Happy New Year

and Merry Christmas too! I'm a little late but better late than never. Happy New year! We had a great Christmas, the girls got tons of toys/clothes and Santa brought a bounce house. I think the family gift of the Wii is a bigger hit! I never thought my husband, who is not a game person, would be so into this game system. Let me tell you, it's a fight nearly to see who gets to play, with all of us. Even Meg is playing. How sad is this! But it is fun! I'm so glad we got it.

Here are a few pics...

Ella just loved the paper and the boxes.

Lauren made out, between the bounce house, Wii, and ipod and an American Girl doll. There's nothing left. And except for the house, none of that was from us, all other family! Can we say spoiled!

Meg had a Dora Christmas, most things were Dora and she loves it all. She is such a joy to watch open presents, because she opens each one and truly looks at it and of course wants to start playing with it but she just takes the entire thing in and gets the biggest smile on her face!

Those were just a few pics. We had a great Christmas, all of our family from both sides were in town and we loved seeing everyone. My grandfather did pass away on the 23rd and the funeral was Monday but the good thing was that he wasn't suffering anymore, he had a heart attack in October, and my Mimi passed away two years ago, so they are together with Jesus. It's a bittersweet time.

Happy New Year! first I wanted to celebrate the high points from 2008 and then tell you my goals for 2009!

1. Blessed with one more pregnancy and welcomed Baby Ella to our Family in July.

2. Celebrated being married to Nate for 10 years in August! I don't know why he puts up with me!

3. Took Lauren on our first Mother Daughter weekend to Pine Cove.

4. Enjoyed the blossoming of many friendships.

5. Attending my granddad's funeral where they sang the most beautiful songs my uncle wrote and truly imagined him and my mimi embracing and celebrating in Heaven.

Goals for 2009! I like the one word idea from Ali Edwards, you scrappers know what i mean. So i am praying about my one word for the year. I have a few in mind but I will nail this down by tomorrow.

1. Be positive! Not talking negative, so if you hear me keep me accountable.

2. Run half marathon.

3. Walk closer to God, includes reading the bible through, I will try this again. I think I try it every year but last year I really didn't get far. New Year, New try!

4. Save Save Save, not spending on unnecessary items.

5. More quality time with the girls together and individually.

6. Last but certainly not least, to be the best wife I can be. Do as much for Nate as I can and to not be the drippy faucet. Truly aiming for the Proverbs 31 women.

WATCH THIS - Evolution of Dance

Stress Relief

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg

Go check out this video.

Are you 'Mazed'

I haven't had a chance to blog much this week, so I'm going to catch up on the weeks events.

First off, last weekend we took the girls to Grapevine's Polar Express. We did this a couple of years ago and it was lots of fun so we thought they would enjoy it, especially since Meg really has never been on it. They get you so pumped up before you get on the train with singing and dancing and all sorts of fun, then we go to get on the train. Meg was so funny, she got on and kept saying "Mommy this is mazing, mommy this train is so mazing!" It was so sweet, and like I've said in previous posts I love seeing things through the eyes of my children. She was enthralled by the entire experience and to get to ride the train was such fun for her. Lauren of course had fun too, she was actually with a birthday party too so she was having her own fun with her other friends and kids. Santa of course was on the train and M just couldn't take her eyes off him. So, it was lots of fun. Love the atmosphere at nighttime on the train.

Then Saturday Nate and his dad flew out to Atlanta to watch our nephew, Daniel, play football in the state championships played at the Georgia Dome. They won! They all had a great time! Nate doesn't get away much so I'm glad he got to go. They even flew first class! :)

Sunday was the girls Christmas Choir program at church. Lauren did great singing and Meg and her age group had their own little segment. Of course I had to give her the "i don't want to see any skin" speech. She did great, she kept waving to me and looking behind her pretty much the entire time but at least she kept her clothes where they should be.

Then this week we got hit with the stomach bug for Lauren, hopefully no one else will get it. That took us all out for a day, which I had a feeling someone was about to get sick. It never fails though, L is always sick on a holiday and last year she was sick on the day of her xmas party at school. Luckily she was much better today and she went so she didn't miss the party, just Santa. Santa flew in on the helicopter to see the kids yesterday. Oh well, maybe next year. Anyway, I have been going full speed ahead these past couple of weeks and I just had a thought this week about God allowing the children to get sick to slow me down. yep, I guess we all needed a day together.

