What lies ahead?

Now that I have reflected on the past year, I think about the next year ahead...2010...and although I am excited for a New Year, I am apprehensive of some major changes, some we know about and some we probably don't. The road last year was not easy to travel, but we still took the climb and were able to see God's blessings. As the new year is here, I am not making any resolutions (eat better, lose weight, etc.) Instead, I am focusing on some personal goals and goals as a family. I begin to think about my goals and am excited about some time for K and I to sit down without distractions in the near future to look at our goals together. It is with this intention that we will have a better vision as to what lies ahead of us this new year and will be stronger in reaching our goals. It is my prayer that God will lead us, guide us, and shelter us through this next year! Happy New Year to you and may God bless you this year!

Reflections

As the New Year is here, I reflect on God's goodness of 2009. We were blessed with so much!

• The new year began with the birth of my healthy precious baby girl
• God has provided for us financially...even though it wasn't easy we survived...my lack of pay for 6 wks while I was on maternity leave, K's changing of jobs, and more financial trials
• great health for entire family
• my job which I LOVE is thriving even though we face economic hard times and budget cuts
• were able to spend quality family time together at the beach on 2 occasions, one with extended family
• celebrated CR's turning 4 by making a dream come true for him...visiting Mickey's boat and house
• answered prayers for family members and their health
• being led to join a new church were God is working in our lives
• K and I being more aware of our need to grow in our relationship together and with God
• This year, although I am thankful for all the above, I am most thankful for our wonderful family that does so much for us and for the AWESOME friends we have....our lives are richer because we have you! You will never know how much you bless our lives and I don't know what we would do without our family and friends!

Christmas....Come and Gone

I know you have heard it said time and time again "it is hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone", but this year with two kids, I REALLY feel this way. We enjoyed our time together celebrating and making memories to last forever!

*I always post pictures backwards...you would think I would have the hang of it by now...sorry for the random order.

The mess from our real tree...not to mention that we all have been sick since it has been up. I thought I was going to cry when I was on my hands and knees for 2 hrs. cleaning up this mess

It was a pretty tree though, and we had so much fun going to cut it down, but I am afraid it will not happen again. No, these are not all our gifts...they are all of our gifts from extended family to each other

Baby C on Christmas morning opening her presents from Santa

One of CR's most exciting gifts...thanks Nana and Pop

and his other...thanks Mema and Granda

Baby C got into the gift opening more than I expected. It was so fun to watch her get excited about it all.

and climb on her boxes

and open gifts...this was her fav wrapping...it had "K" on it, as she calls him (Mickey)

It was fun having CR around in the kitchen for our baking day too (well he stayed around for some of it). He was so excited to help and did a really good job.

My kiddos nestled in mommy and daddy's bed in the morning after getting up watching cartoons and eating Cheerios.

Baby C enjoyed Christmasville too, even though we froze!

CR wore this same outfit (minus the girly shirt) when he was 14 months old...she is only 11 months...amazing at the difference in size of them. She is going to catch up with her "bubbie" soon if CR doesn't start putting some meat on those bones.

Reading about Santa's coming

CR and his BFF's at Christmasville

Great pics!

Thanks to a former college roommate, I was able to knock out several birds with one stone the weekend before last...Christmas pics, baby C 9 month pics, and cousin pics for K's mom for Christmas (per her request...hence the TN clothes in some...although I refuse to post many of those). Anyways...thanks Tyler...they are GREAT! It was great to catch up with you too...we have got to get together more often!

*These are not all of them...of the 164...these are just a few...

Only 2 months away!!

How can it be that we are only 2 months (well less than that now) before baby C isn't a baby anymore?! She is growing and changing so much these days.

-Eating is a fave...but you still have NO teeth...we are singing "all we want for Christmas is baby C's 2 front teeth". You love to feed yourself and can pick up the smallest pieces of food and get it into your mouth...and well sometimes not food too (we have to be on the lookout)

-You still love to do your funny face (above pic)

-Mommy is still your favorite person, yet you LOVE Daddy, bubbie, Mema, Granda, Pop, Nana, and Grammie. You love to give kisses to us!

-Staying at Mema's and Granda's is already becoming a fun thing for you...so much that you sometimes don't want to leave...maybe all the popsicles and such factor into this

-Discovering how to talk is neat for you...I think you are going to be a talker too...you can say "hey", Mama, dada, buba, & trying more and more every day

-Getting into bathrooms is so fun for you...you love to try to sneak into there and try to get to the toliet...does this mean that you are going to potty train easily?

-Baby food is a thing of the past...you throw your arms up and make a ugly face when you are tried to make eat it...although I can't say I blame you

-You can't stand shoes and have tried to leave them behind several places.

-Although you seem to be very independent and head strong, you have such a sweet gentle spirit too...I LOVE YOU SWEET GIRL!

Sights of Christmas

Getting ready for Christmas is in full force in our house...below are some our latest doings to get ready for our favorite time of the year. I think after 3 trees and inside and outside decorations, we are done. Now if only I were finished shopping...I hope to be soon so I can enjoy Christmas without the hustle and bustle.

