2009: The Good, the Bad, and the In Between

 009 was a big year for us. It started off with:

-Closing on our first house! We bought our first house, this small 3 bedroom ranch in a great area.
No more than 2 miles from Patrick's office, no more than 2 miles from our Church & Aidan's school. On top of it all, they reported that housing values increased 12.8% in our town this past year.

-Making changes to the house,  including painting, getting new carpet for the bedrooms, replacing the roof.

- Aidan turned 5, had an awesome birthday party at Playground World, and graduated preschool. He played Soccer Basics, conquered the fire poles at parks, and started kindergarten. He lost 3 teeth this year. He was Woody for Halloween. He made it on Santa's nice list & got what he wanted for Christmas.

- Brennan turned 2, transitioned from crib to big boy bed, stopped napping (God, help me!), got many haircuts (remember the one my husband got in trouble for?), was Buzz Lightyear for Halloween. He also made it to Santa's nice list. Not so great, he had a visit to the emergency room.

-Patrick turned 29, gained a lot of handyman experience improving our house, completed another year of  grad school, gained job security & a better position in his job, got a Blackberry from work (you know this is a highlight for you, Pat!), got a new MAC laptop, & did an awesome jobplanning things for my birthday. 

-Me: I turned 29, reached my goal weight yet again, fell in love with the 30-day shred, got more organized than I've ever been in our homes, found a white wine I love (Barefoot Pinot Grigio), volunteered for 40 Days for Life, did some other volunteer work for our church, and developed some new friendships. I also became a great-aunt.

We traveled to Michigan many times,  Milwaukee, North Carolina,Gatlinburg, and for the first time in our married life, did not travel to South Carolina this year.
We also hosted Thanksgiving for the first time, a big cookout, and my sibling-side Midwest get-together.

We became  godparents, again, welcoming Luciano into this world.

We finally made our legal will.
We improved our life insurance policies.
We completed Financial Peace University.

Many good things, many blessings during 2009.

Trials & tribulations, too, like barely seeing each other while Pat is in grad school, our car a/c breaking while traveling back from TN, in 90+ degree weather.
Our fridge needing to be repaired, probably replaced. The need for a 2nd car growing more intense. job uncertainty for a while.

Combine the good & the bad, and together we hope we've grown stronger. More faithful.
New Year's always feels like a night of offering, of hope.

I wish you all a Happy New Year, and I hope 2010 is the start of a wonderful decade for us all!

Resolution Time!

Man-alive, can you believe we're seriously starting another decade?! Crazy.

I've been annoying myself trying to decide how to do so many significant posts, so here it is:
This one for 2010 resolutions, and then another for the past year (2009), and I might combine that with the highlights of the past decade.
If not for your entertainment, I love to have these things to go back and read at a later time. Progress, mishaps...checking in on myself.

(this just cracked me up)

Without further ado, I present some basic resolutions for 2010:

1. Do a written budget every single month, before the month begins. This extends to paying cash for groceries, gifts, Sunday tithing, and as much as possible gas for the car. Using the envelope system that came with our FPU kit.
2. Monthly, send my brother Kevin a card, even if I can't include a gift. (he is mentally ill, and after watching a tv show that featured a 7yo girl w/ schizophrenia, I felt ashamed I don't do more for him.) Monthly cards to Kevin, pictures often, gifts when possible.
3. Get back into the habit of sending my godchildren cards on a semi-regular basis, with our without a gift to include.
4. Exercise a minimum of 4x a week, unless I am truly sick. (to maintain my WW status)
5. Pay off at least 3 debts (going off #1).
6. Pray more with my husband, and aim to go to Adoration at least a few times over the year.

I don't normally aim for so many, because I otherwise feel resolutions aren't attainable. 

But several of these are already a part of our normal routine, just not to the extent I feel we need. Or I need.

The budget will be the hardest thing for us to do. Not figuring it out, but taking the time to sit down and do it. But we're both much happier when we do it.

2010! I have high expectations & much hope this will be a good year. A busy year, but a good one. 

What do you resolve?

