to eating more healthfully and staying active. I think if those two things can happen then everything will should fall into place.

I can say that, aside from the three trips we were fortunate to take, 2008 was not our best year. I think I had a cold for more of the year than not. They've been messing with my Synthroid for the past seven months and even though it's the right dosage on paper, it's not agreeing with my body. The refrigerator broke and we lived out of coolers for over a week. Our dear "friends" at the auditor's office made an error on their part which resulted in us owing them thousands of dollars. Both of the cars needed major repairs. Xander had stitches twice. We've been fighting with United Behavioral Health for four months over some of Xander's bills and Jason worked for almost six months without a contract. You get the picture. Maybe I should make a resolution not to be so negative???

In retrospect, even though 2008 was not such a great year I've been able to come up with a lot of things that were worth remembering.

1. Louisiana trip Jason hadn't been home in almost six years and I just love it there. Plus we got away without the kids and could come and go as we pleased for the first time in YEARS. We indulged to our hearts content and got to do some (albeit quick) visiting with family and friends as well as partying with fans from both of our favorite college football teams. It doesn't get much better than that.





2. Jason was able to come home/be home both times Xander needed stitches, so I didn't have to take care of it myself (which would have been bad, bad, BAD).


3. Blizzard We got a TON of snow, the most I've ever seen in one day. We took the kids sledding and they loved it.

4. I showed the kids how to plant strawberries We didn't get that many but they got excited when we did and there's something nice about knowing where your food is coming from. Hopefully better luck this year.

5. My cousin had a new baby I haven't had the chance to see her as much as I'd like, but I love getting my baby fix now and then since we don't plan on having any more kids. I held her today until my arms fell asleep.

6. Kids posed for photos in fancy clothes This is a rarity.

7. Jason's brother and his family came to visit for the 4th of July and we had a really fun weekend

8. My flowers grew (even though some of them were the wrong color)

9. Ten years of marriage and a weekend away to celebrate.

10. Got one of the kids potty trained and the other is half-way there

11. Finally got Xander into the special needs preschool and he LOVES it

12. Florida trip Who doesn't love Disney World?



What blessed your life in 2008?

Family Christmas - Part 3 - Christmas Afternoon

After the business of Christmas morning and Jason's siesta, my mom and step-dad came over for the remainder of Christmas day. I'm not a big fan of ham so our early evening dinner entree was cranberry meatballs. My mom brought side dishes and I also made homemade sweet potato biscuits and coconut cream pie. (Okay, the crust wasn't homemade. But the rest of the pie was).

After dinner we attempted to take the kids out to ride their new power wheels. Jordis' battery had died though as we hadn't thought to charge it. They had to take turns with Lightning McQueen and that didn't go over so well. Xander needs some driving lessons, too.


After that it was our final round of presents.



Enjoying our new things.



Jordis is such a good mommy to her new Anna Bear.

Did anyone else see this?

I love the stillness of Christmas morning. The air is always brisk and it seems that cars and other daily outdoor noises are few and far between. This is what I saw when I opened the back door to let the dog out. I couldn't get it to show up in any of the four photos I took, but in my camera the light was reflecting in the shape of a cross. I took it to mean that maybe God was trying to tell me something, but I have no idea what it was. Whatever the message was I hope it was a good one.

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning was early this year since we had to wake up the kids when Jason got home from work (so he could go to sleep).

The kids were very happy....

Santa left us a thank you note for the cookies.

Xander agreed to pose for a photo and he made us a wonderful gift at school.

Then we ate a breakfast of Gift of the Magi Muffins and scrambled eggs. This year we put candles in the muffins and blew them out for Jesus' birthday. It's a little easier to explain Christmas to the kids that way, they're not quite understanding much more than that right now.

Then I spent the rest of the morning putting together toys. :0)

Family Christmas - Part 2 - Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, my dad, step-mom and two step-brothers came over to celebrate Christmas.

We went to church, came home and ate dinner, opened gifts and played Wii.

Music....


Presents...



The next Taylor Swift?
This picture of my dad makes me think of Kermit the Frog singing on his lily pad. Ha, ha.

End of the night...

My amazing husband!

Jason got me the best gift EVER this Christmas.

"It's just a dress," you say. And if you've ever seen me in any clothing that shows my upper body you've probably already realized it's not even the most flattering dress for my figure.

But it's not the dress itself that's the actual present, it's how it came to be.

You see, whenever we go on vacation I have issues buying myself souvenirs. I always try to get us a Christmas ornament because we put up a "travel tree" at Christmas, but other than that I tend to feel that the vacation itself is the treat and I really probably shouldn't spend the extra money on something I don't "need." In fact, last year when we went to The Outer Banks my mom had to practically drag me to the register at closing the night before we had to leave. And even then I couldn't decide if I really wanted what I was buying. Jason, on the other hand, buys himself whatever he wants because we're on vacation and we should do it right. Then we get home and I'm sad because Jason has a bunch of cool stuff and I don't.

So this year I made a conscious effort to get something for myself. In New Orleans I got a book, a pretty photo holder for all my trip pictures, and a fabulous fleur di lis shirt.

See my shopping bag?

In Newport I got three new belly button rings. (Not that much to choose from in Newport folks). In Florida, I wanted this dress.

