Out with the old and in with the new! Another year has ended and a new year (and decade) are upon us. This is usually the time to make that list of New Years resolutions that you know will not happen just cuz you put them on a "list". My new year resolution is not to make any new year resolutions! I am going to continue striving to improve my life and everlasting happiness for both myself and Marcus.
It's hard to look back on 2009 - so many mixed emotions from this year. I got to do some great new traveling, new sights, and lots of new experiences with Marcus. This has been a great year with Marcus watching him grow and learn. Happiness and sadness with him growing up so fast. This was also the hardest year for my family with the loss of my grandmother and uncle in November. For this we have all had to deal with some unwanted growing pains as kids and adults. It's these unplanned life altering events that even though are pure torture at the time make us who we are today.
My wish for 2010 is continued blessings, good health, and pure happiness for everyone! 2010 plans to be filled with new adventures, love, and good will! Cheers to you and your family for a great New Year. Happy 2010 :))))
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas at Home
Time for some new memories to be made at home! Our at-home Christmas celebration started Wednesday afternoon with our last batch of holiday baking. We got everything done and the goodies packed up in the knick of time. The candy cane fudge was a hit this year!! I am so glad I gave the recipe a try and I hope some of you make it as well next year!!! We then got to visit with some friends and gift exchanges. I love surprising people with the unexpected gifts. Yes I do go overboard but I love it!!
Christmas Eve was a day for playing, stockings, prepping Christmas Eve dinner and Mass. Marcus and I exchanged stockings and a couple small gifts. He carefully picked out the ones for me to open...he was so proud of what he helped picked out.
This Christma Eve unlike any in my life came with a beautiful blanket of white SNOW!! Yes a white Christmas in Texas...one of the best possible gifts ever and sooo unexpected!!!!
We enjoyed watching it falling and bundling up to go out. That evening we spent some more time with friends before getting ready for our "overnight" guest. Marcus laid out the fresh cookies and milk. We spread the reindeer food over the white covered ground. I love this night of the year...Marcus is actually excited to go to be early!
Marcus was out like a light and Santa came thru making a mess and loving the cookies. Marcus tried to wake up at 430a,, 630am, 730am wanting to open presents. Each time he dozed back off and we finally got up at 830am to open gifts. Marcus played with his gifts from Santa while I made pigs in a blanket for breakfast. Then we started the real fun (and mess)...opening the rest of our gifts to each other. 3 hours later after getting up this morning Marcus sat on the couch and watched a cartoon...this was the first time to be still all morning. He was very happy, excited, and so many "Thank you's" and "I Love You's."
Then we took off to see the new movie Alvin and the Chipmunks. Back home to ride his new bike from Santa and his Christmas dinner wish...pizza! Go figure :) LOL
We ended this great day with some Chutes and Ladder and Memory! Another night early to bed for Marcus..too much excitement from such a great day with my little man!!! It couldn't have been better.
Christmas Eve was a day for playing, stockings, prepping Christmas Eve dinner and Mass. Marcus and I exchanged stockings and a couple small gifts. He carefully picked out the ones for me to open...he was so proud of what he helped picked out.
This Christma Eve unlike any in my life came with a beautiful blanket of white SNOW!! Yes a white Christmas in Texas...one of the best possible gifts ever and sooo unexpected!!!!
We enjoyed watching it falling and bundling up to go out. That evening we spent some more time with friends before getting ready for our "overnight" guest. Marcus laid out the fresh cookies and milk. We spread the reindeer food over the white covered ground. I love this night of the year...Marcus is actually excited to go to be early!
Marcus was out like a light and Santa came thru making a mess and loving the cookies. Marcus tried to wake up at 430a,, 630am, 730am wanting to open presents. Each time he dozed back off and we finally got up at 830am to open gifts. Marcus played with his gifts from Santa while I made pigs in a blanket for breakfast. Then we started the real fun (and mess)...opening the rest of our gifts to each other. 3 hours later after getting up this morning Marcus sat on the couch and watched a cartoon...this was the first time to be still all morning. He was very happy, excited, and so many "Thank you's" and "I Love You's."