Winter Family Fun

Today we did a winter family walk. Sure, we looked somewhat like eskimos, but it was much more fun than we expected.

We needed it. After the chaos the past few days, we planned a day out.
It's nice all of us being home, but we're clashing, Aidan out of school not sure what to do w/ himself, same for Pat being off work this week.

So off for a family walk we went, to our neighborhood park. The boys were quite cute in the snow, even though we are in need of more snow (to make a snowman, that is).

Playing in the snow: it's one of the ways we're bidding farewell to a good 2009.

bundled up & ready to head outside

awesomeness in ski masks

family photo attempt (23 degree weather)

Aidan thought it was cool to be on the playground in wintery snow

Daddy & his boys...you can tell Brennan was really interested in this picture.

Posts to come on what 2009 meant for us, and even more so, how the last decade changed our world (from my perspective).

"And Mom & Dad Can Hardly Wait for School to Start Again"

Bing Crosby was on to something there, wasn't he?

Ah, I almost feel guilt admitting that. OK, I do feel some guilt.

I love having Aidan around. I am not ready for him to go back to school.

But the thing is, he is used to that routine, we are used to that routine, and Christmas break isn't a long

enough break to establish a different routine. Sure, unplanned stuff is fun, too.

But yikes-a-pee.

Same with Patrick. He is home this week (minus a half day on Thursday). I love having him home. 

Heck, yes, more help with the kids!

BUT...he & I are not used to being around each other nonstop for so long.

We're getting stuff done around the house, which is good and necessary.

Brennan is running on over-excitement, having his daddy & brother home so much. It's cute, but also,

not cute at times.

It's our 1st Christmas home since I was pregnant with Brennan. The last 2 years we spent Christmas in

SC, and so every free moment was occupied and filled with visiting people we rarely see.

We're learning now how to spend Christmas at home, and make it fun & memorable.

There have been some fun times, too.

Aidan & I have played some Uno.

Patrick & I watched Star Trek last night, and actually enjoyed it.

Brennan has a constant playmate around again.

Oh, and I have a husband to cook dinner. The man grills out even if 20-degree weather w/ snow.

It is nice. And I am not 100% ready for school to resume. I just miss the normalcy. Just a tad.

And I understand now, a little bit more, what Bing Crosby was talking about.

Holiday Favorites, 2009

Pictures tell quite a story:

the boys at church, manger scene

this absolutely cracks me up. Check out all the action in this one:

cousins & best buds

another family picture attempt (& my darn shirt is bunching out)

How awesome is Aidan? He took this picture of his baby brother crying. LOL!

Patrick reading Brennan his new Thomas book on Christmas morning

Aidan with the gift he wanted the most (& Santa brought it!)

Before & After

Before Santa came:

After Santa came:

Oh yeah. Good ol' St. Nick. :)

Merry Christmas!

On this birthday of Jesus, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2009

Wordless Wednesday: Christmas through the Years

Not wordless. I always enjoy looking back, so today I'm posting our Christmases through the years:

Christmas 2003--1st Christmas married, & Aidan is in my belly

Christmas 2004--Aidan's 1st Christmas!

Christmas 2005--I was actually pregnant here, too, with our 2nd baby.

Christmas 2006 (at my fattest)--I'm pregnant here w/ Brennan

Christmas 2007-Brennan's first Christmas!

Christmas 2008, last year

And tomorrow (already!) I'll be getting another family picture to add to this collection.
I can't believe it's already Christmas Eve tomorrow!

From my family to yours, we wish you a very 
Merry Christmas! 

AND...Happy Birthday to Sebastian!

Happy 5th Birthday to the little man with a tan!

Enjoy being a whole hand. :)

Love ya!

Finally!!!

It's Aidan's last day of school for 2009!!!
I am looking forward to having him home. :)

Thank goodness he loves school, though.

Today it feels like the first day "break" is actually starting. Aidan gets out of school at 3:15, and  undoubtedly he'll come home all jazzed up on a sugar high (class party this afternoon).
Pat has been off school for a week now, and I am off of work the rest of this week.

