New's Worthy?

Is it really 2009? It seems like only yesterday I was living in the olden days of the 1900's. Well I guess there's no use in complaining about how fast time has gone since there is absolutely nothing I personally can do to change it. I can, however realize how time flies and stop rushing through life and take time to cherish every moment however mundane it may be. I'm not a resolution setter I just get things accomplished when I finally get motivated to do something. This past week I did get motivated and check out the results.......

I am officially a domesticated woman because I have finished my first sewing project. I bought the fabric for these drapes clear back in July and I finally got up the ambition to get 'em done. I have to say they weren't too bad to do and they turned out pretty good(just don't inspect them too closely).

A couple of Saturday's ago we went to...

High School Musical on Ice. I got free tickets but Jason opted out so Lauren invited her friend Shelby to join us. It was a pretty good show but I felt bad because the place was half empty.

There's really not much else to speak of going on in our neck of the woods. Just back to our normal lives and routines after track break and Christmas break- back to complaining about homework and rushing around around in the morning to get ready for school and most importantly back to my 6 hours of freedom which isn't always what it's cracked up to be- it can get too quiet sometimes. Who am I kidding it's wonderful!! O.K it can be a little lonely sometimes, I mean only having to clean up after yourself and shopping with no begging or crying to go. It's obvious I'm torn, so I'll just end my inner struggle now.

OUR CHRISTMAS 2008

A Tribute to the Original, Traditional, One-Hundred-Percent, Red-Blooded, Two-Fisted, All-American Christmas...

Or in other words Christmas as we know it. Everyone has Christmas in their own style and this is ours. A tree full of ornaments with presents nestled beneath that two kids check daily to see just how many hold the letters of their name on the tag.

A brother and sister who deep down know they love each other, even if the daily bickerings never cease......

Crazy and silly moments that keep the family full of laughter...

A mother/daughter combo that is both sweet and sour, but we like to focus on the sweet side of things.

Christmas Eve

A little dude that we sometimes refer to as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde because of his swing in moods. Excited to open a present(happy), mad because he didn't want to open jammies(grouch). Ten minutes of grouch followed by happy again. Not to mention BIG SURPRISE Jace you've gotten jammies on Christmas Eve 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 years in a row now.

Lovely Lauren was overjoyed with her cute jammies and pig slippers.

Christmas Morning

The rustling of bed sheets and the whisper of "mom" first brought me into consciousness. It was Lauren and she was ready for Christmas to start and she had brought along an accomplice to ensure Jason and I had no chance of re-entering dreamland. The clock read 7:45am, and I mumbled something about needing 15 more minutes. Jason sent them back to their rooms for a mere 5 minutes so I could ready the video camera to capture this magical day.

Just to see the joy of Christmas in your child's eyes, the excitement that you once felt experienced again through them. The wondering, the waiting, counting down the days until finally it's all revealed. Then comes the fun of new discoveries and hours of playtime until alas the toys are forgotten but the feelings of Christmas will always remain with them.

Christmas visit to share the joy with family. Sam and Abby(cousins) delight in opening presents that Lauren and Jace chose for them......

Quiet moments alone with your new Nintendo DS compliments of Santa....

Special times spent with Grandma putting together this porcelain doll, then having to wait until Christmas to get her......

Being silly with Grandma and Grandpa and remembering to thank them for all the fun and thoughtful gifts they wrapped up for you......

Fa-ra-ra-ra-ra.....Having Christmas lunch with the family at China-a-go-go and enjoying every minute of not having to cook or clean up on Christmas Day. Thanks again mom and dad for lunch......

Going to all my sisters houses after lunch to check out their spoils and soak up some of their family's Christmas spirit and ending with everyone at our house. Getting to talk to my brother Robert on his mission in Nicaragua, going to the church so Jason and Jace could fly their helicopters in the gym and ending on a high note of Villa Pizza and Dunkin' Donuts for that one of a kind- can't be topped Christmas dinner!

