I hope everyone had a merry Christmas! We sure did. Some of the things I usually do did not get done this year like making Christmas cookies..but we had a really nice Christmas. Christmas Eve we went to Chili's and came home to watch Its a Wonderful Life. I love that movie and of course Brad and I cried as always...my sensitive husband! It really reminded me of what I really care about. I don't want to be wrapped up in my house and car or even clothes defining who I am. I miss the old house some, but the truth is home is where ever my family is. I think my generation has their priorities out of whack...not excluding myself from that BUT I know what really matters and that is what I am going to focus on. I do not believe success is measured in what kind of home you have or even how much money you make. Its about appreciating and loving your family and friends and having lots of laughs, too. So my new year's resolution is going to be focus on my family and praising God for my many blessings now and the many to come.

ANYWAY.. Christmas was wonderful. We went to my parents and got to see my brother and his family which is always nice. My niece and nephews are such sweet children..I really wish I could see them more and have a chance to get to know them better. With them living in New York its a little difficult, but someday I am going to visit when Noah is a little older.

Brad and I watched Facing the Giants Christmas night. It was such a blessing to watch that movie and deeply touched both of us. The message of the movie was actually just what Brad and I needed..so I am thankful for that.

Nana and Papa Olin came over yesterday and spent some time with the kids. Noah had fun playing with Nana. He did fall down and bust his bottom lip terribly though. Sometimes what he wants to do is about 10 steps ahead of what he is able to do. We had fun though.

Today we all went to church and are planning to make it a regular thing on Sunday again. Its easy to get out of the habit. After church we took Alex to Zumiez so he could get a new board set up with the wheels he got from my brother and sister in law. It was a cool board..I'll put a picture on later of him with it. Noah is obsessed with skateboards and wanting to be just like Alex..so he loved the store. We actually got him a little board from Academy a few weeks ago and we let him play with it on the carpet with LOTS of supervision.

So its been a tough year, but still a good year..I have a wonderful family and God has blessed me with their health and wonderful spirits..I am excited and looking forward to 2009....except for the fact I'll be 35 in a few weeks...that is so weird!

Christmas Party

Tonight we had our play group Christmas party. It was a potluck party and I made baked artichokes which my mom got me the recipe off Martha Stewart. Martha Stewart said it was always her family's favorite. We had fun! Noah had soooo much fun with his little baby friends and I participated in the white elephant gift exchange...it was fun and I love what I ended up with. The food was awesome and I had the best cheesecake I have ever had in my life...and I have had a lot. The lady that made it used to be a chef and she was really cool..I hope we become friends..she was funny. Anyways, here's some pictures and one from Cam's concert and a few from when Brad brought Noah home a giant teddy bear!

Thank goodness, Noah's happy little personality is back! He must have just felt awful that day. Its funny that Brad and I were actually worried that his whole personality had drastically changed. Not to say he's perfect...he loves to turn the channel just when you get really interested in something on TV...he looks at you with this little devilish grin while he's doing it, too. Yesterday he got a package from UPS. One of Brad's clients that moved away sent it to him...a drum. Its a really cool one and he loves it...kind of like a bongo type drum.

Last night Cameron's friend, Travis spent the night with us. The kids got out early and we went to CiCi's. You should have seen Noah. His face was enough to turn someone against pizza forever...of course I just thought it was cute (only a mother!). Noah and I went to walmart last night and got stocking stuffers and some ingredients I needed for Christmas. Its was a mad house....yuck! When I got home I made a homemade chicken soup. I'm a really good soup maker..it was yummy. I heard Brad at 4:30 this morning go into Cam's room and apparently he was still up! Travis was asleep, but not Cameron!! So I am about to wake him up..I don't want him to get on a weird schedule during the break.

Christmas is at my house this year..I am so excited..finally. Brad and I were not going to exchange gifts, but thank God he couldn't resist! I know everything I got, because he's a terrible liar. I'm going to try and wrap today, make Christmas cookies with Cam, and my play group has a holiday party tonight. Busy..busy!

Where did Noah's halo go?