The weather this week has kept me in though, baking and cleaning. I think I am finally done xmas shopping and errands and now I hope to just sit back and enjoy this next week. All our family is coming in starting this weekend. Can't wait for Christmas Eve Service at our church, it is usually wonderful and gets you in the spirit of Christmas. Today I was just reveling all day in the Spirit of Christmas. The song Happy Birthday Jesus came on the radio and Meg started singing with it and it just brought tears to my eyes. We made cookies yesterday and today and I keep trying to instill in Megan that it's not all about Santa, cause she is all about Santa. She thinks we are only making cookies for Santa. Hopefully it will sink in with her that this is Jesus Birthday, he came down from Heaven to save us! He humbled himself to sacrifice himself for us, so we could be in Heaven with Him! Just Mazing! So what do you believe? Do you believe in the true Spirit of Christmas? Do you believe in Jesus? Take a moment and be amazed by the beauty and the joy of Christmas. Stop rushing around, stop stressing out none of that matters. Jesus is all that matters. Be 'mazed'!

Christmas Ornaments

This is from Cristi. What are my favorite ornaments and why? Well, first of all I am not very sentimental when it comes to ornaments. But these are the few I really like...

I have a crystal tree, we started collecting Swarovski annual ornaments when we were dating, so I have every year up until the last 3. My MIL used to give them to us for xmas but she doesn't anymore and we just haven't bought them. So I need to catch up on them. Anyway, I really enjoy my crystal ornaments and the children and great, they know not to touch this tree. Although i did hang them higher this year.

I have tried to do handprint ornaments with each of the girls but Ella's is the only one that actually turned out decent.

This one reminds me of our "early" years when Nate worked at Home Depot part time. They gave the employees this ornament. We still hang it. Plus Nate is always at Home Depot, his favorite store.

Shaughnessy, westhighland terrier, was my dog when I lived at home. when we got married He came to live with us. We gave him away 2 years ago, he was getting very old and anyway, it was time. But even though people think I don't like dogs cause I did that, I do and I have several ornaments for him that we still hang.

This one if a favorite when Lauren was 2 she dressed up as Dorothy for Halloween and her cousin Eric was the Lion. My mom found this ornament at Hallmark. Love it!

That's it.

Megan Mania

We had Meg's Christmas Program last night for her MDO. We have this program every year. Last year Meg just stood on the stage in the sanctuary and didn't move or sing. So I thought ok, 3 is still pretty young she will probably do the same thing. Well, I should have known better. I should have known, when i dropped her off in her classroom and she was so wound up she wouldn't even stand still for a picture. She had this ivory colored tulle skirt and ivory shirt on with leggings. She apparently thought she was the "twirling"princess because in the classroom she kept lifting up her skirt to twirl. I specifically told her, do not lift your skirt on the stage.

So the sweet little program gets started, there is a cute video of all the babies and the ones. Then the 2's go up there and sing. Then the three turn. Since Meg is so short of course she is on the front row. All they have to do is sing three songs and get off the stage. Well, First song, Meg is twirling her arms around like a windmill the entire time. Barely singing and of course not doing any of the hand gestures. Second song, she decides to stick her hands down the back of her skirt. The entire time i am on the floor (mortified of course) right in front trying to take cute pictures and motioning for her to get her hands out. She just looks at me and smiles. Like, ha, I'm up here and you are down there and there is nothing you can do about it. It seems like everybody is laughing, we were ROTF ourselves. Anyway, it gets better, by the third song she decides to lift her shirt up. Everyone got a good shot of her belly and button cause she left it up the entire song! Now I'm really mortified and laughing so hard I'm crying. Why does this have to be my child? She is not supposed to do things like this! Where is the modesty? UGH!!! I can feel the gray hairs popping out now! Then today several people call, great show last night of meg. And then the best one, i have pictures for you Suzie, great! And they are zoomed in. Great! Thanks Jen! At least, I found this out later, there was another kid with his hands in his pants too! I feel so much better now. I'd show you pics put they aren't zoomed in so maybe another time.

Tree Farm

Today we want to a Tree Farm. It was so windy and a bit chilly, but the children didn't seem to mind. They had fun, running all around, jumping in the bounce house and climbing to the sky on the hay pyramid. I know M is really little but you don't realize how little they are sometimes until they are around all these other kids their age and then stand them next to a sign, like the one below. She is for sure the pint!

Can you see meg?

According to the Grinch only about 2 inches. She's not even 3 feet!

The kids were all over this wagon and we just told them to move to the front (or back) and they posed themselves so great!

Thanks guys, we had fun! Even if it was a bit windy!