Christmas #5 and New Years

We celebrated Christmas and New Years with Papa John and Yaya. They came to stay with us for the night. We played games, played Wii, learned somse magic tricks, and watched Shrek Forever After. Connor was determined to make it up until 2011, but fell asleep (as did some of us). We made it up until the ball dropped in NY (11pm) and then went to bed. I stayed up watching TV until midnight (got my New Years kiss) and then fell asleep. Times they are a changing. ;) ;)

Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We were invited to an "adult" get together, but like normal we were behind on looking for a babysitter. With such late notice I had no luck finding one.

It ended up being OK though, we had a fun and relaxing night.

Matt picked up Chinese food and sparkling cider (or kid wine like the boys like to call it). They LOVED it.

Cheers!

Nolan the guzzler.

Matt also picked up this beautiful bouquet for me. He wanted them delivered, but I was working at school all day, so I missed both times they tried to drop them off at the house.

He asked me what I thought of the idea of him sending flowers to his merchandiser's wives to thank them for putting up with all of the hours their husbands put in and to show how appreciative of the guys he is. I told him I thought it was a great idea. Little does he know - I was jokingly telling someone at work about it and saying....yeah, nice of him to order them flowers....what about MY flowers for putting up with all of the hours he works?! ;) Little did I know, he had bought me some also. He never seizes to surprise me. Serves me right. What a guy huh?! Don't tell him I was complaining... (yes, he reads this) ;) Aren't they beautiful?!

The night was spent playing some Wii fit, Guess Who with Jacob and Nolan, and one of our new favorite games - Rummikub with Connor, etc...

Jacob and Nolan love to snuggle with, touch, and kiss my belly right now. They are always lifting up my shirt.

Jacob and Nolan went to bed about 10ish and Connor tried to make it up until 2010 and was all pumped for it, however at 11:30 he all of a sudden hit a wall and said he was going to bed. ;)

Matt and I both made some New Year's resolutions. I am going to work very hard at mine. It would make for a very pleasant 2010. My words for the year are Cherish, Patience, and Now.

Happy New Year everyone! May you have a blessed year!

I wish you enough......and my WORD for 2009

My sister-in-law Angie sent this email (in red) to me a couple of weeks ago and I knew instantly I wanted to post it for New Year's.
I wish you enough this upcoming year in 2009......

ENOUGH

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged, and the mother said, "I love you, and I wish you enough."

The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom."

They kissed, and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it
would be forever?"

"Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?"

"I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead, and the reality is - her next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.

"When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?"

She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. "When we said, 'I wish you
enough,' we wanted the other person to have a life filled with just enough
good things to sustain them."

Then, turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Again, I wish all of you ENOUGH in 2009!

Tanja, whose blog I follow, chooses a word every year and I really like that idea.
I think my word for 2009 is going to be GRATITUDE.

Definition: the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful

I am going to work on being grateful for what I have and am a part of. It is so easy to get in a rut, get frustrated, get stressed out, and get negative.......however it shouldn't be easy. I have so much to be grateful for!

When the boys want me to read a book with them, put a puzzle together with them, play a game with them, snuggle with them at bedtime....and I'm in the middle of doing something, cleaning something, or have a huge to do list in my head.....stop and be grateful that they want to do that with their mommy - who knows how long that will last! ;)

When Matt has to work late, or go on a trip....instead of complaining, and being exhausted from having to do everything by myself, or missing him (well I can still miss him right?!)....stop and be grateful that he has a job that he is doing extremely well with and allows us to have and do as much as we do.

When I'm frustrated with my job, feel overwhelmed, feel like I'm not making a difference, feel burnt out....stop and be grateful that I still have a job and everyday get to do what I love doing - teach!

I am very grateful for all of our family and friends. How blessed we are! As one of my favorite sayings goes, THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE AREN'T THINGS!

I am going to try to always find the positive side and what I can be grateful for in any situation.....
Help hold me to this......... this is something I want to work on.

Happy 2009 everyone!

(Check out TipJunkie cool idea and all of the wonderful words for 2009! -I'm adding this on to my post after I was given the tip to check out Tip Junkies blog 1/5)