I saw it at Downtown Disney the first day we were there. We were on the way out and the kids were at their breaking point. I told myself I'd try to come back before we left Florida and if it was still there I'd try it on. That way I had all week to see what else I might find in the meantime.

I never found anything else, so when we went back to Downtown Disney the night before we left I was excited to try it on. They had a small and a medium, and they both fit. They were also both defective. One had a busted seam and the other had something else wrong with it. I was devastated. For once I picked a souvenir and I couldn't have it. I actually cried. Then I went and bought a few other things just for the sake of buying them (although I do like them).

Unbeknownst to me, Jason had taken a photo of the tag on the dress and after we got home he spent a bunch of time online trying to find me another one just like it. When it was ordered I was given strict instructions not to look at the labels on the package if it arrived when he wasn't available to get it off the porch. Interestingly enough he didn't even spoil the surprise by accidentally giving me some kind of hint.

So, it's not the dress itself that is the gift, but that he knew how much I wanted it and made the effort to find it for me.

And in case he doesn't realize how much I appreciate it (since I tend to nag remind him here and there about other things he does that I don't like, such as using colorful vocabulary around the children), here's a list of other reasons I think he's incredible...

1. He remembers the anniversary of our first date (including the day of the week), what we ordered to eat and what I was wearing.

2. He didn't laugh at me last week when I was in our closet trying on the outfit mentioned above (5 pounds equals a lot of inches when you're only 5'1").

3. He thought I was sexy when I was pregnant and let me think I didn't have any stretch marks until I discovered them after I could see the bottom of my stomach again.

4. He changes diapers without being asked, just because it needs done.

5. He cleans bathrooms and washes dishes.

6. When he works 3rd shift he calls me at midnight to say "Happy (Insert Birthday/Holiday Here)" so he can be the first person to say it on the actual day.

7. He stays home with the kids sometimes so I can get out by myself for awhile.

8. He sits on the couch and listens to me while I blather on about my latest disease-of-the-week.

9. He rubs my feet just because they're there.

10. He plays with the kids (I'm so bad at make believe).

11. He makes the best pancakes and chicken etouffee.

12. He secretly likes my hair long but will say his favorite style is whichever way is easiest for me to do.

13. He pretends to believe that it really takes an hour or more for my bathing routine when I'm sure he knows I just go really slow so I can be alone for awhile.

14. He didn't gloat when LSU beat Ohio State at the Sugar Bowl last January and still held my hand on Bourbon Street when I was wearing my bright red jersey (or maybe that was just a measure on his part to keep me safe?).

15. He likes this song by Brad Paisley that's all about it being worth it to wait on your woman.

Sittin' on a bench at West Town Mall
He sat down in his overalls and asked me
You waitin' on a woman
I nodded yeah and said how 'bout you
He said son since nineteen fifty-two I've been
Waitin' on a woman

When I picked her up for our first date
I told her I'd be there at eight
And she came down the stairs at eight-thirty
She said I'm sorry that I took so long
Didn't like a thing that I tried on
But let me tell you son she sure looked pretty
Yeah she'll take her time but I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman

He said the wedding took a year to plan
You talk about an anxious man, I was nervous
Waitin' on a woman
And then he nudged my arm like old men do
And said, I'll say this about the honeymoon, it was worth it
Waitin' on a woman

And I don't guess we've been anywhere
She hasn't made us late I swear
Sometimes she does it just 'cause she can do it
Boy it's just a fact of life
It'll be the same with your young wife
Might as well go on and get used to it
She'll take her time 'cause you don't mind
Waitin' on a woman

I've read somewhere statistics show
The man's always the first to go
And that makes sense 'cause I know she won't be ready
So when it finally comes my time
And I get to the other side
I'll find myself a bench, if they've got any
I hope she takes her time, 'cause I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman

Honey, take your time, cause I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman

Did I mention that he's amazing?

All Aboard!

Last week my friend Liz told me about our town's 4th annual Model Train and Railroad Christmas Show. It was yesterday from 10 am - 2 pm at the Columbus-Cleveland-Northern Railroad Building (which I didn't know existed), so after lunch we bundled up the kids and went to check it out.

I guess they normally give short train rides, but it was too cold for that yesterday due to the amount of time it takes to load and unload, so we didn't get to do that. The kids didn't know about it anyway since we've never been before, so they didn't know the difference.

First you had to enter into a small building that had a model train set up encompassing the whole room. Jordis of course liked the pink train the best.

Then we walked through some shelving full of Lionel train parts to get to an even bigger train display.

After that we went outside to an Amtrak train car that had two smaller displays set up inside. The caboose was last. Inside the kids got a free Cheryl's cookie and a really nice conductor hat.

After the train exhibit we took the kids to the nursing home to drop off their paintings. They spent a long time working on them and ended up making 30 total. I was hoping to make more than that but their interest was waning. Xander wasn't much for visiting but Jordis happily passed out a few paintings to some residents who were in the common area watching Holiday Inn. The rest of the paintings will be given to residents who aren't able to leave for the holidays. They're going to put them at their place settings for the big holiday meal.

Now the kids are just waiting for Santa. Luckily the presents they got on Sunday are holding them over in the meantime.