Happy New Year!!!

Hello all!

I am approaching this evening with the best intentions to update our blog (scroll down to see the posts...from halloween to present) but first, I wanted to send all of our loved ones the best wishes for a bright and prosperous New Year. I truly can't believe it is almost 2009! I can't believe that I graduated from high school almost 16 years ago, that Eddie and I have been together for 14 years and married for 7 1/2 of those! I can't believe 2009 will be blessing us with another beautiful baby making us the parents of THREE kids!!!

Eddie is working tonight. He is a manager-on-duty at the hotel which promises to bring many interesting stories. So, I am sitting here with hot chocolate and a wish that my son would stop getting out of bed with those 'very important' questions.

I wish I was one of those people who could express myself well with the written word. I tend to ramble and use a lot of random punctuation in an attempt to get my point across. Never-the-less, I will face this obstacle and attempt to give my thanks as eloquently as possible.

My 'thanks'..all of which are too important to rank so I will just list. My husband: An unexpected, beautiful surprise. He snuck under the radar and I fell in love. He has surpassed all of my expectations and defined for me the term unconditional love. He is an amazing father and a true friend to all who need him. His promise to me is unquestionable and my life with him has been doubt-free. How could I ask for more? My kids: They are constant reminders of God's miracles. They teach me more than I have learned in all of my education...not only about the world but about myself.They are healthy, strong, hilarious, infuriating, adorable, loving, generous, slow, warm,...they are my home. My bump: My dreams and fears all wrapped up in an adorable package. The microphone my husband uses to share his day. I am counting the days till I meet this very loved baby. My mom & sister: They are where I came from and where I always return. They are stubborn, fun, brave, weak, loving, fallible, precious. Bill: He loves my goofy family and gives my mother the companionship she has always deserved. He is funny, smart, frustrating, and caring. My family: They knew Mandy...braces, unplucked brows, lanky limbs, singing, precocious, Mandy...and they loved me for it. They are my go-to people. They are my past and my legacy. They are creators of who I am today. My girls: They are my relief from baby-talk and wiping butts. They laugh, support, sigh, cry and stay silent at all of the appropriate times. They scrapbook, watch movies, drink coffee (or whatever) and make time in their lives to ensure my sanity. Our friends: Priceless, beautiful, goofy people who fill the weird holes in our lives with meaning. We rejoice in their joy and pain in their sorrow. We will continue to extend our arms to them for whatever they may need. My health: I am overweight but I am healthy. My heart, lungs, brain, etc are all strong. I am nurturing a baby and am more beautiful for it. My home: I know that whatever happens in my life, I will always have a home. That may not mean that I will always carry a set of keys that unlocks a door I own. My home is with my family and I have faith that the relationships we cherish in our lives will always provide a home. My faith: It isn't something that requires proclamation. It is a sweet, gentle companion. It is private and unique and written only for my relationship with God. It nudges and guides but doesn't wrap me in certain doom for the faults I am working on. It is warm, safe, challenging and mine. My future: Something we are all blessed with but tend to forget exists. I have great hopes for it but I have been reminded this year that it is unpredictable. It may be home to great joys or great horrors. No matter what though...it is limitless. The choices I make are mine and can not me blamed on anyone. Every moment I am choosing this life and if I don't like it..it's my own damn fault for not choosing something else in the next moment. My future is every opportunity to make my life or someone else's better. It is the challenge to live up to that.

I don't know why the New Year brings it out in people. Why don't we make great promises to ourselves on any other day of the year? Wasn't today just as new as tomorrow will be? I hope I don't forget that. Happy 2009 people!!

Our visit to Sunnyvale

To Sunnyvale!

Over the weekend of December 5th, we traveled up to Sunnyvale to join Eddie's parents, brother, aunt and cousin in saying farewell to Eddie's granda, Marge. The little family service that they put together was perfect and sweet. So many nice, funny things were shared about Marge. It was something I will always remember.

The visit was a lot of fun for the boys, too! They got to visit with some of their favorite people!! Click on the picture about to see some of the pictures from the trip. Don't forget to click "slideshow"