2008

What a year! The changes that have taken place almost overwhelm me. So here are a couple random thoughts/happenings from the year:

I went from hating to coffee to seriously addicted. I'm drinking my version of Starbuck's truffle espresso right now. I've pretty much mastered Starbuck's mocha, but I can't quite duplicate the truffle drink yet.... guess I'll just have to go back a few more times (:

I'm not any wiser or richer, but happier (and not medicated happy this time!)

TK is "potty trained". It took her a couple of days in November and we had it!

We moved back by family.... Mark Jan. 1 and the kids & I at the end of February. This has taken over the year. We had some friends over last night and someone made the comment about not receiving a christmas card from us this year. Well this is the truth ~ I didn't make christmas cards because I just couldn't process through my thick head that we actually live here. Something about sending out cards from here was just to permanent for me. (Mark - if you read this I already know you think I'm crazy!) Over this past week though it is starting to settle in with me that this is where I live and maybe we will stay here. I said "starting to settle in", not completely there, I am just saying maybe I will not have a panic attack the next time Mark mentions something about buying a house here.

AJ wears glasses and patches to correct the amblyopia. This has come a LONG way and I'm very thankful for the progress he has made.

I am taking these quotes with me into 2009 as an outline of how I want to think. These are not my quotes I found them on someone's blog through a friend of a friend's blog......

"Never allow yourself to complain about anything, not even the weather.
Never picture yourself in any other circumstance or someplace else. Never compare your lot with anothers. Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise. Never dwell on tomorrow, remember that it is God's, not ours."

So with these thoughts I am happy to enjoy this time surrounded by family, jobs for both Mark and I, great daycare/preschool for the kids and our first Christmas without charging a single thing!!!

Ahead

Here's looking to next year:

Christmas at home

Because of the layout of the current house we use monitors in the kids' rooms, which has allowed us to hear many things! This morning we heard AJ wake TK telling her, "I hear a sleigh on the roof, we better hurry up and go to sleep so Santa will put something in our stockings." Then we hear him snoring.... I'm sure TK was in a complete fog! Finally they both went running to their stockings and got upset they were too high for them to see inside.... so we quickly resolved that and got on with the opening!




















We opened stockings and presents from Grandpa B down by the kid's tree. Grandpa got them tons of art supplies and an art easel (seen in the back, but needs to be exchanged since it is broken.... oops, I should have checked before Christmas Eve.)

Lots of games and fun stuff, but the winner so far is, the much antcipated and asked for:

Christmas Eve

My mom spent Christmas Eve with us, so the kids opened 1 present from their aunt and presents from my mom....

Christmas X 2

We had 2 Christmas events with Mark's family. Once Sunday with his sister and her family, then they went out of town. The next was on Christmas day with his brother and family.... minus Michael and Aunt Becky. Michael has pneumonia and ended up in the hospital with seizures.... not a fun Christmas!!! We are praying he will get out tomorrow after spending Christmas Eve and christmas day and today there, many tests and other fun events for the poor little guy. We are hoping to all get together again on Sunday!

Time for some parties!
























TK got a dollhouse/bookshelf from her Nana & Papa, built by Dad! We didn't know what she would think of the dollhouse, so decided on the multi-functional option. So far, though it is a big hit!

My mil & me!

Christmas Service

Getting ready for the christmas service at church..... which AJ was not apart of, since they moved classrooms and he didn't want to do the change, I can't believe how big these kids are!!

This kid's hair looks like this everyday when he gets out of bed.... I finally got a pic of it!

sneak peek

He got the sewing machine and loved it.... now I need to make a trip to the fabric store!

snow day

Snowy snowy day..... with the perfect cup of mocha. Not quite a pepermint mocha twist, but quite divine in its own. Since we are not going anywhere given the foot of snow that is coming down and everything is closing.

AJ

AJ went in yesterday for a little minor surgery to fix a mess up on the original circ. Can I just take a moment to vent about this...... I hate circ! Seriously if I had read more and done more research about this I think I would have been more adament about this not happening a long time ago, so now we would be stuck in a situation where adhesions occour. I have found many many website dedicated to not cutting and how much more mainstream it is becoming.

Everything went fine and he pretty much laughed the whole time, which I wish could be said about me. Mark said I just freaked out - well that's what happens when I feel out of control (:

Santa's Reindeer

We went with some friends to a little village to visit the shops and take a ride on the train. We waited in line to get this lovely pic..... but then decided not to wait in line for Santa. The giant nutcracker (TK's hates those) standing at the door to "Santa's house" was one big reason and the freezing temps were another. The train ride was great.... both kids fell asleep! Next time, we now know, we can get early tickets on line!!

little piece of heaven

Uncle John and Aunt Annell also have a central vac.... AJ couldn't have been more impressed. That is until he realized he couldn't see the "fuzzies" at the end of the vacuuming!

Couple more.... TK didn't think this helmet was anything nice, so that's why there are no shots of her!

Thanksgiving Trip

Picture taking is not my area of expertise... so this pretty much sums up my shots!

Uncle John showed AJ one of his toys....

Could this kid be any happier...

TK with her new friend ~

Today

Mark mentioned yesterday that I do not handle change well. This is an understatement! Change of any sort is a huge process to me. Today was a lot for me, which is why I venting my feelings at the computer at this hour!

Today was the first day back to work after a week off and a huge trip to visit family. Today was also the first day at the new day care provider. Today was also the day that TK fell off the couch and broke her clavicle. I'm so glad today is over!!