WOOT!!!!

Tonight will be a night of just the four of us. First family dinner since Friday.

Tonight Pat & I will actually be able to talk to each other for more than 2 minutes in passing.
We can stay up late and not have to change right away in the morning to drive Pat to work.

Freedom!!!

I am hoping we can fit it all in, even though I am already a tad itchy for the holidays to be done with and just hit the down time.

I want to go on a date with Aidan to the movies.
I want to watch Christmas movies with Pat, snuggling on the couch and drinking hot chocolate. We'll fall asleep, I am sure.

I want to bake candy cane cookies with Aidan.
I want to play hide & seek with Brennan.

It is finally break!
Enjoy it. At least try. Before we know it, it will be all over.

My Life As A Working Woman

If you can even really call it that. Ha!
 I work about 8-10 hours a week. But hey, it's something. Small, but still something.

Working part-time at Dollar Tree isn't half bad. The work is certainly easy enough.
Fortunately we've been busy, so it's going by quickly.
I was hired on as a seasonal employee, but there is a very slim chance I'd get to stay on schedule. We'll see.

Interesting tales...not a ton, but a few.

Last week, on one of the coldest days so far, the store was VERY busy.
In walks in this, shall we say, plus-sized woman, with a little extra "plus".
In she comes wearing faded, thinned jammy pants, a short-sleeved shirt, and flip-flops, no socks. Mind you, it is winter, and with the wind-chill, maybe in the teens for the temperature.
No coat.

Not only did she come in wearing that get-up, but she was walking around with what had to be the world's largest wedgie. GROSS. You could see it, stuck in between her plus-ness cheeks and being absorbed into God-knows-where. Worst of all, she smelled like tuna fish. *Gag*
EW EW EW EW!!
How could she not detect that?!

I would have sworn this was a homeless person, (no coat), but her kid was with her, and he was dressed appropriately. Okay.....


That's the most ghetto I've witnessed so far. Most people are normal. Thank God!

But the dollar store is still the dollar store.

For example, the vacuum is broken. It's been broken for a few days now, and it's the only vacuum in the store. The floors are filthy.

When I worked at CVS, we had more than one vacuum, and if one broke, it was replaced the next day. A dirty store can turn off customers!

Well, here we've had dirty floors for a few days now, and the broom will only help so much on carpet.

So last night I was ringing up this customer - you could tell she thought she was something special.
She mutters something to her daughter, then I hear her say "it's not like they clean the floors in this place!".
True dat.

But being an employee & all, I quickly inform her that our vacuum broke, and we look forward to properly vacuuming once we have what we need to do so.

The last thing I need is a rude customer acting like I am a lazy person. No thank you, snot-face. Keep your comments to yourself. (even though the store was filthy...she wasn't inquiring about it, just being rude;)


Aside from those 2 things, I lack good stories. 
This is the first time I've worked outside the house since CVS, which was March 2006.
I did work as an online tutor for Sylvan, but that was sitting down, from home. I stopped that early 2007.

I forgot how darn exhausting it can be to stand in one little square for hours at a time.
My feet are tired. A tad sore. But it does feel good to have a paycheck (albeit small) coming in with my name on it.

Speaking of work, I'm scheduled tonight, so I better get busy. Lots to do around the house!

The Family Tree Extended

We had one of the family Christmas parties for this year, including 3 of my brothers and their families.

I saw my oldest nephew, and I haven't seen him in years.
It was so nice, and I finally got to meet his wife.
Even better, I got to meet their kids!

That's right, people. At the age of 29, I became a great aunt this past summer.

Of course I have to share a picture.
This is me with my great-niece, Kylie:

She is too cute. I love her cheeks, and she was so good.
It's a cool thing, seeing your family tree grow to yet another generation.

Too Much To Do!

Can I scream now?

Boy did I choose the wrong time to start working. Good one, Sharon.

I have too much to do, not enough time to do it all, and I wish I had 3 wishes granted: one for a maid, one for a chef, and one for a nanny. Just until this weekend is over.

