The Last Post of 2010

I can not believe that today is the last day of 2010. I can not believe that tomorrow is the first day of 2011. 2011. 20-11. Doesn't that sound so futuristic? It seems like Y2K was just last week, and the week before that was like 1995 or something. Am I really 23 years old? Am I really a mom and stepmom? Am I really a "grown-up" now? More importantly, is Aiden really 2 years old, and Jenny 5? Wow, wow, wow. I. Can. Not. Believe. How. Fast. Time. Flies. It's crazyness!

Last year on New Year's Eve, Jaime and I spent it in the emergency room. He had burned his face and shoulder at work (with hot butter), and I had to take him to the ER. Luckily, he healed just fine and you can't even tell he was ever burned. Still, I hope and pray that tonight is accident free. 2010 was a pretty blah year. Nothing great happened, nothing really bad happened. In 2010 we just were, and I am totally fine with that.

Here's to a great year in 2011. I wish you all a year of exciting beginnings, family health, lots of laughter, and experiencing God's goodness and mercy day in and day out. Happy New Year, friends!

Books Read in 2010

I have seen several other blogs who have posted reviews of the books they read in 2010, so I thought I'd do the same thing. Although, I am a little ashamed to admit that I only read 6 1/2 (I'll explain the 1/2) books this year. I'm hoping I'll do better next year, I have a pretty large list of books I plan to read.

Here are the books I read...

The Twilight Saga Complete Collection by Stephanie Meyer 

 Honestly, I saw the first Twilight movie when it came out a few years ago. At the time, I had no idea that it was based on a book. Looking back though, that should have been obvious. I liked the movie, and once I found out that it was also a book, I had to read it. I liked the book even better than the movie. Isn't that what always happens? Books are (almost) always better than the movie. I will admit that the books are pretty poorly written, and are not by any means the best literary work. I do, however, like them. I think they are a fun, cheesy, read.

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

This book was one that I wanted to read because there was a movie coming out about it, and I wanted to read it before I watched the movie. This book was pretty good. It was a little predictable, but I liked it.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

This is the 1/2 book I read, meaning that I only read half of it. I don't even know if I finished half. It was so boring. After all the hype made about this book, I was totally disappointed. Of course this is just my opinion, and there are a lot of people I know who really liked this book. I guess memoirs just really aren't my thing. It was the first memoir I've read and it wasn't what I expected. I probably should have finished the whole thing, but I literally felt like I was forcing myself to read it.

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain

I read this book as part of an online book club I did, Book Beginnings and Bookends. I loved this book! This was my favorite book from 2010. I could not put it down! Since it was a book I read as part of a bookclub, we had a reading schedule we were supposed to stick to. I just couldn't do it, I had to know what was going to happen next. I ended up finishing the book several weeks before the book club ended and I was so glad I did! I'm not gonna tell you what it was about because I don't want to spoil it for anyone who might read, but this is definitely a book I would reccomend.

Well, that's it. That's all I read in 2010. I'm going to post my 2011 reading list in a few days. Let me know if you have any suggestions as to what you think I should read. I'm always looking for another good book! Right now I am reading a book called Look Again by Lisa Scottoline. I just started it last night so I don't know enough about it yet to say if it's good or not, but so far I like it and I've heard good things about it. 

Also, I recommend that (if you like to read) you join Goodreads. It is a great way to keep track of the books you've read, books you want to read, and your opinions on the books. It is also a good place to find books you'd like to read based on the reviews of other people. 

I hope you're all having a great week, I can't believe tomorrow is the last day of 2010!!   

A Look Back at 2010

Looking back on 2010, there aren't really any big, life-changing events that I can think of. In 2010 we played with our kids, spent time with family, cherished our realationships with friends - and gained a few new friends too.

When I look back at the blog posts from the past year, it is obvious that we have been very happy. We have had lots of fun, laughed a lot, and created wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.

Jaime dedicated himself to working harder than I could have ever imagined, allowing me to stay at home with Aiden and Jenny. I found other ways to keep myself busy though. I started going to MOPS, and met a lot of great mothers who are all in different stages of motherhood. I became involved in Jenny's school, and I found the time to co-lead her Girl Scout troop. I started going to a church that I love, and that also inspires me to volunteer and serve the Lord.

