The cold and snow!

People think I am crazy for saying how much I love winter in the mid-west. And honest to goodness, I really do love it. The cold makes us stay indoors and hang out as a family, and we get to cuddle up by the fire. And the snow, it has been 5 winters now, and I still love to watch the snow fall, and I love to stand outside when it is falling to listen to it. It whispers as it falls. And even though Mike does 99.9% of the shoveling, the little bit that I do is fun. Call me crazy, but 80 degrees in the middle of winter is just not right, at least not anymore. And man, I don't have to drive hours to go sledding, we just walk out our front door, and sled onto the pond. I love winter.

An awww moment!

Last weekend, Payton had a sleep over, so Garret was downstairs with me watching TV. He was actually playing with the Transformers his Papa got him a few years ago for Christmas. Anyway, we had been up late the night before at a neighbor's house playing dominoes, and the kids both got up early the next day. So by 10pm, Garret seemed a bit tired. He asked if he could have a hug, how could I say no, so he came and sat in my lap and gave me a hug. During his hug, he started talking about the Lego Indiana Jones game he got and the characters he got. All of the sudden he stopped mid-sentance, so I shifted a bit and asked him what he was talking about, he didn't say a thing. He had fallen asleep on my chest mid-sentance. He hasn't done that since he was 2 or 3. I didn't want to get up, I figured how often will my son ask to give me a hug and then fall asleep in my arms. He is growing up so fast. His teacher just told us he went from a first grade reading level in September to a second grade reading level. Whoo Hoo, so all the reading we have been making him do is paying off, I am so proud of him.

2009

Well, looking back at 2008, I have realized a few things.

1. I am not now nor will I ever be Martha Stewart, as witnessed by the pinata Christmas ornaments that are still sitting on my dryer half done.

2. As rough as things were, it all worked out the way it was supposed to and honestly it helped to me to take a long hard look at myself and decide if I am heading in the right direction.

3. There are only 4 things in my life that are truly, truly important, God, Mike, Payton and Garret, without them, I would be nothing.

So here I go jumping feet first into 2009, knowing that it is going to be our best year yet, that we will make through whatever gets thrown our way. And if I toss a new craft into the mix all the better, but hopefully I will remember to start it earlier rather than later.