Then, came my birthday. I have to admit that celebrating my 39th birthday was a little sobering. It's hard to believe that I am old enough to have a senior in high school and that I am approximately 6 years away from not having anyone around. I started my birthday this year with a card and candy from mom. I went to work and found cookies on my desk so that was nice. That night, I had Hawaiian Haystacks with the kids, mom and dad, David and Kris. I wanted cheesecake instead of cake so they lined the sides with candles (thank goodness, it wasn't with all 38 - or it would have been crispy!). The next night, I went to dinner with Kris and Mom. We went to my favorite restaraunt, Texas Roadhouse - ribs, steak and all off the fixings plus a piece of cheesecake to take home! It was fun! 

Hello, I can't believe how fast time is going this year already! I am so busy everyday! Well, the birthdays are almost over. We celebrated Kris's, David's and mine in the past month. We missed celebrating with other family members who were gone but thought of them. We celebrated Kris's birthday by having chicken and a cake that Celeste made. Kris made this very colorful Bubble Gum cake for David for his Birthday. We had pizza, ice cream and cake! 

ME! Now, it's back to the new year! My new year's resolutions are the ones I am always working on - being a better parent, getting to bed on time and having good health and being happy! I hope that this next year will be a happy one!

Christmas Dinner! I made up my own glaze this year - honey orange clove and it was REALLY good! We had all of the traditional. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, salads, breads, jello, pie. Mom and Dad and David came over for a little while. The kids and I set out the Christmas china that I have now officially had for 20 years (and PSHEW! nothing has been broken yet!). It was a good day and we were very blessed with everything that we had.

We saw Joe and Jessica and girls for a couple of days after Christmas. We went over to the church by mom and dad's and some of them "raced" 4-wheelers in the new snow. The kids had fun! I played piano for a while. We talked and ate and then went to "High School Musical III". The little girls greatly enjoyed the movie!

Celeste, getting one of her unexpected "gifts" that

I found on such a GREAT deal that I could not help getting one! She had been my Santa helper the day before running with me to help another family with a couple of gifts. I got one of these sweaters for the mom of the family but it was on such a great deal, I got one for her too!

Celina and her "hot" lava lamp

Celeste and her "froggies"


Alec and Sterling and their
"trick" pack of Oreos

This was Christmas morning. We decided to open our presents in the downstairs family room around the "santa tree" this year. They all received things they wanted and weren't expecting. Alec was quite shocked to find that part of the gift had been eaten by Santa! "You better watch out! You better not cry! You better not steal oreos! I'm telling you why!". And Santa had a strong eye out on his Oreos. We were very grateful to all of the people in the family who made Christmas a fun one this year! After opening gifts, we had treats of all kinds up stairs.

Other pictures of Thanksgiving! Celina and Tyler Kate on the couch before Thanksgiving dinner. I am by the Christmas tree upstair by the dinner table. Whew! we had finally finished the dinner.

"Santa, baby, I just want a date!" (Didn't I ask for that last year?)

"Well, if Santa wouldn't get me a date, then my kids decided to (but there is a story to it!)

When we were at Tara's house, she told us a story about a lady she knew. Someone gave her a "flat Stanley" - a paper card cut-out of a guy that she went places with and took pictures of as her "date". Well, when we were at Tara's on Saturday, my "present" was a flat Stanley. He got stored away and I came home after work, the following week, to find that I had an official date with "flat Stanley" (actually a poster of Jeff Gordon). They made spaghetti and had sparkling cider, chocolate cake and a box of chocolates. They set the table with my Christmas china and candles. It was really fun (especially after a difficult day at work!). Dinner is served, my dear!