Happy New Year ~ 2008

'Tis the season for resolutions...if you make them.

First, I must take a look back at 2007. What a year. I'm glad it's over. So much happened last year that I know I won't be able to recall it all right now...but here goes...

It all started with a stomach ache that turned into a trip to the hospital on the morning of December 31, 2006 (New Year's Eve last year). After several miserable hours in the ER, I came back home with meds and canceled our New Year's Eve Party. A week later, I went back to the ER and they finally made the correct diagnosis...surgery to remove my gall bladder Whew! That was only January!

In February I turned 40! Enough said.



(Oh, I also moved Real Estate Companies in February. After several months of looking for a new broker, I went with the most progressive/cutting edge company around, Prudential Northwest Properties.)

Everyone already knows that the RE market went soft last year, but even though work was sparse, I met and helped several great people find wonderful homes. (Here's my plug...I always appreciate your referrals, so send someone my way!)

On with the year.

Brian started a new job/career. Our new church (where we've met lots of new friends) celebrated it's One Year Anniversary. Our twin daughters turned 16 and got their driver's licenses. And our son turned 13, which made us parents of all teenagers.

Which brings us up to date...even though I'm sure I missed a few happenings.

It's 2008. A time for Resolutions, which I've never made. Maybe it's time to start.

I have several things I'd like to resolve to do or not to do. Here goes...
I want to eat healthier, drink more water & less pop, walk more and spend more time with friends. I want to pray and read my Bible more consistently, and spend more time developing the new friendships I have made with the women at my church. Finally, I want to work on my spending and budget.

What are your 2008 New Year's Resolutions? (Live)

Nubbin

We got our Christmas tree on Saturday. The kids picked it out and named it "Nubbin" because of the new little nubs on it's branches. Brandon cut it down and we brought him home. He is a little on the small side, but still a wonderful addition to the family.

I readied the room and found the perfect place to put our little Nubbin. Last year our living room seemed crowded so I wanted to rearrange the furniture to give Nubbin plenty of room to stretch out his branches without feeling cramped. I even unloaded a book case and move it to the hallway.

The room was ready for Nubbin. Brian put him in the stand, which was almost too big for the trunk but means we will be watering him less. After bringing him inside and placing him in the designated place, we soon realized that Nubbin was a runt, a late bloomer (which might be why a tree has new growth in December), and much smaller that we originally thought.

As we contemplated how to decorate Nubbin, I thought about past Christmas trees we have decorated. The last few years we have had a "travel" tree with all of the ornaments we have collected during our travels. Then there was the "santa" tree and the "snowman" tree. We have so many ornaments! Last year I bought new boxes and organized all the ornaments. I even separated out all the kid's ornaments and made each of them an ornament box. How fun it will be when they someday decorate their own trees with all the ornaments that have been given to them during Christmases past.

This year we couldn't decide how to decorate our tree. Nubbin was too small to hold all the ornaments of any one theme, so we decided to do something new. We decided to make all our ornaments. Yep...we decided to get creative with the glue gun. (Even the boys are getting into it!) This will be a project that lasts until Christmas or until we tire of burning ourselves with the hot glue. We set up a crafting station in the garage on the ping pong table. It is nice to be able to leave all the pom poms, popsicle sticks and googly eyes out and ready for someone who gets the itch to create.

Nubbin isn't glamorous. He isn't perfect. But he holds the evidence of the time we are spending together as a family this holiday season. I believe this will be one of our most memorable Christmases...and we will surely get some good laughs for years to come as we reminisce about Nubbin. (Laugh)