Okay I'm myself again! I feel much better and my house is some what back to normal. At least the laundry is caught up. The kids have been in and out of school lately with all the ice we've been having which has helped getting better cause extra sleep in the mornings. Now that I feel better I have lots I want to do. So I would like to share my big plans for the new year....

Top on my list I would like to have more tender moments with my kids. With them growing up so fast sometimes I miss those moments. When I was a stay home mom I would get a lot of those and well this year I think there needs to be some.

I would really like to organize more area's of our house. Like the big doosey our basement. John's work shop too. I know this will take a lot of pull on his part cause he's the hoarder in this family. He always seems to think we will need it later and then it sits for years. So it's time to clean and get rid of things.
I'm already going through closets. I do that ever new year. Spring cleaning too. The best time is when every body is at school and at work.

The next big thing is I'm getting a new sewing/craft room and a guest room. So I will be decorating and having fun with that. We already started Brad's teenage room. I can't wait tell it all comes in place.

Then with the news of my folks moving out this year is just huge for me. I have so many things I want to do with them.

I also want to check out another museum in DC. I still haven't seen everything.

I'm going to keep reading great books.

Keep trying new recipes every month.

We are still shooting for puppies forsure this year...hopfully Valentines if mother nature works with us.

Maybe become a stay home mom again. Not sure...I've been praying big time.

Learn more garden tips.

Paint some paint by numbers paintings with my son Brad.

Use more new words in my conversations.

Go apple and berry picking this summer.

Start Christmas planning early this year.

Organize my photo's in the boxes and computer library.

Make more fun jewerly and purses.

Draw some great chalk art on the drive way with Angie when the weather warms up.

Go roller skating more with the kids. (My grandma roller skated until her early 70's...isn't that cool!)

Paint the whole inside of our house and the doors and trim. Big job I know!

Keep dancing with Angie.

I would like to go to the park more when the weather warms up.

Finally learn how to play my ukulele. Maybe my sons would want to start a band with me! ha! ha!

I really want to learn how make a great cake for my 40th birthday and share with all the people I love.

I want to be able to enjoy running again. I'm gonna try and try.

I want to make a painting of a person. This is huge for me cause this very hard for me...but I always had the desire to do one.

I would like to fix up our front porch this summer. Big hanging furns, planters on the railing. Finished wood ceiling and freshley painted rocking chairs, and last pillows on the porch swing.

Time to get rid of the play ground.

Last just keep smiling and use my manners and be greatful for all that I'm blessed with and remember to have a kind heart no matter what.

Can't wait to start great memories with my family and now my folks who will be here soon. Yippe!

I can't wait to do walks with mom again. Listening to music with dad. Dad becoming a boy scout with Brad. Learning how to knit with mom. Showing them around all favorite places here in V.A.
Having them coming to all the kids activities. Sharing the holidays with them. Just something to look forward to this new year!

I have so much to do to make a great year but most of all I'm so greatful for all that I'm blessed with and I just pray everybody stays healthy and happy to all.

Have a great 2011!

I've been sick for the past two weeks and laying in bed is just not my thing. So far I've seen a whole lot of Paula Deen's down home cooking shows. I just love her. My son Brad really does. He tells me some day he's gonna find a young Paula Deen and marry her. He thinks she's so nice and her cooking is the best,and he could really love someone like that. Isn't that the sweetest thing ever. Then of course I've watch all kinds of old movies on the TMC channel which I love on a cold cozy night or rainy spring day. I finally learned what Jersey Shore is about and well NO Thank You! Too many mean girls...not into that. Then there was the night shows too that I like to watch. I've even caught up on the Hallmark channel and watch Little House and the Parie. I haven't watched that in years, well since I was a young girl. It still makes me cry.I have to say though my dogs sure like to keep me company when I'm sick. It's so sweet. They sleep when I sleep and check up on me a lot. They are too cute. I did start reading our good friend Pam's book and so far I'm hooked. Now I can't put it down. I feel like my house is hopping with dust bunnies every where and laundry piled and the couch pillows on the living room floor cause I'm the only one who puts them back. Well John does too when he see's the mess. This was not what I was thinking for the New Year! Once I get better I have big plans to make things happen. I have ants in my pants as the old saying would say. Plus after watching all these cooking shows I want to cook some thing...that's when I feel better. Right now a good grill cheese is plenty for me. Jello too! Anyway...hope all is healthy...catch up soon.

This is just a few images of our 2010 Christmas. It was a nice Christmas once more at home. We were lucky again to have more snow on the ground this Chritmas which was a nice extra treat. I do have to say it was little sad knowing Angie no longer believes in the big jolly man in the red suit. That was hard. We didn't even put cookies out and a carrot for the reindeer. I guess that's what happens when the kids grow up. I always enjoy Christmas, but Christmas 2011 will be special knowing my family will finally join us. I think I'm gonna cry if I think about it too much. I miss them the most on Christmas and my Birthday. It will be so much fun to go help my mom decorate her new home for Christmas and shop with her and well just drinking hot coco and being with her. I've made my mind up that Christmas 2011 I will go back to my old ways when I was a stay home mom when I would start preping for Christmas in the spring just because it was the only way we could afford it. Then too I use to make a lot of home made gifts just cause I had more time then money. Now it's funny every body wants my home made gifts. Which always makes me feel so good. I just remember how much time I had to enjoy the month of December cause all I had to do was decorate the house and spend time with the kids. With the kids getting bigger and my folks being here I feel even more motivated to go back to starting my old ways.

I just think waiting tell Oct. just isn't enough time to really enjoy the holidays. Plus I think I'm going to come up with some new traditions to do with my big kids now and my folks. Why not right! Christmas is a great holiday to do so. I think we should do a little winter road trip to the Mountains during the kids winter break too, and finally teach the kids how to ski. Now that John has a new fancy truck why not! Anyway... this Christmas was nice and the kids seemed to enjoy the holidays. Now I need to look forward to another great Christmas.

That's all for now I'll catch again soon.

This picture cracks me up! This was Caleb's last soccer game and we were freezen our buns off!
Sometimes the soccer games hurt. We need to show our team support though. That's Brad inside his vest. Ha! Ha!
Anyway...I'm finally back! Happy New year to you all! I'd thought I would go backwards and share our past Christmas since I've been a little behind. Christmas took a lot of my time. Now that's it's Jan.2011 I've been cleaning house, been sick as a dog and trying get big projects done. So just a little delay on the blogging but I thought I would catch up today.