Take More Pictures

Here is proof that I'm already doing what I can to meet my New Year's Resolutions . . .

I finally got a camera that takes the shot when I want it too.
Here is Gracie licking her nose.

Grandma making homemade Chicken and Dumplings for Christmas.

Dad opening presents and showing his great fashion sense.

Hunkahubby with his new Kiss cologne.
(Yes, that band with the guys in makeup. ha ha)

Christmas morning after Santa had been to our house.

The kitties were visited by Santa Paws.

"I ain't got no body." - Max

What's your New Year's Resolution?

I think my New Year's Resolution will be to actually try and KEEP my New Year's Resolutions. :-) Every year, we all get all hyped up in January about the new things we are going to do to better ourselves and by February we've all fallen back into the same old rut. I am really praying for 2008 to be different for me.

I accomplished a lot this year and due to some things finally being completed - I should be able to focus and actually complete some new things in 2008.

My New Year's Resolutions for 2008:
1. Update my blog every day (at the least, 2x per week). [gotta give myself an out]
2. Lose 50 pounds. For my health and my own well-being.
3. Exercise at least 3x per week. No excuses.
4. Find things to inspire me and then let the inspiration run wild.
5. Try out at least one new recipe per month.
6. Re-learn to sew. Yes, I'm turning into a happy homewrecker.
7. Teach an online class if possible.
8. Spend more time with my kids.
9. Have a date night at least once per month with my hubby.
10. Read more books. Especially my Bible.
11. Take more pictures - and learn how to do it correctly (I got a new camera.)
12. Sing more, yell less.
13. Keep my resolutions all year long . . .

Well, with that list, I'm bound to make it on a few of them, right??

I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas and have a wonderful New Year.

What are your resolutions???

The catch up Blog

Okay - so I've been bad about updating . . . again.

I have to say that being done with school is a really big relief (until I start getting those bills . . .). I feel like I have a lot more time to be creative. I've been baking a lot and doing crafty things with the kids.

The 13th was my birthday and I spent it with my hubby and kids. Hunkahubby made me a chocolate cake with caramel icing (Grandma's recipe). It was yummy. They also got me lots of cool gifts - one of which, I have to share with you here . . .



Yes - I got a Cabbage Patch Kid. But not just any Cabbage Patch Kid. A special edition that also has a CARE BEAR inside. Yes - I admit that I am a child of the 80s and I was very excited when I opened this present. :-) It's staying in the box.

My honey also made me one of my favorite meals - steak with cheese and mushrooms and MASHED TATERS. Woohoo!!! I got to have lima beans too which was a big sacrifice, because he doesn't like them and I do. I have a wonderful husband.

My kids and I also made Christmas cookies the other night. It was a lot of fun and I finally learned to step back after giving them icing instructions and just let them create - they did a surprisingly good job. Here is some of their "work":



They had a blast. We already saved 3 cookies for Santa. :-)

Today my Dad and brother and families are coming to our house for Christmas. We have never had Christmas at our house and I am excited. I will post some pictures later. We got my Dad a rather large gift - and I actually wrapped it. Should be a fun day.

I'll end this post with this quote:

"If you ever start feeling like you have the goofiest, craziest, most dysfunctional family in the world, all you have to do is go to a state fair. Because five minutes at the fair, you'll be going, 'you know, we're alright. We are dang near royalty.'"

-Jeff Foxworthy

I love our friends!!

Tonight was our small group Christmas get together. We had such a great time. I promised to put up pictures of Don, Karen, and Christopher - so that is what I will do.

We had a ton of snacky food (including way too much sugar, several of us love to bake.) We had devotion and prayer time - (Thanks, Don, YOU ROCK!) Then we had our "White Elephant" gift exchange. It wasn't as competitive as I thought it was going to be - but it was still fun.

The MOST WANTED gift was a singing/gobbling/walking Christmas Turkey.

Jennifer stole it and got to keep it. :-)

Here is a picture of Christopher (Jennifer's husband)

Here is Karen

And here is Don (Karen's hubby and our fearless "leader")

We had a great time and I know we are BLESSED that God brought this group of people together. We know that any of us would do whatever we could to help the others out. I am so thankful for each and every one of them.

And now a few more pictures . . .

Scott with Ronnie, Alex, and Baby Grace.

Baby Grace in full belly heaven.

Oh - and I forgot to mention that Ruth and Little Ronnie made me a birthday cake. This was a huge thing for me because Ruth DOES NOT like to cook, bake, etc. I was very touched that she took the time to do this for me. They put candles on the cake and sang to me and I was very appreciative. It was a wonderful thing to feel loved by such a great group of people.

Yes - tomorrow I will be 32 years old. And I'm okay with that.

Have a great evening everyone!!

Christmas Lights

Have I mentioned how much I love Christmas? Well, I already showed you the inside of our house. Now I want to show you what I WISH the outside of our house looked like.

I love Christmas Lights. When I was little, we used to drive around for hours looking at Christmas lights. Now, I make my kids suffer through it.

With all the computerized options these, days - people come up with some pretty cool things. So here is a list of the top ten computerized Christmas Displays and the beginning of a dream for my house at Christmas someday . . . (don't tell my husband, he's terrified I'll make him into a Griswald.)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I wanted to post some pictures of our house at Christmas. We love Christmas and my husband loves to decorate for Christmas, so I thought I'd share some pictures here.













In other news . . . I am DONE with my Masters Degree!! Finally!!! Now I have no excuse for not updating my blog, eh?