Makin' a list....

I was thinking of the things I wanted as a child for Christmas while I was wrapping my last few presents tonight. I was laughing at some of the stuff I was remembering... everything from a pogo stick to speed skates, Popples, Debbie Gibson cassettes and Electric Youth perfume, a curling iron that would magically curl my bangs the 'right' way- not the kinked way(Lynette, you know where I'm going with this), my own set of skiis, and the list went on of course! So just for the heck of it, I've updated a few things. I'm finding I've must have been a good girl! ;)

1) A powerful and loving marriage (check)
2) Healthy, happy, giggly little girls (check)
3) A warm, cozy home of our own (check)
4) A dependable vehicle to drive (check)
5) An amazing set of parents, both sides (check)
6) Loyal, truly wonderful friends (check)
7) A sister, please!!! (in laws count ;) Julie, Cam, and Apryl (check) Step-sisters Jasmine and Julianna (check, check)
8) An iPod- to not think about things sometimes (check) I need music.
9) A plowed driveway- hallelujah! (check)
10) A job that I honestly enjoy, most days ;) (check)
11) A study bible to read the Word, and understand it! (check)
12) A church where we feel is the best fit for our family (check)
13) My own kitchen to cook in! (check)
14) A friend that I can call any hour of the night if I needed to (check)
15) A friend who tells it like it is! (check)
16) A friend to share a bottle of wine and dance with (check)
17) A husband that helps around the house (check)
18) A truly devoted father to my children (check)
19) Making Christ the center of my home (check)
20) Brothers to remind me that life is a journey ;) (check)
21) Blogger and a computer to let it out! (check)

Whew. I could go on, but really I think my list is complete for now! This time of year is truly about remembering our Savior's birth and recognizing what it is we are here to do. Love up your husband and kids, spend time with loved ones, and cherish those unforgettable, irreplaceable moments.

Merry Christmas!

Getting ridiculous folks....

well, besides the weather- it's the fact that I have seen Barney way too many dang times this month!!! We watch the same stinkin' movie over and over. We take it in the truck when we leave. We transfer it into Ryan's truck when he takes the girls to plow. We then take it back inside- and the cycle goes on!!! Seriously. How r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s are WE?? The sweet demands of a 2 year old have taken over!! ;) I am ready to throw the thing in the snow and see what happens to the happy go lucky dinosaur digital video device itself! Then the song pops into my head 'If all the snowflakes were candybars and milkshakes, oh what a snow that would be...' bah!! I am living a purple dinosaur love song nightmare! The frustrating part is that I am allowing this. I should say no. I should say we're not watching Barney any more today. Once is ENOUGH. Actually, she doesn't even sit and watch it the whole time- she just kind of likes to have it in the background while she plays or colors. And I don't watch tv during the day at all, usually I'm cleaning or playing w/ her (or dinking around on the computer) ;)...

Ok. This is my announcement that I am putting the cabash on Barney all day long if it's the last thing I do!

Happy Dance!

As much as we have been anticipating this.... Maddie was rewarded tonight for her hard, solid work in gymanstics!!!! She is officially a level 3!!!
She couldn't open this letter until she got home tonight (per her coach)- but it was a moment of sweet accomplishment!!! Her face turned bright red and she got teary-eyed, at first I didn't know what it was, but she then said it a very calm voice 'I moved up.' and literally fell into my arms crying. (dramatic, I know) I thought something was wrong with her so I peeled her off me at first to make sure she was ok, I just don't think she knew how to process those emotions! She has been waiting so patiently for this- they told us a while back she was ready and most likely in Decemeber they would move her up. So the first couple weeks went by and we hadn't heard, until tonight. ;) Way to go girl.

Then once she got her composure, the little drama queen she is, we started cheering for her. I told her to do a little happy dance to let it all out! (I kept quiet during video taping of course ;) But Mayci was all about it!
*video is sideways, sorry!

Jammies

Our niece, Taylor, with our girls last night. (I know Maddie's long leg is showing, and Mayci... in her mixed match PJ's, but oh well! ;)

Ramblings

I'm getting SO excited for Christmas. Maddie and I wrapped a few presents yesterday for everyone... well, actually my plan was to put my iPod on and have some alone time in our room to wrap up presents- but she REALLY wanted to help. To the point where she was pouting that I wasn't letting her help me. (Mainly for the fact that I just wanted to get it done!) Ugh, I can't handle the pouting and head-hanging... it drives me crazy. So, I caved and let her help with a few. There really was no reason she couldn't- I just had my mind set. Anyway- GIRL for ya.

I feel like I've been a scatterbrain lately trying to keep everything straight w/ Christmas parties, gifts, programs, concerts, a birthday party, working, just being a good mom and wife, etc, etc. I love this time of year so much- but do you sometimes just feel overwhelmed a little?? I have a ton of education to complete at the hospital too- just annual stuff that I have put off. Now it hangs over my head! This soon shall pass!

We took the girls to see Santa Friday night. Actually, we drove all around 8th street looking for the guy- Santa's House was supposed to be from 5-8:30 and we couldn't find him. So we ended up going to the mall- which was fine- but I forgot to bring my camera in. They were cute. All Mayci wanted was 'a purple present and Barney movie'. Maddie- she rambled on and on. It was funny b/c she's the one who doesn't believe in Santa, yet she had lots to say! ;)





I went out w/ a few girl friends last night... so much fun. We went to hear Sweet Japonic play at Founder's in Grand Rapids. They have really, really good music- sort of like a Dave Matthews Band feel. Founder's brews it own beer and I had the Cherry Ale- yum. We also shared a beer-cheese dip that was dee-lish! Anything with cream cheese I'm all about!



Ryan took the girls out for a night to play games/win tickets at Craig's Cruisers. They were pretty excited to show me what they won this morning.

Ok, I'm off to work for a couple hours. I taught SS this morning, Ryan is at our church service w/ the girls and I need to quick change into scrubs.

Have a great day!

Got it back... and A crush

Email is up and running again... I had to reset all of my internet settings/security/privacy and b/c Ryan and I have different logins (he uses SBC Yahoo and I use internet explorer) I just reset everything. It was fairly easy, but let's hope I did it right! ;)

So, Mayci is in her 3rd night of her big girl bed! We are so excited about this. I thought it would be a very long time, but the transition has gone incredibly well! I put a basket for her books and her mini-doodle right next to her bed (the toddler bed sits so low to the ground) and she just plays and looks at books, whatever. I don't want to jinx myself so I will just stop right there. It's adorable, but our little girl is just getting so big ;( I will post a picture later when I have a little more time.

Lastly, just to brief you.... Maddie has a little crush, so to speak, at school. Nothing major, just a boy she thought was funny and cute. We talk about it every now and then, I am just nosy and want to hear what she says. Maddie has told NO ONE this secret (not even her friends according to her) so I've been sworn to secrecy myself (of his name at least). Anyway, the reason I'm telling you this is b/c I was tucking her in tonight and she was telling me about the 3rd grade concert coming up and how they had to do a quick dance with a boy. So I teased her just a little about ****** (this boy) and said 'Ooh, I bet you want to dance with him!' Her comment... 'No way! He just got a really bad haircut!' I started laughing but she was so blunt and serious about it. Poor kid!!

Off to get my comfies on! Prison Break tonight!

Email issues

If you have sent me an email within the last, oh 3 days or so, I have not been able to get into my hotmail account. I need to make a phone call today!

Hope you had a great, snowy weekend!