We moved from a 4 bedroom home, into a 3 bedroom apartment. We sold or donated a lot of our belongings in order to squeeze ourselves into a much smaller home. Sometimes I regret moving into an apartment, but then I look around and realize that it doesn't matter where we live, or how much space we have. All that matters is that we're together, happy, and healthy.

I am always having to remind myself to pick my battles, don't sweat the small stuff, and to enjoy stop obsessing over how clean the house is or if she laundry is done. My search for personal satisfaction led me right back to my kids. I learned that I never want to be too busy (especially with chores) to see what Aiden or Jenny is doing on that particular day. I never want to be too busy that I can't stop what I'm doing to sit down and play choo-choo train, Hungry Hungry Hippos, or to finger paint. I will do what I can, but my kids will always come first in my life.

One of the most important things that happened to me in 2010, was that I grew closer to God. I know that He loves me just the way I am. He has taught me to see myself the way that He sees me. Of course, I still struggle with this everyday. I am by no means perfect and I am by no means done being taught. I am however, very blessed and very grateful for what I  and my family have been blessed with.

I think the thing I am most grateful for from 2010 is that I found a church that I love so much. I really feel at home there. The congregation is much smaller than what I am used to, and that makes it much for personal for me. They encourage you to serve in the church and to help out in the different ministries of the church. I have never felt so involved in a church before and I am truly thankful for that.

In going into 2011 with no presumptions. I'm not setting any resolutions. I don't want to hold myself to standards of any kind that may cause me to stress or obsess over them. I don't want to miss out on the things that matter most in my life - my kids, Jaime, my family, my friends, and Jesus.

I am looking forward to becoming the woman that the Lord wants me to be in 2011. I hope to focus on what I have rather than on what I don't. I want to learn to be more grateful for what I have. Not just the matieral things, but the relationships with people in my life. I am going to strive to be more appreciative of the time that I have with Jaime, Aiden and Jenny, my parents, extended family, and friends.

Christmas 2010

We had a wonderful Christmas, filled with good family and friends. It is so nice to live so close to my parents, my brother, and a few of my cousins so that we don't have traveling to do around the holidays. We did Christmas Eve at our house last year, so this year we had it at my cousin's house and it was so nice! The kids all really enjoy playing together and it's great to have us all together.

On Christmas Eve we went to my cousin's house and celebrated with pizza and lots of fun games. My cousin's boys had already opened some of their gifts and all three of them each got a game. We all really enjoyed sitting around together playing their games. They got Clue, Break the Ice, and Elefun. Clue and Break the Ice are games that I played as a kid, but Elefun was new to me.

Aiden loved playing with and watching the train set that Jacob had. He sat there for a long time just watching it go round and round. He has had a train set at home that he got for his birthday, but it was one where he had to push the train himself. This one, was an automatic train. So it went around by itself. (Luckily, Santa already had a motorized train coming for him).

It is really great that my cousin and I have kids who are close in age. Jenny (5) and her son Matthew (6) play really well together, and so do Aiden (2) and her son Jacob (3). Her oldest son, Andrew (9), gets to hang out with the adults since all the other kids are so much younger than him. I think he likes that better anyway. :)

After going to my cousins house, we came home and Jenny and I baked a quick batch of Santa cookies. She and Aiden put a few cookies and a glass of milk out on the table for Santa to snack on later. Then we quickly read "The Night Before Christmas" and a few verses from the Bible in Luke 2. After that, Jenny and Aiden went to bed. They were really excited about Santa coming so it took them a while to fall asleep. Once they fell asleep, Jaime and I got their Santa stuff ready.

I don't know how Santa does it at your house, but here he always brings everything already opened and ready to play with. So Jaime and I opened and put together everything and installed the necessary batteries. Getting the Santa stuff ready is so much fun! This year I bought all their stuff before December so there were a lot of things that I forgot I even bought. I always get so excited thinking about their reactions in the morning when they see all their new stuff!

