2009.....

IT"S ABOUT "TIME" (literally)

As for a recap on my 2oo8 goals, I gave myself a report card:

Resolutions of 2008:

Be On Time to Church!- A!!!

Drink More Water- B-

Go to The Temple Monthly- C

Speak Kindly- C

So what would my GPA be??

Now, onto a better New Year:

I feel like I need to be better with TIME.....

1- Be Prepared!! My most important one, this is KEY in my desire to have better control over my TIME

2- Spend more Time playing with our Children

3- Be on Time

And for fun:

1- Learn to Text, also a Time saver

2- Collect more hip Sunday Music (Please send me any suggestions!)

3- Learn how to cook a few more yummy meals, for happy TIMES around the dinner table

Merry & Bright

We all loved it for different reasons, each understanding the reason for the season on different levels. But, all in all, it was Merry with: lots of parties, cookies, dresses, shopping, wrapping, un-wrapping, cooking and decorating. Yet, our favorite part of Christmas 08' were the moments that were Bright with: a better understanding of Christmas Hymns by Lizzy who began to feel the warmth of the spirit through song, A greater appreciation for Mary on Sarah's part, The complete JOY of giving learned by Rosie, reaping the blessings of simplification for Kelly (in that he had a less stressed wife, who took his advice) and the feeling of being completely satisfied with one Toy on Christmas Morning by Max.

Visions of Sugar Plums

Get Ready...
Get Set....
WAIT.........

GO!!!!!!!

3 months of rehearsals, 1 Tech Rehearsal, 1 Dress Rehearsal, 1 Bun & Make-up workshop, 2 visits to the dance store, 5 hours of make-up and hair doing (all in all) and 4 performances later.......Lizzy has been officially "bitten" by the performing arts bug! Her experience with the Nutcracker has topped her list of favorite things of 08'. She can't wait to do it next year.........I told her we'd have to think about it. Don't get me wrong, I loved spending time with her and being backstage witnessing the excitement of performing for a paying audience. It was however, a lot of time on her parents' part, at the busiest time of year. But, the show must go on right? Thank you to our dear family and close close friends for coming and watching Elizabeth. She loved it, and we so appreciated your support for our little Chinese Dragon- it won't soon be forgotten.

To Make Or Not To Make, That is The Question:

Every year since Elizabeth was born, we made our own Christmas Cards. They varied between style, size and expense but, I enjoyed dreaming them up each year. I valued their uniqueness and was excited to send them to our family and friends. During the long process of cutting, cropping and gluing, I would always vow to make them "simpler" next year. I do believe as I look over the 7 years worth of home-made cards, they did become more "paired down".

And now, my life is fuller. I am busier I think. Because of my kind Husband's gentle prods to simplify where we can, I am actually considering ordering cards!! AHHHHH!! What did I just say?? Costco Cards?? No way! It's just not me. Don't get me wrong, I don't think there is anything wrong with Costco cards (or any "photo card") for other people, just not our family.

I have given this a lot of thought. I see the benefit in ordering cards: easy, inexpensive, fast, practical. The negatives are: generic, having to worry about having the same card as your neighbor, impersonal. Do the benefits out way the negatives? Will I join myself with the masses in line at the Costco Photo Center? Will I swallow my pride and free my mind of undue stress? I guess you'll have to wait and find out when you receive our Christmas Card!

Making our Life Rosie!

Is it all in her name?

Is it not the name, but the lady she was named after?

Her nurturing spirit?

Her fun-loving personality-rarely a complaint?

O.K., how bout' the fact that she will eat ANYTHING?

Her sweet raspy voice?

Or her big blue eyes & chubby cheeks?

No, it has to be those blond curls!

Whatever the case maybe, ROSIE is a delight to both her Mother and anyone else that knows her. She casts her charm spell and suddenly I find myself willingly under her power.

Rosie celebrated her 4th birthday tonight with high holiday style. Friends and Family alike traveled long distances to create gingerbread houses and wish Rosie a Happy Happy Birthday.

As I read her well though-out cards and watched people greet her and want to spend time with her, the thought came over me once again: ROSIE IS SPECIAL, people gravitate to her. She has been blessed with a sweet nurturing spirit that naturally makes people love her and want to be near her.

"Rosie, you are such a sweet, curly haired Great Granddaughter, and we sure do love you very much" "Ba Ba" and Grandma Rosie

"You Make our lives "Rosie" and we are happy to have you as our Granddaughter". Grandma Sylvia

Well said, wise ones. Happy Birthday to my beloved Rosie. Now please stop growing, I can't bear the thought of not having you by my side, my little curly haired girl.

Goodbye, Farewell

Have you seen any of these socks? Whenever I do laundry, it always seems that I have the 'leftovers' at the bottom of the basket. Where are their mates? I thought I put pairs of socks in....but it seems they have 'split up' at some point during the washing/drying cycle. Well, today ends the misery of trying to reunite lost socks. There are a few random socks that I haven't seen for a long long while. I keep thinking they will turn up, but, they don't. So today, I say: Good-Bye, See-ya, Catch ya Never, Farewell, Happy Trails!! In to the garbage they go! Never to be worried about again. I feel liberated, I really do.

C E L E B R A T I O N!

When Max looked like this, I feared he would never be able to play like this:
Now we celebrate the fact that he is a very healthy, energetic, mischievous & SWEET
2 year old boy!

A boy who loves trains, so much, that my dear, dear Kelly created a completely edible train cake,just for him! Complete with Jr. Mints (just for Mommy right?). Max loved it and his ear to ear grin was thanks enough to Kel for a job very well done.

Delighted by his presents, Max lovingly thanked each person with a hug & a kiss.

One last shot at the cake.....sorry.....I'm just so proud of Kelly, I can't help it!

My heart is full with thankfulness to a loving Father in Heaven who heard my desperate prayers 2 years ago. I must continue to remind myself that Max's zeal and endless energy is exactly what I wanted and exactly what I got. I enjoy being his Mother for so many reasons. At times I feel overwhelmed by the amount of attention that Max demands; but relish in the love our boy has for his Mother. Tonight I celebrate answers to prayers, sweet little boy chatter, love of life, trains, cars, balls, hoops, running, jumping, swimming, swinging, laughing. Tonight, I celebrate our Son. Happy Birthday Max!!