Post # 200 - What I Believe

WOW!  200 posts on my blog already. Both time and my life seem to be flying by. Although numerous posts to this blog are either random or ridiculous (sometimes both), I love to look through my archives and reflect on what I was doing (or thinking) "on this day" last year.  
I am sooo glad that I started this blog.  Not just for me, but for Devin and Brooke to read decades from now. This year alone, I look back at our family trips to Sea World, Holiday World and our visit to Lynchburg and Alabama. We welcomed 2 new in-laws to the family with Brad & Michaela's wedding and Tiffany & Kendal's wedding. We welcomed two new precious babies, Dash & Braxton into the family. We also lost "Ma", my grandmother. My sister completed her chemotherapy and is now cancer free (Thank you Jesus). So many life changing events can happen in a years time. I hope to start printing my year by year blog soon with BLOG2PRINT, just in case the Blogger website ever decides to shut down. 

Anyway, this 200th post is probably my  last post for 2010. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and we have plans, so I won't have time to post again until after midnight. With that said, I leave you with my thoughts and reflections for this past year (and life in general).

What I Believe

• Jesus died for my sins.

• A mother's work is never done.

• Trust is the most important thing in any relationship.

• Together is the best place to be.

• You don't marry someone you can live with-you marry the person you can't live without. (I did)

• Happiness isn't about having what you want, it's about wanting what you have.

• Tough love. sometimes.

• A Child's heart is the purest.

• Saying I love you every day.

•The Best things in life...aren't things.

• Saying sorry is the hardest thing (for me) -gotta work on that pride thing. ugh.

• Expensive things won't make you happy. Free hugs and kisses do it for me.

• You will always need your parents no matter how old you are.



Winding Down December

I have sorted files on my computer, looked through videos, made photo CD's for those I have been promising to make them for, made another trip to the movie theatre, worked on my scrapbook & went to lunch with my family at Olive Garden in the past 2 days. We seen

at the movies. I sorta feel like I have spent the last week at the theatre.

Today after the Olive Garden lunch, Brookelynn and I did a bit of shopping at Hobby Lobby since they have so much scrapbook stuff on sale this week.

I have spent the afternoon tinkering with my scrapbook junk. Mostly, I just got it organized. I only put about three photos on paper...by then, I was over it and ready to do something else; however my scrapbook closet is as neat as a pen.

I never seem to accomplish anything that I set out to achieve.

 I suffer from 2 different syndrome's...A.D.D. & O.C.D.

You have probably figured that out already from my random blog ramblings.

Family dinner for 10

We just got back from another family dinner. This time it was at O'Charley's. These gift cards are just burning up our pockets LOL.  It has been pretty quiet around the Hayes House the past couple of days. Devin has been glued to the PS3, only coming out of his room for a bathroom break. We even have to MAKE him stop to eat.

Brookelynn has her computer, crafty stuff to make, and her globe to keep her occupied in her room. Between the globe and the netbook, who knows where our next travels will take us.
Thank goodness she doesn't have an Expedia or Travelocity account LOL.

The tree was looking pretty lonely since Christmas has passed, so we disassembled it last night.

Dinner and a Movie

Yesterday was a cold and snowy day. We stayed inside for the most part. We did go on a tripple date last night though. Dinner and a movie.

Christmas Day Recap

Brookelynn woke up at 5am yesterday morning to find that Santa had visited. We pleaded with her to go back to bed for just a little while longer. Thank goodness she said OK and somehow managed to sleep for a couple more hours. 7:30 was her breaking point, so that's when our day began.

 Devin received 3 new shirts, new snow gloves and new socks

 The Play Station 3 with the MOVE Bundle

 He also got NCAA Football 11 & the Skate 3 games that he asked for.

The new skateboard under the tree was his too.

 Brookelynn found books in her stocking

She must have been on the "nice" list because she received a new laptop and wireless mouse 

 Devin could not get over the fact that Brookelynn asked Santa for a GLOBE for Christmas.

 A real cash register was also on her list...and Santa brought it.

 After presents, Brookelynn decorated Jesus' Birthday Cake

Around noon, we headed up to Mildred's for to celebrate Christmas with the rest of the family.