CR all tuckered out from the decorating...he had such a good time helping this year and did a great job
Baby C even liked to help...especially the lights...can't say she was as much a good helper as CR

Our 12 ft live tree...I am so excited to have a live tree again (a staple in our house growing up) but haven't had one since we have been married...K agreed this year...see our adventure below

Baby C had a great time searching for the tree but by this point she was D-O-N-E...it was beyond nap time

CR could have stayed out here with his favorite dog all day. Every time we saw a tree he always found a reason to keep looking

The fam and our tree

Here it comes down...we had to do some modifications of course to get it in the house, but not much

It smells SO good...so nice to have that real smell again

CR and his buddy

CR had to take a time out in "his deer stand"...really it is his and Granda's (he even has a chair in it he brought on his last hunting trip)

The boys &Max looking for the perfect tree

See I told you she liked it...really she talked and squealed at Max and the woods the entire time til the end

Okay...so not Christmas...but had to include...we had a great Thanksgiving too. We have SO much to be Thankful for. Baby C enjoyed it too...she ate, and ate, and ate...above she is finally done...and ready to relax!

CR (and this other girl) was asked to help be Santa's helper at the grand opening of Santa's Village at Bass Pro a few weeks ago. He thought it was awesome (and well so did I). He got to be the first to meet Santa and sit with him.

Bass Pro tree...yeah mine doesn't look this good...they must have something good to help them decorate it

Santa arrives at Bass Pro in nothing other than...a Bass boat

Spotting Santa

Disney...Finally

Just as long as it took for the trip to finally get here, so it is now taking me to get pics posted! Please excuse the random order...I was just doing good sorting through all 600 of them and getting them posted. Below are some of my favorites!

CR was so eager to ride "The Barnstormer" roller coaster until he got on it...then it was hold on to Dada for dear life.
Mommy and CR on the classic Magic Kingdom ride..."It's A Small World"...still a favorite after so many years

Taking a time out from the beach to spend some time with Mickey at Castaway Cay (Disney's private island). It was such a neat island...K and I offered to stay to live and help keep it up.

From the words of a favorite song from the Zac Brown Band..."Got my toes in the water...life is good today..."

"The gang" waiting to board the ship. The boys were so excited that we were doing any and everything to keep them entertained until they would let us on.

A trip to the Bahamas would not be complete without 2 things...a trip to Senor Frogs (shortened and kid friendly version this time) and going to our "infamous" beach. Don and Regina...we thought of you...the moon came out in your honor (I will send you a pic).

One of my favorite things about cruising...the beautiful sunsets...I could have set out here all night...but not...I was getting dragged by a 4 year old to go see some characters

The castle at night...a neat sight

and day...still a neat sight...can't wait to take Baby C to the "Bibbity Bobbity Boutique" when she gets older

At the parade...it was SO hot...we got stuck sitting in the sun and thought we were going to melt. It was so worth it though...so AWESOME...I chose this pic b/c it was the celebration float...our total reason for going to the Magic Kingdom...CR's birthday (and the fact that he got in free b/c of that).

A barber shop group singing Happy Birthday to CR while waiting on the parade to start

We have ears...say cheers! Happy Birthday little man...he heard this I know 50 times this day from everyone that worked at Magic Kingdom...the thought it was the coolest thing

Visiting Mickey and Minnie's houses...he thought these were cool

Having a blast in the tea cups...can't say I was...can't stand to be dizzy anymore like I used to before 2 yrs ago

On the trolley into the Magic Kingdom...this pic captures the moment when he realized where he was. We didn't tell him we were going here. The morning started out by us telling him that we were just going to MacDonald's for breakfast and a play park for his birthday. He was so beside himself when he realized where we were. I may never forget what he said..."Mickey Mouse boat and Mickey Mouse house in one trip?! What the world?!"

Taking a moment for ourselves on the beach...the weather was perfect this day...can't say the same about the FL weather before we got on the ship and the first day we were on board/Bahamas...not so sure I like cruising in the Fall...not the same

The day we got to FL we went to Kennedy Space Center...cool stuff...I was excited to see it all since I haven't been since I was 10...CR really liked it too. This is the transporter they had just finished carrying the shuttle to the launch pad with a few days prior, getting the shuttle ready for its next mission on 11/15

A look at the shuttle on the launch pad from afar of course...camera zoomed in to its fullest...still a neat site...I would love to be down there for launch day one time...I think that would be really neat

A very nice crew member (we won't mention names since we are not supposed to) found out that it was CR's birthday trip and arranged for him (with 2 other families) to have a private meet and greet with the characters...this was AWESOME! What a lucky little boy!

CR dancing with Donald at the private meet and greet...the day prior Donald found out that it was CR's birthday and he got some of the people on the boat to sing Happy Birthday to him

The coolest thing ever...fireworks while at sea! During our Pirates in the Caribbean Party, fireworks were shot from the top of the ship...amazing!

My little pirate all ready for the Pirate night

Getting back on board after a wonderful day on the island of Castaway Cay

CR's first spotting of his main man...Mickey. We were just walking around checking out the ship after lunch and CR yells Mickey...he saw him from far away and took off running...it was all K and I could do to catch up

Captain Jack Sparrow's ship from Pirate's in the Caribbean movie...such a neat site

Pretty enough to be a postcard...but it was taken with my camera...I wondered upon this site on my way back from the bathroom at Castaway Cay...I wish I could stay here forever! This was such a nice and long awaited trip. CR had the best birthday ever...I don't know how we will ever top this one!