Happy New Year everyone! Time is just trucking along, isn't it? 2009. Yowza! I remember when we were all worried about Y2K. Remember that? Seems silly now but WAY back then it seemed like a real possibility that computers everywhere would cease to function normally when the century turned from 1999 to 2000 causing wide spread catastrophes world wide --- wow, that was a looonng sentence. Anyway I hope 2009 is off to a great start for you all.
We got a nice surprise today. Ed's father and his wife were on their way through town after visiting family in Missouri and they stopped by for a visit. They couldn't stay long but it was nice to have a little bit of time with them just the same.
Ed, Becky, and Allison enjoyed their camp out in the family room last night. Here's a picture of their makeshift tent. Well, there would be a picture of their tent except that Blogger seems to be having some technical difficulties. Go figure.
So. I already told you that I don't do resolutions. However, I've been thinking back on 2008 and the things that shaped the year for our family. Here's a few highlights:
* My first born became a teenager... That's pretty huge -- trust me.
* The article I wrote about sweet Lucy was published!
* We went to New York City for the first time and had SO much fun!
* Allison graduated from pre-school. (sniff, sniff)
* My father turned 60!
* We spent Fourth of July celebrating with friends and family in Maine - a true highlight of our summer!
* Katie and Becky enjoyed a week of summer camp with their best friends from Maine. It was a great week.
* My baby girl started Kindergarten. That's a biggie.
* Katie was homeschooled and then not homeschooled. A tough decision but one I am still confident was the right decision.
* I went to work outside of our home for the first time in nearly 14 years!
* Katie had a 'star' moment at her soccer tournament where she scored the game winning goal.
* Becky grew like four inches between September and December!
So those are some significant events from last year. Some of those things represent things that brought me closer to my God. Some of them just represent fun times spent with the people we love and care about. And some of them are just things. It was a good year. We were all healthy. Our family was healthy. My husband has a job; we have a roof over our heads and plenty of food to eat; we live in the most wonderful country on earth. 'Nuf said.
Happy 2009!
Thursday, January 1
Wednesday, December 31
Bye Bye Christmas
We're home from our trip to Maine for Christmas. The travelling was easy. Seriously. No traffic. No arguing among the kiddos. No bad weather. Easy. I'm thankful for that. We blew into town (home) around 2:20 yesterday. Becky had a birthday party to be at so we went directly there. I'm glad she got to go.
Christmas was wonderful, fun, busy. I didn't feel as prepared as usual due to schedules being messed up and people in our house being sick, but Christmas happened anyway and it was perfect. The girls were excited and happy and sweet Christmas morning - that's my favorite part. Katie made a special sign to hang at the top of the stairs for all of us. It said "Merry Christmas" and she must've spent quite a bit of time doing it. Sweet. I'm always surprised by how willing they are to stop what they're doing here at home and get ready to head to Maine. We were on the road by 11:00 a.m. Seeing family is a big motivator. I'll post Christmas pics later, promise.
Today we are hanging out at home. The girls are enjoying their gifts. Becky is on the Wii playing her new Hannah Montana game and Allison is playing her new Leapster Didj. I think Katie is in her room planning the redecoration project we're going to do. She wanted lots of room accessories and other fun things for her room for Christmas, along with clothes and shoes! Typical teenage girl stuff :) The tree needs to come down and decorations need to be put away. I hope we get that done today. I'm not as in a hurry as I usually am to get the house put back together but I'd still like it done SOON! I'd also like to make a trip to TJ Maxx or Home Goods but it's snowing to beat the band right now. Maybe the roads aren't too bad.
Anyone have any big plans tonight to ring in the New Year? Us? No. Never do. I like being home New Year's Eve. I like hanging out with the girls and doing family stuff. I hope you have fun whatever you do tonight.
I'm getting my haircut on Friday. It's too long. It's also HEAVY. I get headaches if I wear it in a ponytail. I'm telling you I have enough hair on my head for THREE people! Time to change things up a bit.
I've got to fold some laundry. Actually I have to fold LOTS of laundry! I'll be camped out in the laundry room for quite awhile! That's the downside to being away - DIRTY CLOTHES!
I'm not one for making New Year's Resolutions but I do like thinking about the passed year and what's changed in our lives since last year at this time. I'd like to do a post on the big deal things our family has experienced in 2008. I'll think on it and get back to you. In the meantime Happy New Year!!
Christmas was wonderful, fun, busy. I didn't feel as prepared as usual due to schedules being messed up and people in our house being sick, but Christmas happened anyway and it was perfect. The girls were excited and happy and sweet Christmas morning - that's my favorite part. Katie made a special sign to hang at the top of the stairs for all of us. It said "Merry Christmas" and she must've spent quite a bit of time doing it. Sweet. I'm always surprised by how willing they are to stop what they're doing here at home and get ready to head to Maine. We were on the road by 11:00 a.m. Seeing family is a big motivator. I'll post Christmas pics later, promise.
Today we are hanging out at home. The girls are enjoying their gifts. Becky is on the Wii playing her new Hannah Montana game and Allison is playing her new Leapster Didj. I think Katie is in her room planning the redecoration project we're going to do. She wanted lots of room accessories and other fun things for her room for Christmas, along with clothes and shoes! Typical teenage girl stuff :) The tree needs to come down and decorations need to be put away. I hope we get that done today. I'm not as in a hurry as I usually am to get the house put back together but I'd still like it done SOON! I'd also like to make a trip to TJ Maxx or Home Goods but it's snowing to beat the band right now. Maybe the roads aren't too bad.
Anyone have any big plans tonight to ring in the New Year? Us? No. Never do. I like being home New Year's Eve. I like hanging out with the girls and doing family stuff. I hope you have fun whatever you do tonight.