Any genie out there? 


To keep myself accountable, I'm making a list. Screw checking it twice-I don't have time!

• clean house like a madwoman for our party on Saturday
• wrap a book for Aidan's class book exchange
• finish Christmas shopping
• wrap presents, haven't even started yet (latest I've ever started)
• do at least family Christmas cards
• thank you card for FPU leader
• find Christmas stockings & hang
• make list/shop for party food
• plan menu for Christmas day
• buy father-in-law's gift
• bake cookies w/ Aidan
• card for Aidan's teacher
• SCREAM!
• exercise. I have to at least shred today & tomorrow. Especially after eating pizza the last 2 nights. :(
• Make sure my Christmas skirt still fits (see above bullet point)

Any takers on helping me?

Darn those genies for not being real.

Wordless Wednesday: He Fell Asleep Like This:

With his head in the tissue box!
Yeah. We had a good laugh over this one.

End of an Era, Beginning of a New One

I get into ornaments. Post on that to come.

Each year we I pick an ornament for each boy, then one for us as a family. I like the ornaments to reflect their life at that particular time.

With Aidan, we've reached the end of an ornament-era (if there is such a thing): He has outgrown the Child's Age Collection. Last year was his 5th Christmas, and this series covers 1st-5th Christmas.
I can't believe it.

So this year I took him to the store and told him he now got to choose any one ornament he wanted for 2009. (Brennan is still in the Child Age collection, so we got him the 3rd Christmas one)

Aidan really enjoyed this experience, and so did I. It was cute watching him decide the perfect ornament for him. I just can't get over how much he is growing up.

He chose this one:

It's an adorable, fun ornament. It really plays the song, and the elf really pops up. So cute.

It's also very fitting because Aidan has asked Santa for a jack-in-the-box. Ever since the letter "J" in school, when they did something with a jack-in-the-box, he has wanted one. I am fairly confident Santa will deliver. ;)

So sweet.

It's the end of the Child's Age Collection, but the beginning of something new for Aidan. My lil' big boy.

Menu Plan Monday--December 14, 2009

I am so unplanned for this week. We're crazy busy this week, so I'm going on a whim & not really sure how well the menu will work out.

Monday: Grilled Cheese & Chicken Noodle Soup
Tuesday: Crockpot Applesauce Pork (Aidan's Christmas concert)
Wednesday: Boys' Night (last FPU class)
Thursday: Hot Dogs (kids' choice; I'm working)
Friday: Hamburger Cabbage Casserole

Have a great week! Have you finished up your Christmas shopping yet?

2 Things Today

So what if I didn't get to see It's A Wonderful Life in the theater today.

I did get to see my boys visit Santa, and then just minutes ago I also saw Aidan lose his 3rd tooth!
I'd say those made for a pretty good day.

It's a wonderful life in its own way over here.

I'll Have to Miss This One

But never again.

It's playing only today in our $3 theater! All day!
And I can't even go. :(

My dedicated husband has finals Monday and Tuesday, so his day is spent studying.
I so badly wanted to see this in the theater--after all, it is an amazing story and one of the best Christmas films of all time. (Right, Sue?! You can read about her anti-Christmas-movie choices here)

Really, though, what better movie to give you perspective? What better a movie to offer you the balance of what really matters in life?

The time period is one of my favorites. The music is great.
Men carried themselves as men, ladies conducted themselves as ladies.
It almost sounds fantasy-like in today's world. (politically correct crap)

Today I so wished I had family in town. I'd love to see this in the theater with my dad & mom.
I'd drag my sister there, too, and force her to watch it.

Husband-of-mine, read this carefully: if ever again this comes to the theater, you are taking me to see it! Without the kids, of course. Got it?!

It just grosses me out

Loose teeth.

The way they hang, swinging back & forth from the gums.
Little blurps of red blood appearing, and then that tooth moving again.

Ick.

It so grosses me out.

Aidan is now on his 3rd loose tooth, this time being his top front tooth.
It's been loose forever, but I think it will be falling out within the day.

