A Year of Memories

Okay - so yeah - it's the "end" of the year. I can be sentimental and reflective, right? I can salute the passing of a year that will only be remembered from now on. I can remember that God has yet again been so wonderful in his blessings. And also look forward to the
n e w y e a r.
2008.
8 is the number of new beginnings.
I can't help but be excited about that.

A few hightlights of the year in pics... and boy - there are tons of pics....

Staring the year with CHA in Anaheim. Scrapbook friends from all around. Going to Disneyland.









My little one leaving preschool.
My son leaving middle school.
Birthdays.








Seasons
Family
First Tooth...Kids Growing up even more










the youngest



the oldest



the dancer



and the.........

musician

family moments









And our highlight of the year.... Walt Disney World.


























Have a wonderfully blessed 2008 and I hope to see you next year!!!

Just another day...

...and I had to ask hubby what day of the week it is. Seems like the days after Christmas just get fuzzy. No school schedule. No more holiday rush. Just staying in the house in sweat pants (or pajamas). And a fire. We finally got to use the fireplace. When the Saturday rainwater freezes in the sandbox, you know it's cold enough.

I finished up an assignment yesterday. Today I washed clothes and vaccummed. I cleaned my scrap table but haven't done anything new... yet. But I will.

Here's some pics of my little miss with new boots from one of her aunts. And it was the perfect day to get them. Louisiana rain





And some more Christmas pics. This was taken right before we headed to the country to the grandparents. I didn't even coordinate their clothes. Nice little brother/sister photo shoot.... until big brother elbows little sister. Such is life.

The Day After...

this photo sums it up.
for everyone.

this was taken around 6pm on Dec. 26.
She's wearing her new Cars pajamas
on her Cars pillow
with her Cars DVD playing.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.
Me, I'm in my new PJs.
they are not Cars.

'Twas the Night....

before Christmas......

I just want to say

I'm breaking my promise to blog every day this month. I'm giving myself tomorrow off.

Meanwhile... I'm watching The Christmas Story over and over and over....
I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!

so....


Merry Christmas to All
and to all

A Good Night.


woops - I'm back with a couple of pics.

Another family group pic.


And the traditional
Waiting for Santa

Happy Festivus!!!

Happy Festivus - especially to you Seinfeld Fans!!

Fa La La......

la la

Rainy Saturday in Louisiana.
Cooler weather.
It's beginning to feel alot like Christmas.

We had a big family feast at our house.

We had:

Red Beans n Rice
Gumbo
Festive Chicken Wraps
Broccoli n Rice Casserfole
Squash Casserole
Cheese Cake
Pear Cake
Pecan Pie
and other goodies.

See for yourself.







And a Christmas family photo. One sister and nephew in from Mississippi and another from a neighboring town and her daughter and my parents (from the country). The only one missing is our brother who was working.





What a day! I'm pooped!

Just a Brief Post

....to keep my committment to blog daily.

Finished cleaning house.
Company tomorrow.
Made crock pot candy. Found out after the fact that hubby is sick of sweets (I TOLD him he had to many parties at work. I think they have been eating junk everyday this month and he's making more this weekend! and my kids won't eat it because it has peanuts. what??
Got out holiday dishes. Don't have enough plates. Have to use regular plates.

Note to self: Buy another set of Christmas dishes. Doesn't matter that they won't match current set - the more the merrier. fa la la la la

Friend dropped by. The one that gave me the crock pot candy recipe. She brought me......
crock pot candy!

Another friend dropped by. Brought assorted goodies.

Note to self: Self- go to gym everyday starting Dec. 27th.

Took nap. After 5. With the lights on in the bedroom. Piled pillows up high around me to make a wall. Looked dark to me.

Got up and made cheesecake. Homemade cheesecake takes forever to make. And even longer to cook. Sure hope it turns out.

Made biscuits, eggs and bacon for supper.

My feet hurt.

Took long hot bubble bath.

Still have work to do.

I'm tired.

Christmas Movie Quotes

Just for fun - I wanted to share some of my favorite Christmas movie quotes. Please share yours!