Aiden's Thomas train set,  Handy Manny toolbox, and remote control car.

Aiden's monkey Pillow Pet, Woody doll, Cars slippers, Vtech Baby game, and Mr. Potato Head

Jenny's Spongebob Vtech game, iSpy Puzzle, Cootie game, Trouble game, and lady bug Pillow Pet

Jenny's iCarly playset, Vtech computer, cupcake slippers, remote control car, and Vtech Kiddizoom camera

On Christmas Day, Jaime and I woke up early and then woke up the kids. When I was a kid I remember always waking up real early on Christmas Day and being so excited, but with Aiden and Jenny, I always have to wake them up and remind them that Santa came. Haha! They were both very pleased with what Santa brought them. I think Aiden's favorite was his Thomas train set (duh!) and Jenny's favortie was her Vtech Kiddizoom camera. They spent all morning playing with their things before breakfast. For breakfast I made a breakfast casserole and waffles.

Later that afternoon, it started snowing! At first it was coming down pretty lightly and it wasn't sticking to anything.  We went to my cousin's house  for Christmas dinner and the food was great! We had ham, corn, green beans, homemade mashed potatoes, mac n' cheese, and biscuits. I also made a Butterfinger cake for dessert (yummy!). The kids played some more, and a few of the adults played Clue with Andrew. While we were there, the snow really started coming down harder and before we knew it, the ground was covered in about and inch of snow! Of course, all the kids (and the "big kids") headed outside to play in it. We had a snowball fight, and poor Jaime really got ganged up on! It was all in fun though. ;)

Since it was snowing and we were afraid the roads might start to freeze over, we went to my mom's house to do our family gift exchange. After that, Jaime, the kids, and I all went home and spent the rest of the night playing with the stuff Santa brought. Jenny got some games from Santa and Uncle Billy that she really likes. We played those most of the night. Aiden was even able to play one of them with us.

Today we've spent all day in our pajamas still playing with Santa stuff. Tonight some of Jaime's friends are coming over and we're gonna eat and have a little game night. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, we definitely did!!

Christmas Cookies

Yesterday we had the oppertunity to do a little Christmas cookie baking and decorating. It all started in the morning, when my cousin brought her sons over for me to watch while she went to the doctor. Since there were going to be 5 kids in our apartment, I thought it best to do something that would be fun, but still keep them busy at the same time. So, we decorated cookies!

I just bought some of the pre-cut cookie dough and some icing and sprinkles to decorate them with. I baked them, and then we all sat down to decorate. Here are a few pictures from the decorating....

Aiden wasn't really into decorating the cookies, he just wanted to eat them. =)

The finished products.

That same afternoon, Jenny had a friend spend the night. It was the first time she has ever had a friend spend the night, and she was very excited. So, of course, we baked more cookies! This time we did the peanut butter cookie with the chocolate Hershey Kiss center. They were a lot of fun to make, and turned out really well!

The finished product. These were so easy to make!

We are also going to make a few crafts this week and of course we'll have to bake cookies for Santa Friday night! I hope you're enjoying your week of Christmas!!



Visit with Santa

Today, Jaime and I took the kids to the mall to see Santa. Last year went really well and I was really hoping this year would be the same. We have been talking with Aiden about Santa for weeks now trying to prepare him and get him to understand Santa Claus. So I was really thinking that he would do well, especially after the AMAZING picture he and Jenny took last year. Here is last year's....

Last year's isn't perfect, but they both look happy! This year's isn't as good. Here is this year's....

Not too bad. Jenny looks good. Aiden on the other hand, he could use a smile on his face. He isn't crying, but he was NOT about to smile either. The poor people taking pictures, I had them take multiple pictures to try and get one with him smiling, but he was determined not to smile.

I really thought he would do better. He was very excited to see Santa, and had even told me he was going to ask Santa for a Pillow Pet. We had their lists ready to give to Santa and everything. Obviously he got a little nervous once it was his turn. :) Hopefully he'll do better next year!



Special Messages from Santa

Aiden's Video


Jenny's Video