We hope that all of you were able to enjoy your Christmas as much as we did.We are so blessed to be able to enjoy our families and friends at this time of year Thanks for all the cards... they make December my favorite mail month!


Now if we could just do something about this mess!!

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING....

TO GRANDMA AND GRANDPA'S HOUSE

Sunday we had the pleasure of spending the evening with both sides of our family. Our first stop was with Jason's family. His sister Minty made some delicious white chili and potato soup, Rebecca brought chili and we also included rolls and salad with plenty of homemade cookies for dessert. We gathered round for a fun white elephant exchange- which is always entertaining.

Just as we were getting ready to head to my parents house, we had a surprise visitor....
it was none other than the jolly man himself- SANTA!!!

After our visit with Santa we headed over to my parents house for another dinner. We were pretty full already but still managed to eat a small plate of prime rib, turkey, baked potato and bacon wrapped asparagus. Once again my mom decorated the table with cute things including personalized Santa napkins.

We were busy cleaning up after dinner when what to our great surprise...... another knock at the door. Once again Santa had found us and we were treated to another visit from Mr. Claus. Lauren and Jace's cousins were sure glad that he had followed us!!

After another fabulous white elephant exchange, my mom brought out four gifts. She explained that 25 years ago there was this big crazy fascination with these funny looking dolls called Cabbage Patch Kids. She talked about how she and her sister Pam waited in line for hours and kept in contact with any news of where they might find one of these exclusive dolls. Well in honor of Aunt Pam, who passed away last December 10th, she got us four girls one of the 25th Anniversary Cabbage Patch Kids. I opened the one that had red hair just like my first one.

Monday night for family night we built this fabulous gingerbread house. We all worked together and it turned out quite nice. Lauren and Jace enjoyed eating the candy as much as building the house.

Merry Christmas to you all!!!!

SUMMARY

With one week left until Christmas, it was imperative that we dropped off our Santa letters at Macy's tonight. The hooded creature dropping his letter is none other than Jace.

After our visit to the mall we entered the Christmas wonderland at Bellagio. The scent of fresh garland permiated the air. Snowmen, reindeer and toy soldiers brightened our Christmas spirit. It truly is a beautiful, festive delight! (and it's free)

The reindeer were made with Pecans.

On Wednesday our backyard transformed into a winter wonderland, if only for a few hours. It was fun while it lasted but I'm grateful I don't have to deal with snow for months at a time.

Tuesday, Lauren, Jace and I baked cookies. Honestly, this isn't something I enjoy because it's messy and my cookies never taste quite right, but the three of us pulled it off and our cookies were quite yummy- even Jason was impressed!

Tuesday night I went to a cookie exchange and came home with all this sugary goodness!!

Last Thursday Jason scored tickets to NFR and since I had Enrichment that night he took Jace, his friend Rob and my dad. The Charlie Daniel's Band opened the rodeo and he said they saw Randy Couture(UFC) and some famous rodeo guy with his girlfriend Jewel. I probably should have gone but I figured the guys would appreciate it more. Maybe next year. I gave him the camera and told him to take lots of pictures and this is what I got.

Last Wednesday Lauren had an open house at her dance class. They performed a little holiday number that you can check out by clicking the Lauren and Shelby link. Last Monday and Tuesday I had my finals for History of Furniture and Methods and Materials . I'm pleased to announce that I received an A in both classes! I nearly forgot, somewhere in there Lauren lost yet another tooth and the tooth fairy made another stop at our house. That about sums up the excitement for our week. Over and out.

What are you...EWWWW!!!

Lauren: "Mom, how embarrassing, don't kiss dad in front of people"

Jace: "What are you guys doing... gross dad, don't kiss mom, me and Lauren are right here!"

Where did these kids come from?

Don't ask me how these kids turned out so cute, especially considering who their parents are, but they did. Thanks Jen, these pictures were well worth the wait!

Santa's Elves!!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards