So Long '08 ... Hello 2009

I feel as though I should have some words of wisdom to write as this year comes to a close. Looking back at this year, it has been one of the hardest years personally in my life yet there are still many great memories as well. I know we are here on Earth to be tested and tried and to learn and grow. My faith has been challenged in many ways but, I believe that I am still strong physically, mentally and emotionally. (Mark may disagree on the emotional side :-)) Last week we talked about having faith and hope and how you can't have one without the other. I completely agree with this and I also have a strong testimony of charity. Faith, hope and charity all seem to go hand in hand. Sometimes, giving charity to others helps me to increase my faith and hope which helps me fill my "well" again to keep going.

I will not lie ... I am anxious for 2009 to come and for the ever constant "season of change" to bring us some new changes in our lives. I love the beginning of a new year and for the hope that it brings. I have faith that new jobs, a new home and a renewal of love for my family will help me continue to serve not only my family but all those who are in need of an extended hand of friendship.

Happy New Year to All and Let's Ring in 2009!

Park Time in December

So the weather outside has been unseasonably warm this past week. In fact, I would guess the day we went to this park it was close to 75 or so. Kids and adults were in shorts, t-shirts and definitely running around with no coats and in some cases no shoes. We decided to get out of the house and enjoy some warm weather. We packed a picnic and headed for the biggest park close by. Here are a few snap shots from our day at the park. Justin loved being the big brother and helping Max with the slides.

Jail Time

So truly there are times when all of us must feel same about putting our little angels in jail, right? Surely I am not the only one who feels like this? Today, Max deserved a little jail time. In other words, Mark, myself and Justin left Max alone for 2 minutes and guess what happened? Max had got into his closet and found a little heart shape tin that contained plaster (in a sealed bag) to have his hands molded with. The next thing I knew Max came down to the basement and I noticed a little white powder on his shirt ... what had he gotten in to? Was it the flour? Was it my makeup? No ..... see photo's below to see exactly what the mess looks like AFTER Max had thrown the bag of plaster from the upstairs hallway.

And so this is what happened.

Ok - so it was not the City Jail but, I did think about it twice. Max had to sit on the stairs until I swept, vacuumed, swifered and then hand wiped the entire floor - because plaster can leave a nice thin white dusting all over anyone's hard wood floors. Oh my little angel. I eventually let him get up so he could help me clean up the mess. Oh, never a dull moment here.

Good thing we think he is cute!

Our New Family Game

So Santa did bring Max a new Cavity Sam Operation Game! For those who have not played it in the past 5 years or so ... the parts that need to be removed have been updated to items such as gas bubbles, cell phone, frogs and it comes with terrific sound effects. We highly recommend this as a new family game!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks to so many family members and friends who helped make our Christmas so special. Our boys thank you from the bottom of their hearts and of course Mark and I will never forget this Christmas. Here are a few snap shots from today!

New Green Shirts for Justin!
A Fun Race Track with Remotes!

Happy Justin

Max just bought his first Ford ... Very proud owner!

Every present that Max opened had to go in his new car!

A guitar to keep him singing all the way.

Christmas Eve Last Words

"Mom, will you wake me up when Santa comes?"

Sure - I'll be sure to come & get you.

"I think I hear Santa down stairs now!"

No - that is daddy cleaning up the kitchen. (Kinda like Santa though!)

I love you Max - its after 10 pm - its time to go to sleep now. Close your eyes and relax.

"I love you mom. Listen, listen wake me up when Santa comes ok!" At about 10:20 pm Max finally fell asleep so Santa could come. It is now 11:29 and Santa is going to bed.

Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Finally - A Visit with Santa with Camera!

Apple Blossom Mall - Christmas 2008

Train Ride next to Santa - 2008


Max & Santa - Christmas 2008

The good news of the day is that we finally made it back to Santa (our 2nd time) with our camera and fresh batteries. Thankfully, the Santa at our mall allows you to take your own pictures vs. paying some crazy fee for the same photo. Max was quite aww struck with Santa. Last year, he would not sit on Santa's knee without me sitting on the other knee. Thankfully, he has gotten past this! Before we got him up on his knee - he was going to tell Santa to bring us a new "Operation" (the game with Cavity Sam from the 70's) which we showed Max this past weekend. He had so much fun with this game but unfortunately the battery case broke and would no longer hold batteries. But, Max sorta sat there and kept looking at him. I kept saying Santa wants to know what to bring you. Can you tell him? Nothing not a peep came from him mouth! Max just kept smiling and looking at him. Santa will hopefully bring us a new Operation! Max did manage to whisper "thank you" when Santa handed him a candy cane - anything for candy! They also have a little train that he could ride and so I have also included some pictures of him (in the blue train sweater) although my pictures are much better of the other child (whom we do not know). But, they were the only two riders and they both wanted to sit in the front car so they could pull on the bell chain. Max LOVED the train.

