2008 Year End Review

I stole this from Mom to the Screaming Masses. (See my blog roll.)

1. Was 2008 good for you? Yes!
   
2. What was your favorite moment of the year? I can't really narrow it down to one, but Christmas was a blast, our little trip to Dallas to see Bill Engvall, Carsyn's kart racing, and Weston's new obsession with super heroes top the list!
   
3. What was your worst moment of the year? Um, hands down, when I had all that lymph node business going on.
   
4. Where were you when 2008 began? At my house.
   
5. Who were you with? Friends and family
   
6. Where will you be when 2008 ends? At my house, with my friends and family.
   
7. Did you keep your new years resolution of 2008? No!
8. Do you have a new years resolution for 2009? A few!
   
9. Did you fall in love in 2008? No
10. If yes, with who?
    
11. Are you still in love? Yes.
12. Did you breakup with anyone in 2008? No.
13. Did you make any new friends in 2008? Sure did!
    
14. Who are your favorite new friends? Jessica...my dc!
    
15. What was your favorite month of 2008? December
    
16. Why this month? I love the holidays!
    
17. Did you travel outside of the US (or your home country) in 2008? No.
18. Did you miss anybody in the past year? Y es.
    
19. What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2008? Four Christmases
    
20. What was your favorite song from 2008? Um...I can't narrow it down.
    
21. How many concerts or plays did you see in 2008? A few.
    
22. Did you have a favorite concert in 2008? Bill Engvall was good. Kirby, a magician in Branson, was also tons of fun.
    
23. What was your favorite book in 2008? I only read books I love...so I can't pick.
    
24. How many people did you sleep with in 2008? 3...I have 2 boys that find there way to my bed nightly.
25. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year? Yes.
26. What was the biggest lie you told in 2008? I can't think of anything right off hand, but that isn't claiming innocence.
    
27. Did you treat somebody badly in 2008? Sadly, yes.
    
28. Did somebody treat you badly in 2008? Of course.
29. What was your proudest moment of 2008? Carsyn behaving at kindergarten-seriously-I feel so accomplished, like we've done something right. Beginning my graduate program.
    
30. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2008? Nothing comes to mind, but I know there is something.
    
31. If you could go back to any moment of 2008 and change something, what would it be? I'm not sure.
    
32. Where did you work in 2008? I teach second grade.
    
33. Favorite TV shows(s) of 2008? I have almost stopped watching television altogether! I seem to have less and less time, and I'd rather 'internet'.
34. Favorite Band(s) of 2008? South First
    
35. Favorite Food in 2008? Same ole stuff...chips and queso.
    
36. Favorite Drink in 2008? Coke
37. Favorite Place in 2008? Home
    
38. Favorite person(s) to be with in 2008? My family and friends
    
39. Favorite person(s) to talk to in 2008? Niki
    
40. Favorite trip in 2008? Disney World
    
41. Favorite stores in 2008? Um. Hobby Lobby, Dollar Tree, Target
    
42. Hardest thing you had to go through in 2008? All that lymph node business
    
43. Most exciting moment(s) in 2008? Disney World
    
44. Funniest moment(s) in 2008? Everyday is a crack up around here.
    

"Feel free to answer any, all, or none in the comment section or on your own blog."

Valentine's Gifts (YAY!)

I'm so proud! Niki and I were able to spend the day with our good friend Ms. Kimble. We were very productive and completed Valentine's day gifts for all of the boys teachers. We have searched high and low to find these cups from the dollar tree. When Wendi found them we bought 25, and we had a plan. We are very proud of our great finds!

Easy Peasy

I love personalized gifts, and baby showers are no exception. I made this a *long* time ago, and I'm not sure how I missed posting them. This was a baby shower gift for a baby that has already turned one! They are super simple to make.

You need:
Letter(s)-I got mine from Hobby Lobby when they were half off.
Spray Paint-optional
Scrapbook Paper, ribbon, miscellaneous embellishments
Mod Podge & foam brush

First trace the letters onto scrapbook paper. To do this turn the paper to the backside, lay the letter on it face up. Next, spray paint the letters. While the letters are drying cut out the paper that you traced the letters on. Gather coordinating ribbons, fibers, and embellishment. Be creative. When the letters have dried use a foam paint brush to glue the paper, ribbon, and embellishments on using Mod Podge. Allow to dry. Put a layer of Mod Podge over the top to seal the letters. Voila!