We got Libby a Hello Kitty toaster that she seemed to be happy about.

 Brookelynn received her first "toy" gifts of the year, which were Bop It and a Justin Beiber doll.

Earlier Christmas morning, she had told me and Stroker that she felt like she was growing up because she had not received any toys this year. 

 All the kids tore into gifts at once.

Nan really liked the apron we had custom made for her.

 Later yesterday evening, 16 of us went to the movies to see Yogi Bear.

It was a good kid's movie.

Christmas at Moms

Our Christmas Eve tradition is to get together with family at moms house. Today, just before the sun went down, guess who knocked on the door?

 He had a talk with baby Braxton first

 He told Brookelynn that she was on the nice list.

 Devin was a little unsure what Santa was going to say to him.

 Katelyn felt pretty confident that she was on the nice list.

 The Goodwin Family

 The Hayes Family

 The Burks Family

 The Dobson Family

 The Drouillard's minus the kiddos

 Nana (Darlene) and her grand kids

After Santa left to get started on his deliveries, the kids tore into the gifts

The best gift is getting all the family together. This is becoming more and more of a rare occurrence as the years go by.

Taking time for hugs.

After 4 hours of  giggling, eating, squealing and ripping paper... everyone was pretty much worn out.

.

Christmas Eve Eve

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, so does that make today Christmas Eve Eve?

Last night, Brookelynn's cousin Libby came over for a sleep over. Those girls sat up till 1am watching Disney Channel.

Today was a productive day considering driving through town was as slow as molasses. Brooke & I made it to Sears, JC Penney, Wal-Mart & the cable office. I also got 4 loads of laundry done at home. Not to mention the floors and the bathroom tub are now clean. Christmas R&R...here I come!.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Yesterday, I picked up our Santa hats at Sonic that I had ordered from the car hop.

They are crochet.

 Tonight we made a trip to the Mt. Juliet Target to take back the original gift that I had ordered for Daddy this Christmas (a weather radio). It arrived today...just a couple of days late (since we already had Christmas at dads).

I wound up getting him one of those stick family window decals for his truck. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I think about 99% of the population has them on their back window these days.

If our family had one, it would probably look something like this...

That's all for now, the dryer buzzer just went off...time to fold.

Winter Solstice

Here is a quick science lesson for those of you that are not quite sure what "Winter Solstice" is exactly...

I will start by saying I am glad to have this day behind me each year. Winter Solstice is the day with the shortest time of daylight hours for the entire year. After today, the daylight will gradually begin to hang around longer (about 1 extra minute of daylight added each day). These winter months are so depressing when the air is cold and damp and the darkness sets in by 4:00.   You can study the diagram below if you like. I put it there for your benefit LOL.

No matter how many daylight hours you have, 

Don't Count the Days...Make the Days Count

Which reminds me...Today also happens to be my nephew Trent's 20th birthday.

2010 Christmas Wish List

Here are the final lists, and once it has posted to my blog, there is no turning back, because as we all know...Santa reads my blog.  

So, after the kids were done updating the updates of their revised revisions, the "official" lists are below. 

Christmas Gatherings

Today was our annual Christmas celebration at Daddy's.  Brookelynn played paparazzi, so I am actually in a few of these photos; however there are no photos of the gifts because everyone was too busy tearing paper to pick up the camera. We had a great time, just like always. I had a tough time figuring out what gift to get dad as always, but I ended up getting him a stick family window sticker that had him, Phyllis and their two dogs. He seemed to like it. Now I can start figuring out what to get him for Father's Day.

"Girl" and Daddy (and my extra chin LOL)

Heather and Darlene 

My great nephew Dash 

Darlene, Jett, Zander, Dash and Matasia 

Delano & Dash 

Brookelynn 

Brad, Darlene, Stacia, & Trent 

 Katelyn, Devin and Ally 

Madison 

Brad...not so sure what he was thinking 

Stroker 

Heather 

Darlene & Brookelynn 

Darlene and Trent 

Daddy and Phyllis 

Mike & April's Christmas Card that I created.