Then we took off to see the new movie Alvin and the Chipmunks. Back home to ride his new bike from Santa and his Christmas dinner wish...pizza! Go figure :) LOL
We ended this great day with some Chutes and Ladder and Memory! Another night early to bed for Marcus..too much excitement from such a great day with my little man!!! It couldn't have been better.
Christmas with Granny
This past weekend was our Christmas celebration with Granny and Uncle Denver. Time to reflect old memories and make some new ones. Traditions carried on...cookies, dinner, and stockings - my favorite part!
We started off the weekend with a playdate at Hoppin Hippo - an indoor playarea that Marcus just loves. My brother got him to try a couple new things and he was excited to show me around as this was my first time joining him there. He usually goes with Granny while visiting her solo.
We then had some last minute shopping and home to Granny's to relax. Saturday night we opened stockings - my mom has always managed to find great stocking stuffers.
We woke up Sunday morning to Christmas presents and then Christmas dinner. It was a tough time opening presents from Nana but we made it thru. Everything was great and appreciated. Then we took a ride to view some Christmas lights and decorations. Marcus had a great time!!! Thank you Granny for a great holiday celebration :)
We started off the weekend with a playdate at Hoppin Hippo - an indoor playarea that Marcus just loves. My brother got him to try a couple new things and he was excited to show me around as this was my first time joining him there. He usually goes with Granny while visiting her solo.
We then had some last minute shopping and home to Granny's to relax. Saturday night we opened stockings - my mom has always managed to find great stocking stuffers.
We woke up Sunday morning to Christmas presents and then Christmas dinner. It was a tough time opening presents from Nana but we made it thru. Everything was great and appreciated. Then we took a ride to view some Christmas lights and decorations. Marcus had a great time!!! Thank you Granny for a great holiday celebration :)
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Dear Nana
Dear Nana,
Thank you for all you have done over the past 73 years. You have lived a full and long life. Apparently this time last year you already knew that you would not be here with us this time around. We found your poem - "My First Christmas in Heaven" - you hand wrote and packed with mom's Christmas decorations from last year. We opened the gifts this morning that you had already purchased for this Christmas season. So prepared yet so much left undone. It was tough to not buy presents for you and felt weird passing out gifts and seeing "from Nana" with no "To Nana."
Mom read the poem outloud and your gifts were the first ones opened. As usual you did great and actually got practical things we needed. Marcus loved his Patrick pillow and even though he doesn't want to admit it to Granny, I think Iron Man was his favorite toy. Thank you for the Pyrex set...I really did need some oven safe dishes!
Just like every year...Mom mislabled gifts and I'm sure she has forgotten some. We'll get a call in a few weeks..."Guess what I found for you in the closet!" Dinner was great...the usual...ham, mashed potatoes, mac-n-cheese, green beans and rolls. Mom did think she put the ham in the oven at 930am and Denver found it in the fridge at 11am. So needless to say we were a little late eating this year. Denver sliced the ham as usual...might was well use his MAN skills for something...lol
I had no salad as it just didn't seem worth it just for me. My salad eatin' family member is gone. I had no one to fight with over who was going to clean up after dinner. I just started cleaning up and washing the dishes in silence.
Everyone is napping as I sit and stare at your memorial table Mom created. It's kinda wierd looking at that black box and sorry but we did not set you on the table while we ate...Denver was wigged out!
I truely hope your first Christmas in Heaven is everything as you had hoped for. You are able to once again spend this season with your mom and dad. I know how happy that has made you. Despite you telling us that you are not far away and we shouldn't have any tears...it's still tough to hold them back knowing that you are not here with us. We miss you and love you lots.
Thank you for all you have done over the past 73 years. You have lived a full and long life. Apparently this time last year you already knew that you would not be here with us this time around. We found your poem - "My First Christmas in Heaven" - you hand wrote and packed with mom's Christmas decorations from last year. We opened the gifts this morning that you had already purchased for this Christmas season. So prepared yet so much left undone. It was tough to not buy presents for you and felt weird passing out gifts and seeing "from Nana" with no "To Nana."
Mom read the poem outloud and your gifts were the first ones opened. As usual you did great and actually got practical things we needed. Marcus loved his Patrick pillow and even though he doesn't want to admit it to Granny, I think Iron Man was his favorite toy. Thank you for the Pyrex set...I really did need some oven safe dishes!
