Last Post of the Year

Well, the year is almost over. It is time to start a new year. When I was younger, a year seemed to go on forever. Now, the years seem to come and go quickly. I sometimes wonder what changed. The last few years of my life seem to really have gone quickly. It seemed like just yesterday, I was living in Las Vegas, teaching preschool out of my house, and enjoying my family so close to home. I often think of those preschool kids now growing so fast. I keep up with some of them and I am always amazed how much they have changed. Since then, I have moved across the country to Northern Virginia and now to the south in Huntsville, Alabama. How much has changed in just a couple of years. Isn't it funny how we reflect on these things when starting a new year? Well I thought I would post a couple of pictures that ends our year.

For Christmas, Santa brought the kids a trampoline. The kids are loving it. Here, Grandma Bunny is jumping with them. Who knew, she would actually get on the trampoline. You go Grandma! Hunter got a tent and a sleeping bag from his aunt and uncle. He says he wants to put it up on the trampoline and sleep in it on the tramp at night. I don't know about that. We will have to try it out in the playroom instead.
The kid's Aunt Sherri went to China this last year with her daughter. She must have brought these pajamas back with her for the kids. She sent them to us for Christmas. Don't my little Chinese kids look great?

Well, I hope that all of you had a fantastic 2008. This is the time we reflect on our year and what we can do to make the next year better. I have set many goals for myself for the next year. I am going to do my best to achieve them all. I hope that you will do the same. Please have a tremendous Happy New Year. See ya in 2009.

Christmas Festivities

The day before Christmas, we always make cookies for Santa. Here is Emilee hard at work. Megan and Hunter are hard at work frosting the cookies. They want to eat them right away, but they will have to wait. We always set our favorites aside for Santa, give some out, and eat the rest.

Emilee and Megan showing the plate they have prepared for Santa. We hope he likes them.

Here is the tree after Santa came. The kids want to know so bad what is in the big present. Megan thinks she knows.

Megan got a telescope from Santa. This is just one of the things Santa gave her. She wanted a big High School Musical Doll House. We told her Santa knew we didn't have room for such a big toy.

Last year Emilee got pajama Bratz Dolls. They were dressed in fuzzy robes and fuzzy slippers so I thought they were OK. This year she wanted a house for them. She was happy Santa brought it for her. (It is a lot smaller then the one Megan wanted)

Hunter is usually easy to please. He wants everything. Must be the age.

The kids got a big present from Santa. They wanted to open it first. We told them they had to wait. When they opened it, they were very glad to see a trampoline. We spent a good part of the day putting it up. (I don't know why Santa didn't do it himself. He is suppose to me magic) The kids were so excited. Later I will post some pictures of the event.

This is the night before Christmas. The kids just received their pajamas from the pajama elves and are ready to go to bed. See ya in the morning.

We had a very good Christmas. After having 2 weeks of rain and fog here in Huntsville, AL, we were excited to have a beautiful sunny Christmas Day. What a good year it has been. It started out a little shaky, with Jeremy's dad's passing and with the move here and all the ups and downs with it. The kids have made many friends, they enjoy their teachers, and we as a family are doing well. We are all excited to start a new year. We hope you are as well.

Santa's Village

Tonight we took the kids to Santa's Village. There is a museum in downtown Huntsville called, "Constitution Village". It is kind of a hands on outdoor/indoor museum. (A little like Colonial Williamsburg, Va. but on a smaller scale) During the month of December, they dress it up like Santa's Village. They have crafts, cookie making, games, lights to look at, and many other activities to do. It is really cute. The kids enjoyed themselves a lot. Santa and Mrs. Claus are there as well, but since we already visited Santa, we decided not to wait in the long, long, long, line. The kids thought that was OK for them. It gave them more time to spend elsewhere. It was fun. Take a look at the slide show below and enjoy the visit with us.

Santa's Village

11 years. WOW!!!