I'm getting my haircut on Friday. It's too long. It's also HEAVY. I get headaches if I wear it in a ponytail. I'm telling you I have enough hair on my head for THREE people! Time to change things up a bit.
I've got to fold some laundry. Actually I have to fold LOTS of laundry! I'll be camped out in the laundry room for quite awhile! That's the downside to being away - DIRTY CLOTHES!
I'm not one for making New Year's Resolutions but I do like thinking about the passed year and what's changed in our lives since last year at this time. I'd like to do a post on the big deal things our family has experienced in 2008. I'll think on it and get back to you. In the meantime Happy New Year!!
Monday, December 22
Christmas Link
After reading over some of my December posts from years passed I realized that I haven't done much in the way of steering you toward some of my favorite Christmas web sites. This one you may have heard or seen somewhere else but it is certainly worth mentioning on the blog. It's called Soldier's Silent Night. It's just a nice tribute to the men and women who have served and are serving our country as soldiers. It's told from Santa's point of view. I'm definitely a sucker for a good Christmas tale. Enjoy. The link is www.soldiersilentnight.com/
I'm completely over my strep throat! YAY! Katie woke up this morning feeling achy and with a sore throat. yay. I called our pediatrician who graciously decided to just call in a prescription and save us a trip to the doctor's office. The good news is that she'll be germ free by tomorrow afternoon and hopefully feeling MUCH better, just in time for Christmas and our trip to Maine. I'm thinking (hoping, praying) that Allison may have started this whole thing when she was sick a couple of weeks ago. The doctor said it's possible that she carried the virus but didn't have strep herself. That would be good. I went nuts with the Lysol yesterday and aired out the house a bit too so hopefully we've got a handle on it now. New toothbrushes for everyone too. After 72 hours on the meds it's safe to change your toothbrush.
I went out shopping this morning. WOW! What a NUTHOUSE! Target was manageable. The grocery store was not! I haven't shopped for Ed yet - AT ALL. I don't mind the crowds really. I don't enjoy it though when people are rude or grouchy. I guess I've put it off long enough...Time to hit the mall---
I'm completely over my strep throat! YAY! Katie woke up this morning feeling achy and with a sore throat. yay. I called our pediatrician who graciously decided to just call in a prescription and save us a trip to the doctor's office. The good news is that she'll be germ free by tomorrow afternoon and hopefully feeling MUCH better, just in time for Christmas and our trip to Maine. I'm thinking (hoping, praying) that Allison may have started this whole thing when she was sick a couple of weeks ago. The doctor said it's possible that she carried the virus but didn't have strep herself. That would be good. I went nuts with the Lysol yesterday and aired out the house a bit too so hopefully we've got a handle on it now. New toothbrushes for everyone too. After 72 hours on the meds it's safe to change your toothbrush.
I went out shopping this morning. WOW! What a NUTHOUSE! Target was manageable. The grocery store was not! I haven't shopped for Ed yet - AT ALL. I don't mind the crowds really. I don't enjoy it though when people are rude or grouchy. I guess I've put it off long enough...Time to hit the mall---
Sunday, December 21
Little Update
Another snow storm is pounding us as we speak. It didn't really get going until around 7 this morning. It's very windy too which makes it difficult to tell if it is really snowing or just blowing around what's already on the ground. We have a beautiful view of the western sky from our house and on a clear day the mountains rise up as the backdrop to the city. Today there are no mountains or city visible. Becky is on her way to a swimming party and Allison's basketball game is still on (for now). That's life in New England - no little blizzard is going to slow us down!!
Katie and Allison are still healthy. Ed seems to be doing fine. I honestly can't remember being this sick in a long, long time! The glands on my neck are huge - like you can see them from a mile away! I'm still swallowing razor blades. And I run out of energy pretty quick. We're talking DAY 3 people! When is the miracle medicine going to work? I've had quite enough of this being sick business, thank you very much. Today I'm just going to do what I've got to do - sick or not. That includes taking a shower. I don't think I'm contagious anymore since I've been on the antibiotic for THREE days. I think I'm going to have me some breakfast too.
Is your Christmas shopping done? Mine, you ask,--- not so much. Close though. Even though I haven't spent gobs of time shopping I have been enjoying the many Christmas shows on TV. Lifetime has had some totally sappy, goofy, corny movies on, that have been pretty entertaining. And there always seems to be some special on for the kids before bedtime. Last night they watched a Charlie Brown show that was really cute.
I will say that I am thankful to be sick now instead of a few days from now. And I'm thankful for my dog. She lays down next to the couch whenever I'm resting. She puts her nose up next to my face and waits for a pat on the head. Then she lays down again. She loves me. Sweet girl.
Katie and Allison are still healthy. Ed seems to be doing fine. I honestly can't remember being this sick in a long, long time! The glands on my neck are huge - like you can see them from a mile away! I'm still swallowing razor blades. And I run out of energy pretty quick. We're talking DAY 3 people! When is the miracle medicine going to work? I've had quite enough of this being sick business, thank you very much. Today I'm just going to do what I've got to do - sick or not. That includes taking a shower. I don't think I'm contagious anymore since I've been on the antibiotic for THREE days. I think I'm going to have me some breakfast too.
Is your Christmas shopping done? Mine, you ask,--- not so much. Close though. Even though I haven't spent gobs of time shopping I have been enjoying the many Christmas shows on TV. Lifetime has had some totally sappy, goofy, corny movies on, that have been pretty entertaining. And there always seems to be some special on for the kids before bedtime. Last night they watched a Charlie Brown show that was really cute.
I will say that I am thankful to be sick now instead of a few days from now. And I'm thankful for my dog. She lays down next to the couch whenever I'm resting. She puts her nose up next to my face and waits for a pat on the head. Then she lays down again. She loves me. Sweet girl.