It is so loose it's not even staying straight, so every time he smiles it's all crooked.
That darn tooth.
So gross.

Love the kid, love his smile, but the darn loose teeth give me the willies.

View Driving to School Today

Winter has arrived.

Wordless Wednesday: Oldie but Goodie

Not wordless.
This is Christmas 2003. My Dad with my niece, Haleigh.
I love this picture.

I absolutely love it when my dad plays his accordion.
When he was in high school, he was in a band. Cool-guy thing, right?
What do you think he played? None other than the accordion! ;) (hey, it was the 50's)

He gets shy to play it now, saying he's not practiced and doesn't sound too great. But I don't care. I love it. I think he should play more often.

I love this picture.
Memories from Christmas past.

Through the Years

Aidan with his very own tree:

above: Aidan last year, age 4

below: Aidan this year, age 5

They change so much in a year!
He had his own tree at 3, too, but for the life of me I can't find the picture of it. It wasn't the tree pictured above. It was a most pathetic tree that was only a buck or something along those lines. He loved it, though. (even though it was so small, ornaments would make it fall over!)

I never thought to let the kids do their own tree until my sister put the idea in my head. I'm sure Aidan would thank her if he knew it!

a few more:

letting his brother help (he's such a good big brother)

Ch-ch-Changes

I got a job.

Part time. Very part time.
Nothing fancy.

It's not a career-booster, it's nothing to do with my degree, or "in my field".
Do I care?
No!

It's a job. A few hours outside of the house, which I need anyway, and getting paid for it.
It may or may not last. But one thing is for sure-we could use the extra few bucks. Who couldn't?

If it starts to negatively affect my family, I will quit. No loss.
Until then, it's off to work I go (at the dollar tree), starting Thursday.

Menu Plan Monday--December 7, 2009

Monday: Honey-Mustard Pork, potatoes, green beans
Tuesday: Pasta Night (meatless this week)
Wednesday: BOYS NIGHT-It's up to them. I'm off to FPU
Thursday: Pork Chops & Apples, barley, carrots
Friday: TBD

Decking the Halls, with a $100 Blessing

Sorry, it's not a contest.

Last year we finally pitched our sad excuse for a Christmas tree. Not that I can really complain. We paid $20 for it, and we certainly got our money's worth, having used it from 2003 until last January.
The plan was to purchase a gorgeous, nice new artificial tree that would last us through many more years.

Not a bad plan, but the price tag that comes with it was sort of menacing.
I hosted Thanksgiving this year, it's our urn to host Christmas, and things pop up as they always do. I wasn't quite sure where the $ would come from for a new tree.

And then God answered a prayer.
Seriously.

My in-law's neighbor offered a 7+ foot tree that had never been taken out of the box. Completely free.
Pat wrote his mother back and said we'd take it.
So the day they took the boys for us they also brought us the tree from their neighbor.
FREE.

We weren't sure how it would look, but we were happy to take it.

So Sunday we put up the tree.

It is PERFECT.
Absolutely the type we would have bought.
It's much bigger than our last tree, which explains the lack of ornaments. We're still missing out tree top and tree skirt, but that will come in time.

It is seriously a huge blessing.
I hope our note of thanks we plan to send this woman will let her see how much she blessed us, because it's perfect timing. (and it saved us at least $100)

Compared to last year's (which was also our tree since 2003):

The Lights Before Christmas

The Toledo Zoo's Lights Before Christmas is such a family-fun event. LOVE it.
This year we lucked out, getting complimentary tickets, plus the chance to bring my parents along with us. We all had a great time!

group shot

in the polar bear cave

Aidan & Pop-Pop on the train ride

gorgeous blue trees. Picture does not do it justice

Patrick & I

How does Aidan measure up to Santa? On the good list, for sure!

ROAR!

some of the fun lit-up animals

not the best quality picture, but there were carolers going through the zoo. It was beautiful!

Brennan was hardly in pictures, because this is how he spent the time at the zoo: warm & bundled up in his stroller!

It was a great time! Hopefully we'll make it an annual tradition. ;)