We have now had two showings on our house. The people who came through today are suppose to come back again tomorrow. That is good news but, I know they are also looking at another house down the street .... booo .... We hope that they will just fall in love with ours and make us a Christmas / New Years Eve offer! Wouldn't that be great?

Mark's job search is still going. Today we had a few more phone calls from a couple of different companies which was exciting. Another interview is set up for early January. We continue to hope and pray that new full time jobs and a quick home sale is in our future. That's not too much to ask Santa for is it? Perhaps I should have been on Santa's other knee.

Happy Pre-Christmas Eve. We are happy, healthy and truly grateful.

Bob Wins Survivor!

Hooray ...Bob won Survivor! He was a favorite of mine from the beginning. We would have liked to seen Sugar win too but, in the end we were happy with Bob! Good for him. A 57 year old Physics teacher!

Love this show from the beginning. I think it is something about the challenges and the environment that keeps me watching. I certainly hope we have a few more seasons to enjoy the competition!

A Little Mischief

This afternoon, Max was in our bathroom obviously doing NOT what I thought. Here is a little evidence of the mess that I got to clean up after he was finished due to running out of toilet paper. Oh my little angel .....

Our Little Snapper

This past week we discovered that Max can snap with both hands but, he is a bit stronger with his right hand. We believe he will be right handed as well but, he has mastered snapping and will snap for his Mac n' Cheese - no problem.

The house is finally decorated and stagged as much as it is going to be. The big challenge is to just keep up with the cleaning, vacuuming, bathrooms, laundry, finger prints on the windows, ovens, refrigerator, dishwasher and of course the ornaments and lights! We may have to make an executive decision to take down our window candle lights. Max carries them all over, unscrews the light bulbs - throws them at will, etc. He also loves to help us plug everything in at night. I seriously don't think we can keep up with the light bulb replacement bills!

So tonight we are wishing you a "bright" and "snappy" Christmas.

Pictures Galore!

Temple Visitors Center Christmas Tree's

Winchester Stake's Christmas Tree

The visitors center has a room full of beautiful pictures depicting Christ's life. Here are a few that caught my attention.


Again, to me I felt like I was there with Him.

Can't you just imagine sitting on beach in this scene?

Max in front of the Christus.

Tonight was the first public night at the Visitors Center for the Festival of Lights. It was snowing there and it just made it that more fun. Mark was helping to direct traffic for the evening while Max and I viewed the lights and festivities.

There is a nativity scene with a live Mary & Joseph. Max of course wanted to climb up on the camel but he settled for getting his picture taken next to it!

Brother & Sister Bryant from our ward (also our Home Teacher) played Mary & Joseph on the first shift tonight at the temple.

Beautiful Temple and Lights.

This fall I have participated in several home craft shows or craft shows at elementary schools. I decided to make plates to sell this year. These are a few of my favorites. They sold great today when I had a dozen peanut butter truffles sitting on top.

A friend gave me a delicious recipe for peanut butter truffles. I think they will become a tradition for the holidays at our house! Yummm. In fact, one lady is paying me to make 2 dozen of them for her this coming week.

Our house is officially on the market. Here are some pictures of our home since we have painted. If anyone wants a little investment in Winchester, VA ... just let me know. We have a deal going on the house .... AND I'll even include a dozen or two truffles with an offer!!

Our living room. We have decided to keep some of our pictures and statues of Christ up in our home even though it is on the market. At night I light up the greenery on top of the piano and the Christus statue looks amazing. Max loves to see his Jesus statue.

Our little library room.

Max in front of our sometimes decorated / sometimes not decorated tree. Today we only had one ornament casualty. I think I've lost count for the season. Bless his little heart!

We are fasting and praying for a new job here in Winchester although we will go wherever the job will come to us. And, I know many of you are also keeping us in your prayers which we are very grateful for. It is amazing how many things you can find to be grateful for during this time of year despite the challenges that hang over us. I am grateful for our family, friends, healthy kids and husband, the heat, the snow, indoor plumbing, the gospel, our testimonies, the power of faith and of course our freedoms. We hope you and your families will find the same blessings in your lives as well.

Updating

It's been a while since I have last posted. Lots of things are happening in our life right now. New jobs are hopefully on the horizon along with putting our house on the market. Lots of painting, cleaning and staging have been going on along with trying to keep our Christmas ornaments actually on the tree! Max has been diligently taking not only the ornaments off the tree but, he likes to take the little metal "thingy" that holds the ornament hook on off the ornaments. The night we were putting the tree up ... he had taken at least 25 of them off various ornaments. Oh boy! His other favorite thing is to move the window candles and relocate them - so far we have had one casualty. Thankfully they are only a dollar or two to replace. Bless his little heart.
Tomorrow night we'll have pictures of lots of things but here is a recent photo of the little man!