You have completed a very inexpensive, but very personal gift. The sky is the limit. You can do a family name for a wedding gift, an initial, a full name, or a word. You can also create a bow holder by using one letter and hot gluing long strands of ribbon to the back.

Book Review: Running With Scissors

(Picture compliments of Amazon)

I'm not a fan of strange books. Honestly, I like a sweet romance novel...sweet, translate that is non-graphic. I noticed this book at my mother in laws on Christmas day. My sister in law brought it and wanted us (my mother in law and I) to read it. She told me it was a little bizarre, but I thought I'd give it a shot. After all, I was on vacation until after the new year and need something to do between loads of laundry and dishes.

The book is about a boy who grows up with very weird circumstances and knows from an early age that he was gay. (Yea...not my favorite topic.).

So I began reading it the day after Christmas. It is *very* strange. It sort of creeps me out, but I can't stop. In fact, at two this morning I had to put it down because my eyes were hurting, but I couldn't sleep because of its weirdness! I'm almost finished, but I wanted to share this with you. If you are bored, and like weird stories this is just the book for you!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Welcome! I love this new sign that hangs nicely on my porch. I'd love to show you the full porch, because it is finished, and very pretty, but it never seems to be clean! I'll work on that...or at least have the boys work on it.
Dear Santa, for Christmas, I'd like crown molding throughout my house, and a scraper to remove the labels from our windows!
On Christmas Eve we open one present. Every year it is the same thing...pajamas. I try to find pajamas that reflect what the boys really like. Because they wear uniforms to school they do not hvae a ton of character type clothing. So I searched high and low to find spiderman foot pajamas for Wes. He is completely super hero obsessed. Carsyn was much easier. He likes spiderman, but he likes pjs that are thin. I was able to find spidey pajamas that fit the bill.

They had a blast opening all of their gifts. Carsyn was thrilled with his knee high rubber boots. Weston got very excited about each gift. I'm always amazed at which gifts really impress the boys, and which gifts I think they'll freak over, and they barely notice. Bendaroos...As Seen On TV...the boys went nuts when they seen them on television, and begged Santa for them. I searched high and low, and finally found them at Walgreens on Christmas Eve. They opened them, and acted like they had never heard of them. But the boots that we found 90% off at Academy last winter were a biiiig hit.
Carsyn was riding like a pro. He was so happy with his new four wheeler. The first thing he noticed when he saw it was the lift kit and mud grips. I know, I know...you might be a redneck if your kid eve knows what a lift kit is, much less makes mention of it on Christmas!
Weston was very happy that Santa brought a spiderman four wheeler. He spent most of the day wearing his spiderman costume riding his spiderman four wheeler. (He has it on beneath his hoodie) And anytime someone stopped him he 'webbed' them.

Carsyn, Weston, & Kobe spent the day riding, spinning, and almost wrecking. A blast was had by all!

Our Hero!

Words cannot express how much we appreciate the God given talent Dr. Mendeloff has. This video is living, breathing, heart-beating truth of the wonders of this world. Dr. Mendeloff has touched our hearts through the work he has done on Carsyn's heart. It is apparent that he means a great deal to all of the heart families at MCD. I used to think of surgeons as sterile. Television often depicts them as robots, but he is so much more. He knows his kids, and tries to understand their families. We are so grateful to have gone down this path, and met all of these wonderful people.

Carsyn will be visiting his cardiac team in the next month. Please pray that we get great news!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Hurricane Ike = Vacation

Stephanie had planned a surprise birthday trip for Dad. Just so happens it was like two days post Ike. Dad did not want to leave, but the cabin was already paid for, and he didn't know, but we had arranged to meet them there, and so had my Uncle Gary and Aunt Debbie. When he arrived at his cabin in Branson he was greeted with glowing candles. Then Debbie and Gary shouted, "Surprise!" He was thrilled. The next night when they all returned from a show we had snuck into the cabin and surprised him again. I'm not sure what he expected on the third night! We had a blast. Everyone was down on their luck with cameras and batteries, but I managed to get a few shots. Carsyn and Weston loved the huge pumpkin tree. And 'little' Randy is proof that some kids never grow up!

It's not Christmas without Costumes!

Gosh. I didn't realize that I was so far behind. Weston was a super cute rodeo clown and Carsyn was a cowboy. We had a blast trick or treating down town trunk or treating with Ironman Kobe and King turkey.

Merry Christmas!

During this Christmas season, take a moment to slow down and remember the true reason. Jesus really is the reason for the season!