Jeremy and I just celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary yesterday. Can you believe it? We have been married for 11 years now. It seems like just yesterday that we were married. I have to say that it has been a good 11 years. It is nice to know that I married my best friend.
Well, the evening on the 19th Jeremy and I were getting ready to go to dinner and before we left I was telling the kids that the playroom and their bedrooms better be cleaned when I got back that night. Little did I know that I wasn't coming back that night. After dinner, we started driving up HWY 72 and we kept going and going and going. About 45 min later we ended up at a lodge called, "Joe Wheeler State Park Resort Lodge" Above is a picture of where we stayed. He already had a bag packed in the car for us. Jeremy did this once before, about 10 years ago. It was our first anniversary. After church he said let's take a ride and we ended up at State Line (NV-CA state line). He also had a bag pack in the car then as well. I guess I can expect this every 10 years. It was very nice. Of course this time it
was really nice cause I have kids and even though I love my kids, it is nice to get a way for a bit with your husband.
The picture to the left is the view from our balcony. This place has cabins, cottages, and the lodge. We stayed in a suite in the lodge. Every room has a view of the lake. This is taken from a camera phone so it is not the best picture, but it was a nice view.
Well, I have to say that I am very lucky. I am lucky to have Jeremy as my husband. Even though we tease each other, quite a bit, he really is a wonderful husband and father. We have a great family together. People often say that marriage is hard. I disagree. I have never thought marriage was hard. It has been a great 11 years and I know the years will only get better as more time goes on.

Santa Claus is coming to Town

Today, we went and had our yearly talks with Santa. The other night I jokingly said it would be fun to go in pajamas. Well, let me tell you, don't ever give kids ideas because that is exactly what they wanted to do. As soon as they got home from school, the kids went right away to change into their pajamas, robes, and slippers. We got a few stares walking through the mall. Most saying how cute the kids were. I would have to agree. When we got in line, Hunter got scared. I told the photographer not to worry about him. It just wouldn't be a Christmas picture with Santa if Hunter didn't cry. He does it every year. That would be our Hunter though. We love him.
Megan of course is so not afraid of Santa and has never been. She has a very big Christmas Wish List that she has printed from the Wal-Mart web site. (Boy is she going to be surprised when that list gets lost) I believe today she asked Santa for two things. A High School Musical Doll House and a remote control D-Rex. Crazy, I know. Santa may have other plans.

Emilee has never been afraid of Santa either. She also has a big list from the Wal-Mart web site. (She also will be surprised when the list is lost) She asked Santa for a Brat Doll House. (the smaller one) I normally do not like the Brat dolls, but last year Santa gave her a few Brat dolls that were not so bad. They were in covered robes and furry slippers so I thought they were appropriate. She would like the house for them to sleep in now.

That brings us to Hunter again. Silly silly boy. Still crying. Like I said, it wouldn't be a Christmas picture if Hunter was smiling in it. Santa did finally get him calmed down a bit to find out what he wanted. He is my only child with out the big list. Just when we go to the store together, he points to about everything and says," I want that for Christmas". Here, he told Santa he wanted Transformer toys. He just watched that movie with Jeremy and now wants the toys. He is all boy.

Well, here is hoping that all of you have a very Merry Christmas. As Santa would say,

"A happy Christmas to all, and to all, a good night"

Saturday, at the Museum

Saturday morning, Jeremy woke me up and said he wanted to go for a drive and we had to leave soon. (He does this to me often, must be a guy thing) We decided to go to Florence and the Shoals area here in Alabama. It is about an hour away. (This is the birthplace of Helen Keller. You can tour her house. We did not do this at this time, but maybe another time) If you know Jeremy, you know that he loves Flea Markets. (Me, not so much) He wanted to go to one there, which actually wasn't operating. We have a family pass to all these children's museum all over the country. They have one in Shoals, so we decided to take the kids. They were excited. They had a good time and of course they didn't want to leave. It wasn't as big as the one here or others that they have been to, but the exhibits they did have were good quality. I loved the braille exhibit. It was fun to make our names in braille. What a great idea. The day didn't go how I expected, but for once, the kids got to do what they would want. Sometimes we drag them from place to place and they grin and take it in stride. It was a good day for them. Now they are just waiting patiently ( OK maybe not that patient) for Santa to come. I hope you enjoy the slideshow below of the fun that they had.

MOM

So, I was looking through some stuff and came across this photo of my mom and dad. I think this was one of the last pictures taken of my mom. I believe it is at my niece Kirsta's wedding. She looks very happy. I have been thinking a lot about her lately. I was very lucky to have her for my mother. I don't know one person who was more sincere, more caring, and more understanding then my mother. She is the one that taught me to not judge others and to try and always be kind. I just want to say how much I miss her, love her, and feel honored to be her daughter. I love you mom.