Well - this isn't an exact quote, but I LOVE the scene in It's a Wonderful Life where George has just "returned" from his wish about never being born and the whole Clarence thing... and is running down the snow covered streets yelling "Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas Mr. Potter! Mr. Christmas you ole building in loan" and then later "Merry Christmas, Mary!". I always hear that in my head (oh, come on... you know you hear things in your head!) when alot of "Merry Christmas' "are being exchanged.

Here's some fun quotes:

It's a Wonderful Life:
Nick: [ringing the cash register repeatedly] Get me. I'm givin' out wings.

Nick: [slamming a bottle on the bar] That's it. Out you two pixies go - through the door, or out the window.

A Christmas Story
Ralphie: I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!
(say that fast 2 times)

Christmas Vacation
Clark: We're kicking off our fun old fashion family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols.
Audrey: We're not coming all the way out here just to get one of those stupid ties with Santa Clauses on it are we?
Clark: No, I have one of those at home.


Clark: Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?
Eddie: Naw, I'm doing just fine, Clark.

The Santa Clause
Bernard: The Santa Clause: In putting on the suit and entering the sleigh, the wearer waives any and all right to any previous identity, real or implied, and fully accepts the duties and responsibilities of Santa Claus, in perpetuity to which some time the wearer becomes unable to do so, by either accident or design.

Judy: Seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing.

Judy: Not too hot. Extra chocolate. Shaken, not stirred

Elf
Buddy: [phone rings, Buddy picks it up] Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?
Buddy: The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.
my family doesn't agree with the above statement

Gimbel's Manager: This, is the North Pole.
Buddy: No it isn't.
Gimbel's Manager: Yes it is.
Buddy: No it isn't.
Gimbel's Manager: Yes it is!
Buddy: No it isn't! Where's the snow?

Buddy: I just like to smile! Smiling's my favorite.

Buddy: SANTA! OH MY GOD! SANTA'S COMING! I KNOW HIM! I KNOW HIM!

Oh - and I got my wish. Christmas Vacation comes on again Saturday night. Check your cable listing.

Do you have a favorite Christmas movie quote? Please share. I'd love to laugh with you.

Well - lots to do... lots to do.... Happy Ho Ho Ho!

Company's coming...company's coming!

How many of you can relate to that??? Do you have people coming in for Christmas?

I had just a few days notice that I'll be hosting our family Christmas dinner Saturday. Oh MY!!! It's time to be Martha Stewart. I have already purchased a new Christmas table runner (I couldn't find a RED oval Christmas tablecloth...serves me right trying to find it this late in the month), a set of candles, a new cabinet in the bathroom (yes - a cabinet...something that was on my "to-do" list anyway). And I re-arranged my living room furniture. It's not "tv friendly" at the moment, but it's people friendly. Hubby was griping about not having room to move around since one table was moved for the tree - so now he can walk around without bumping anything (and he's smaller than me). And I moved scrappy boxes that were without a permanent home out into the garage (otherwise known as the dungeon). Oh - just in case you didn't know - we don't have basements in Louisiana - something about the water table?. BOY do I wish I had a basement. People who live up north get basements AND snow.

But I guess that's okay. I was wearing a short sleeve shirt today and clogs with no socks. And the air conditioner has been running.

The BEST thing about having company over - you get a spankin' clean house in the process - even if you have to do all the work.

I'm tackling more cleaning in the morning - then off to my daughter's school party. WHEW!

And no - I'm not done shopping at all. Which leads me with a famous movie quote - but not a Christmas movie quote this time.

I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow. ~Scarlett O'Hara~

The Nutcracker Ballet

Well, not really. I just wanted to put that in my title. It's really another
Oh
My
Goodness

It's almost here and I still have presents buy!

I don't feel so bad - I saw a lady I know at Kohls and I was actually asking her if she was through with her buggy (since she was checking out). When I hugged her and said "Are you through with this??" she said "Oh, no! I'm just getting started". She thought I meant with shopping. tee hee.

Anyway...back to ballet...

Here is a cutsie photo of my little one at her parent observation day in ballet. I have more (and video) but really, - I don't want to bore you. (wink)



Oh - and where did all the good holiday movies go? They flooded us on cable right after Thanksgiving and this week - nothing. I could watch Christmas Vacation at least 2 more times, and Elf maybe 4 more.

I guess I'll have to just buy them.

Happy Ho Ho Ho!