Okay, so Noah has been a little difficult this week and is throwing all of us off. First of all he has not felt well, so maybe that plays a part. I met up with an old friend and her 5 month old baby and Noah was driving me crazy! He usually loves the play area, but he kept walking right out of it and pointing to his stroller. He seemed very worried about his shoes not being on his feet. So when we went to the food court, I got him chicken nuggets and waffle fries and after a little while of chatting with my friend I looked over and he had been THROWING his fries! I was so embarrassed...but she was so sweet so I wasn't too worried. Today he has started tantrums. I got my trusty parenting a toddler book out and did some reading on it. Don't get me wrong, he is still the sweetest boy in the universe who loves to give lots of hugs and kisses! But I guess its time for a little tough toddler love!!!!!!!!!!

Cameron had his winter band concert this week. He did great. Its amazing how much they have improved since the last time. I was very proud and so was he. Noah did not attend this function. My parents came and really enjoyed it, except my dad lost his balance going up the crowded steep bleachers and almost fell onto a little boy. It was funny.

Well, thank goodness the break is here after tomorrow. No alarm clocks for another 2 weeks. Noah will sleep until 9:00, so I am excited. That's funny, I remember a time long ago, up before 12:00 was early. Getting old is weird. Christmas is finally almost here and I have not wrapped a gift. Its been tough with the move and everything. Oh, well..I'm doing my best! I'm just happy when I lay down at night to go to sleep I still have a pulse!

too darn tired to type!

We made over $800 in the yard sale!!!! After we split it with Kelly, who helped me entirely with it..we made enough to cover what we spent on the little foster children we shopped for last night for Christmas presents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've been up since 5:00 and feel like I could sleep a week........which means I'll be so tired I won't sleep at all tonight! Oh, well..I feel blessed with the amount we made and feel great about how we spent it:)

Noah saw Santa at the mall today. I love The Shops at Willow Bend..no lines. We were third. Actually we got there just as Santa was taking his milk and cookies break so we had to wait an hour. We got a decent picture, but Noah was not fond of Santa. He looked at me like, "Mommy, why are you handing me to this weirdo?!?" I can't believe how expensive it has gotten to get a mall picture with Santa Claus. They had all these packages.. we got two 3'5's and it was $20.00. Rediculous.

After Santa, we met our play group at the play area so Noah had fun playing on the steak and eggs. He is so cute. He watches the older children in complete awe and eventually starts following them. He adores his older brothers. If they shut their doors, he knocks until they open them! I'm so happy he loves them so much.


Brad canceled drill because it was too cold and windy, so we had some nice family time. Cameron, Noah and Brad wrestled around on the floor while I cooked chili. I'm a great chili maker. It was nice to have a rare complete family meal.


Tonight I watched Bad Girls Club. Love that show. The third season started last week...so fun to watch a train wreck when its not your own! That is just wrong! Oh, well...I'm falling asleep..better go:)

Got the tree up!

We finally got the Christmas tree up today. Cameron put all the ornaments on himself and it looks very pretty. Cameron loves putting the ornaments on the tree! I am so relieved that I can mark that one off my very LONG list of things to do. We put the play yard around it so Noah doesn't mess it, but he seems pretty uninterested in it. Now I just have to wrap some presents!On Friday Brad bought Alex a new skateboard. He was so happy. You would think skateboarding is a pretty cheap sport but you would be surprised. That skateboard was $165. Not cheap..and the decks break in half very easily. So he skated all weekend. I thought it was really sweet for Brad to want to get that for Alex.

Friday night we all watched the movie Fred Claus. It was really cute and funny. Other than that, not a lot except helping Cameron with his research paper on Abraham Lincoln. Big Fun. We have a busy week ahead of us so I am trying just to take each day as it comes and not get so mentally overwhelmed. I tend to do that!

I am so happy to have the tree up. It really makes me happy and always brings me back to my childhood memories of Christmas. I am going to enjoy it and not think at all about what a pain its going to be to put it all away!

Not a whole lot has been going on here lately except the usual insanity. JK. Yesterday instead of working out Noah and I went to our play group. We had a good time. I'm starting to get to know the moms and they are all so nice. Noah had fun for about an hour, then he got really cranky so we went home. Last night we had church. I'm really enjoying small group again and the kids had fun too. It was so cute, when Noah saw me when I was picking him up, he just burst into laughter. It feels so good to be unconditionally loved.


Here is a picture of us before play group and one of Noah mastering the technique of feeding himself with a fork with no help. He was so proud! So was Mommy:)