Just like every year...Mom mislabled gifts and I'm sure she has forgotten some. We'll get a call in a few weeks..."Guess what I found for you in the closet!" Dinner was great...the usual...ham, mashed potatoes, mac-n-cheese, green beans and rolls. Mom did think she put the ham in the oven at 930am and Denver found it in the fridge at 11am. So needless to say we were a little late eating this year. Denver sliced the ham as usual...might was well use his MAN skills for something...lol
I had no salad as it just didn't seem worth it just for me. My salad eatin' family member is gone. I had no one to fight with over who was going to clean up after dinner. I just started cleaning up and washing the dishes in silence.
Everyone is napping as I sit and stare at your memorial table Mom created. It's kinda wierd looking at that black box and sorry but we did not set you on the table while we ate...Denver was wigged out!
I truely hope your first Christmas in Heaven is everything as you had hoped for. You are able to once again spend this season with your mom and dad. I know how happy that has made you. Despite you telling us that you are not far away and we shouldn't have any tears...it's still tough to hold them back knowing that you are not here with us. We miss you and love you lots.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Holiday Fun
The holiday season is definitely under way and busy as usual. Shopping - check; gifts wrapped - check; cards stuffed and mailed - check, etc!! We have had 2 visits with Santa plus mailed of 2 additional letters to the North Pole (Marcus wanted to make sure he got it all!)
This was the first year that Marcus was 100% excited to see Santa - big accomplishement.
The tree is trimmed, house decorated, and we are ready to start sharing holiday time with friends and family. Holiday activities have included a tree lighting ceremony and Santa in Rowlett then Christmas in the Park in Mesquite complete with Santa, roasted marshmellows, hot cocoa, santa's workshop, Mrs. Claus and a pony ride. It was extremely cold but that feeling while hanging outside for 2 hours is the best part. We made a trip to Athens to check out the Christmas Park lights display. Checking out lights and decorations is by far my favorite part of the season. I am so glad that Marcus really enjoys this to. We still plan on going out to Richardson to visit Santa's Village and have lots of parties and visits coming over the next couple weeks. Marcus loves shopping and picking out gifts. We even picked some toys for Toys for Tots. I'd like to make sure that Marcus knows what is really important during this time of the year. We picked out a couple for both girls and boys and he had a great time picking out the presents then dropping them off. Today was his ultimate shopping trip with Granny -- he got to christmas shopping for me. This is a tradition that my mom has done with him every year and he looks forward to it and puts lots of thoughts into what he wants to give Mommy for Christmas. Now the time starts for baking holiday treats and party food!!! Still lots to look forward too and great new memories to be made! Here's to you making your holiday memories too!!!!!!!!
Happy Holidays!
This was the first year that Marcus was 100% excited to see Santa - big accomplishement.
The tree is trimmed, house decorated, and we are ready to start sharing holiday time with friends and family. Holiday activities have included a tree lighting ceremony and Santa in Rowlett then Christmas in the Park in Mesquite complete with Santa, roasted marshmellows, hot cocoa, santa's workshop, Mrs. Claus and a pony ride. It was extremely cold but that feeling while hanging outside for 2 hours is the best part. We made a trip to Athens to check out the Christmas Park lights display. Checking out lights and decorations is by far my favorite part of the season. I am so glad that Marcus really enjoys this to. We still plan on going out to Richardson to visit Santa's Village and have lots of parties and visits coming over the next couple weeks. Marcus loves shopping and picking out gifts. We even picked some toys for Toys for Tots. I'd like to make sure that Marcus knows what is really important during this time of the year. We picked out a couple for both girls and boys and he had a great time picking out the presents then dropping them off. Today was his ultimate shopping trip with Granny -- he got to christmas shopping for me. This is a tradition that my mom has done with him every year and he looks forward to it and puts lots of thoughts into what he wants to give Mommy for Christmas. Now the time starts for baking holiday treats and party food!!! Still lots to look forward too and great new memories to be made! Here's to you making your holiday memories too!!!!!!!!
Happy Holidays!
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