Finally an update!

Ok so its been way too long since I blogged something. I love following other peoples blogs. They all have young kids with such cute stories. Mine (with the exception of Emily - 12 and Kati - 20) are teenagers, not such cute stories, mostly arguing. I wish there was blogging when they were litte. I always said that when they said or did something cute I should write it down so I could remember. Of course I never did. We have some great stories on Luke, however, tucked in our memories. He did some of the funniest things when he was a young chap. I'm still laughing.

Here we are, almost at the end of January already. Surely something exciting has happened since Christmas. Well we did take a ski trip with the youth last week to Sugar Mtn. NC. It was a blast. The first day it snowed all day. It was beautiful!!! The second day it was still lightly snowing but FREEZING. The high was 10 or 11 degrees. They were blowing snow all over, that was miserable. Luke skied for 4 hrs straight, no warm up breaks after lunch. I couln't stay out more than 1 - 1 1/2 hrs. I wish we could go more often. He really enjoys skiing. Of course I forgot my camera so sorry no pics.

Basketball is in full swing and I am getting tired of sitting through games. The bleachers are uncomfortable, or I am getting old. Anyway both Luke and Emily are doing really well.

More Christmas Pics

Kati is always making me take pics of her and Timmy.

They are both very photogenic.

My kids, niece and nephew and Auntie D.

The annual group photo in front of the tree. They know to expect

this picture will be taken sometime during Christmas Day.

Thanks Mom and Dad for my cool JMU hoodie, I love it!!

Me and my "baby boy".

Lauren fixing Meghan with her new hairdressing station.

Worn out from the eventful Christmas Day!!

Luke and Emily waiting for more presents!

Christmas was wonderful. On Christmas Eve we went to our parents house in Virginia. My sister and her family were there as well. It all flew by so quick, all those weeks of careful shopping and cooking gone in just 1 day. I already miss the beautiful lights and decorations. I am ready to start the new year out slow though to recover from a very busy fall. We'll see how that works out. My aunt (who is almost like a big sister since she is only 11 years older than me) came to my mom's house. It was great to spend Christmas with her, it has been long time since we did. A few things did not fit and we returned them. Five days after Christmas and there were s till lines. When will all the craziness end. No more shopping for a long time, I need to recover.

December pics

My brother, sister & I all chipped in and bought our parents
a Wii for Christmas. Their excitement was priceless.

Kati, Meghan, Luke, Emily and my nephew Josiah and my

niece Lauren

Bopa reading the traditional "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

which he has been doing as long as I can remember

My children did a beautiful job of decorating sugar cookies. Not

only did they look beautiful but tasted yummy too!! How

very creative.

Meghan's birthday

A New Year 2009

Unbelievable 2009 is here already. Where did 2008 go, as a matter of fact where have the last 20 years gone. My oldest, sweet Kati, turned 20, my beautiful Meghan turned 18. Luke(who just yesterday) was my baby boy got his drivers license and my baby, little Emily, is not so little anymore, on the edge of her teen years at 12. If someone had told me 20 years ago how it would go so fast and all seem like a blur I am not so sure I would have believed them. I feel so blessed to have been home with my children their whole lives. My wonderful husband has shared and encouraged my desire to be a stay at home mom and I would not change this for anything. There were and still are so many days that I think I will not last but I have no regrets only wonderful memories. I pray that every Mom would realize the value of being a Mom. It is a calling from God, not one to be taken lightly. We have the opportunity to impact the next generation, so Mom's out there - ENJOY every moment, from changing diapers and cleaning spitup to potty training and eventually driver training. It goes by all too quickly and we are left wondering what do we do with ourselves now that the kids are self sufficient (we get dogs?). Never fear, though, at 20, 18, 16, and 12 there is rarely a day that goes by when one of them (at least) does not need Mom for something. Come to think of it, it is something you never outgrow (I still need my Mom too!!) Happy 2009 everyone.