Happy New Years...and 4 years

Growing up, I always enjoyed New Years.  A lot of it was still the newness of everything I got for Christmas - there was music to listen to, toys to play with, books to read....and much of it was just enjoying my New Years Eve.  Our family would go out to dinner and then get together with Grandma and Pappy to play cards and watch the festivities on TV.

Nine years ago, my New Years changed...for the better.  As the calendar turned to 2002, Jim and I "officially" started dating at midnight.  That has always just been the icing on the cake, an extra celebration on top of a "new start."

Four years ago, part of me was lost when my grandfather passed away on New Years Eve.  I'll never forget that year.  On December 30, 2006, I was out shopping - my grandfather had gone into the hospital while I was home seeing my baby niece Jenna, and while I knew it wasn't good, I was holding onto the hope that the season could bring us a miracle.  When I got back from shopping, Jim was on the phone with my sister - my grandmother had had to make the decision no one should ever have to make about the person they love - they were going to keep him comfortable.

The next morning, Jim went to work.  I was on pins and needles - I got the call close to lunchtime that he had passed that morning, with my mom and her sisters and their husbands and my grandma at his bedside.  I called Jim, who rushed home.  On January 1, 2007, we flew home for his funeral.  We were only there a couple of days, and it passed in a blur.

The past four years have been a blur - it seems like just yesterday, I was laughing at one of his jokes or silly songs.  In reality, I have gotten married, he has had 4 great-grandkids born, and 2 more on the way. 

I am comforted because I truly believe Brooke sees him and is knowing him, even though the rest of us can't (my nephew Thad too).  They will wave and laugh and say that it's Poppop - even though neither of them ever had the privilege of meeting him while he was alive.  One day, Brooke said that he sings silly songs, and one day when she lost it for no reason at all, I asked if it was Poppop and she said yes - he was blocking her view of Barney.

This year, New Years holds the promise of an even better year, a fresh start, great things for my family.  But there, in the background, is the sense of loss.

We miss you, Pappy, and will see you again someday.  We love you.

Merry Christmas!

It's been a while since I blogged, but getting ready for the holidays can be stressful and so busy!  We had a great visit with my sister last weeked (who went home with pneumonia) and a great first week of vacation.

Brooke had a great Christmas.  Santa came and was very, very, very good to her.  She got a flip out sofa, Winnie the Pooh ride on, my first dollhouse, bath baby, baby Belle, stuffed animals, books, a Barney DVD, Elmopalooza DVD, MegaBlocks, clothes, snacks....and more...just from Santa!  That's not even counting everything aunts/uncles, godmother, and grandparents got her.  I love Christmas, but now I'm anxious to get my tree down and get her toys all organized - she still plays with all her old toys, so we have to keep them out plus her new toys. 

Brooke's favorite new toys are her ride on train, her Disney Princess flip out sofa, her baby Belle, and her Sesame Street singing pop up toy from Mamaw & Pap.

I had a great Christmas, too....I got lots of books that I've been wanting, some movies, and my parents got Jim and I a Wii.

Now, we have one more week of vacation to celebrate New Years.  New Years Eve is a very bittersweet day for me (that's a whole post of its own), but I'm very glad Jim works early and will be with us for midnight.

I hope everyone else had a great holiday, too.  Merry Christmas!

It's beginning to (feel) a lot like Christmas

We have had wonderful weather here the past week or so - nights have been in the 30s/40s and daytimes in the 60s.  I may have lived in South Florida for 5.5 years, but you can't take the PA out of the girl!  The cooler weather just rejeuvenates me.  The other day, it was even rainy and dreary out - it felt like a fall day. And if you recall, fall is my favorite season!  We're going to warm up for a couple days, then back to the chiilier temps - I bet Kelly will love that when she comes to visit, LOL!

But this, right now, is my favorite time of the year.  Christmas.  Santa, hot cocoa, baking, etc.  And now that Brooke is getting a little bit bigger, I am SO EXCITED for Christmas this year!

We have a busy weekend planned.  Tomorrow, we're going to do laundry and run some other errands.  Sunday, it's to Penneys for a Christmas photo shoot of our girl and then Bass Pro Shops for free Santa pictures.  I figure, I don't know how Brooke is going to react, but I want the picture, so I might as well get it free instead of paying $30+ when I just want to see how it goes.  Plus, I'm excited for all the craft and everything too!

I think I can....

Eh.  What a weekend it's been.

Saturday, we took Brooke for the follow-up for her ears.  Not only is the left ear still infected, now the right ear is infected again!  Eh.  That's all I can say.  They gave her a shot of antibiotics, one tonight, and other tomorrow, and she's on another dose of oral antibiotics.  I'm hoping this, combined with being home the last 2 weeks of the month, will finally kick it!  I think I can....deal with more meds.

I ordered my Christmas cards from Shutterfly.com last night, and I am so excited at how they turned out.  Don't forget about the promo, fellow bloggers!

This week, next week, and an extended vacation....I think I can, I think I can, I think I can......

Hot cocoa, mistletoe, Ho Ho Ho!

'Tis the season of traditions.

Traditions like Christmas cards. I find this to be one of the most stressful traditions - you have to find time to pick cards, address them, get them printed, possibly write messages to the recipients....

This year, I’ve found a way to take the stress out of my holiday cards! Shutterfly is giving bloggers 50 free photo Christmas cards! Super easy! (Like my use of exclamation points? Can you tell I’m excited? ;-) )

Last year, we had Brooke’s photo taken at Penneys, spent over $100 for the copyright rights, then went to Walgreens and spent more money printing out the cards! Then, of course, there was the postage.

Not this year. (OK, I’ll still have to pay the postage, but that’s it.) We’re going to take a “Twas the Night Before Christmas” photo of Brooke in front of our beautiful Christmas tree. I might throw in a stuffed Santa or some cookies or something like that. (Oh my god, how cute would it be for her to be eating Santa’s cookies in her jammies in front of the tree?)

Then, I’m going to go to Shutterfly. I love Shutterfly. I’ll have my code and get 50 free Christmas cards. Easy! The hardest part is going to be deciding which card. I mean, just look at some of these:

Peppermint gift wrap


http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/retro-kaleidoscope-holiday-card-5x7-flat?sortType=1&storeNode=93496

And that’s just on the first page I looked at!

I’ve also been inspired in other ways – check out what Brooke is making her grandparents:
http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars


And what a picture from our next vacation will yield:
http://www.shutterfly.com/home-decor/canvas-wall-art


As a working mom, I’m all about making things easier on myself – that is how I free up the most time possible to spend with my family. But anyone who blogs can do this! This is one of the easiest things – and it will be so much fun to do a photo shoot in front of the tree!

You can do this too – just go to http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/ and fill out the form to get started!