Looking Back...2009.

I am blessed. It has been a busy and fast year. Many days are a blur and I can't remember all the details of the year--but, I know I am blessed. I am blessed with a loving husband, who helps and supports me. I am blessed with two beautiful children. I am so blessed to have a Heavenly Father who saved me and loves me. I look forward to 2010. I love making New Years' Resolutions. I do. It is so exciting to look at the future and dream. So here's to 2010...May we all be aware of the blessing in our lives and set some new goals. Dream Big!

A few happenings in our Home in 2009:

• Allen turned the BIG 4-0.


• We survived the worst ice storm, ever in NW Arkansas.


• Georgia-Kate turned a year old. We celebrated BIG!
• We celebrated my Dad as he retired from Wal-Mart after nearly 30 years. He is now learning the banking business.
• I attended a Fitness Bootcamp and loved it.


• I ran my 1st 5k and completed two others.


• Benjamin played his first year of t-ball.
• Georgia-Kate began walking, in the Spring. She hasn't slowed down yet!


• Allen and I were on a mission team headed to Honduras. We didn't get to go after the unrest within their government.{That was hard...but God's plans are perfect.}


• We spent lots of time in the pool. Georgia-Kate loves the water.


• We didn't travel much, this year.
• Benjamin started school. He loves it.


• My mom and I attended the Beth Moore Simulcast event. It was great. I loved every minute of it. Life-Changing!
• I attended my first "fish fry"...Thanks to my sister. It was a Blast and Yummy!
• Our Hogs had a better season and are headed to a Bowl Game.

• I went back to work, part-time. God has blessed me with an opprotunity to serve in my church. It is exciting and a little stressfull.

• We experience a little scare with my brother's health. But, God is good...and he is doing very well.

• Allen won one of his Fantasy Football Leagues. {Yes, he plays in more than one...Crazy, right?!}

• We enjoyed a busy and wonderful Holiday season with our friends and family.

Happy New Year! I'm off to complete my Resolutions...

Christmas Afternoon...

Our Christmas celebration continued at my parents' house with lunch and more gifts. We are so blessed. We began sharing gifts after by brother, Todd, read to the kids...the sweetest children's book about the birth of Jesus. The book was a based on Luke's account of the birth. After he finished the book, Benjamin said "We didn't hear the part about bad King Herod...he didn't like baby Jesus." Out of the mouth of babes. I pondered how sad it is that many people in our present day don't like baby Jesus: The King of Kings.

Here are a few more photos of Christmas Day. {We spent Christmas Eve with Allen's parents. I didn't get any good pictures. We usually take a family photo...it just didn't happen, this year.}

My sweet Georgia-Kate opening a gift.

Benjamin with his first gift of many.....almost too many.

{Notice in this photo...G-K has on different shoes...she opened these silver shoes and had to wear them immediately. That's my girl!}

My brother, Todd helping Georgia-Kate with her new shopping cart.

Aunt T, my sis, gave both the girls a pink shopping cart...They loved them.

Georgia-Kate was so excited about the cart that she quit opening other gifts.

Isn't this Hilarious?! My niece, Hailey.

The other end of the sweet girl who climbed in the bag.

The race of the Shopping Carts! They were filling the carts with whatever they could find. It is never too soon to train a good shopper.

Christmas Morning...

We spend Christmas Morning at home before heading out to my parents for lunch. We try to get up early and have breakfast. We made some cinnamon rolls, this year. Benjamin and Georgia-Kate were so excited about their Santa gifts. Georgia-Kate ask for a bus and a baby. Benjamin ask for a bike. {Benjamin changed his wish list on the 23rd--but after a text message to Santa--he brought a bike. I was so glad that this "Santa" had not finished shopping.}

Did Santa Come?!
The Bike


The Pink Bus
Allen and Benjamin playing....

Christmas Eve Cookies

Benjamin and I decorated our traditional cookies for Santa. I ran out of time, this year, and we baked "break apart" sugar cookies. However, we still had a great time. And, Santa loved them...He even left a thank you note.

The cookie bakers.

The serious cookie decorator.
Our "b" cookie for Benjamin.

Santa's Cookies

WINNER!

The winner of my first GIVEAWAY in

honor of my 200th post is:

Rae at My Life on the East Coast

After a very scientific method {Allen picked a number between 1 and 26(26 because everyone got two entries)...he picked #3} So....Congrats to Rae. If you don't already read her blog, go over and check it out. She is adorable and so is her blog.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

May we all be reminded of God's love and the amazing gift he gave to with the birth of his son, Jesus.

“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

{Luke 2:16-20}

Don't forget to enter my 1st giveaway...Go HERE.

My 200th post and a giveaway...

Merry Christmas Eve...

In honor on my 200th post and in the spirit of Christmas....It's my first giveaway. I will pick a winner at 8pm on Saturday--Dec. 26th. Just leave a comment and you could win this WillowTree Angel and this fun Christmas ornament. My sweet followers will get an extra entry. Become a follower and get an extra entry, too.

{Just leave an extra comment!}

Okay...go ahead and enter. Merry Christmas!

Our new friend, "Twinkles"...

While at Big Cedar Lodge, last weekend, this sweet Elf came by for a visit. Her name is "Twinkles". Georgia-Kate and Benjamin adored her. She brought each of them a stocking full of goodies. {of course, she charged our room for the treats...haha} She asked all about their Christmas wishes and then read a book with them. She was adorable. The "elf tuck in" at Big Cedar is one of our favorite traditions of the Holidays.
{Georgia-Kate nearly fell asleep while she waited for the Elf.}

{My sweet boy.}
Sweet pajamas...

My next post is #200....I'm thinking about a give-away. It will be my first!

Santa's Party

Over the weekend, we celebrated my birthday with some time away at Big Cedar Lodge. We had such a crazy week and we enjoyed some much needed rest. Saturday afternoon, we went to see Santa. He was having a party!

Photos with Santa:
Cookies!

Santa's gift...he gave each child an Etch-a-Setch.

Family Photo.

Christmas Tour of Homes 2009

Welcome to our home...come on in. This year, I added the garland to the front stair case.

I love it!
I found these reindeer and red beads at the Christmas store in Eureka Springs. I added the zebra ribbon as an after thought...so glad I did.

Come on upstairs and see the kids' trees.
This is Benjamin's tree. His tree is filled with trains,animals,charcters from Disney,ect. Each year the kids pick out an ornament for their tree.
Benjamin, once again, picked a train for 2009.

However, it is really pretty.One of Benjamin's favorite bible stories is the the

story of Jonah and the Whale.

So, when I found this ornament...we had to have it.Georgia-Kate's tree. Yes, it is pink... and full of lot of girly ornaments and bows.

Georgia-Kate chose this cute little pig

for her 2009 ornament.

I didn't even lead her to a pink ornament...I promise.

I added this ornament to her tree, as well.
Isn't it pretty?!
This wreath is hanging at the bottom of the stairs. It's so fun and funky. The photo does not do it justice...
My mom bought it for me. Thanks, Mom.

The family room:

The stockings are hung...

Our Tree...we bought a fresh tree. It smells so good. My favorite thing about decorating for Christmas...the ornaments. Each ornament tells a story. We like to buy ornaments when we travel.


A few of my favorite decorations:

{in the kitchen and dining room}

My favorite Santa.

More Fresh Greens...

{I went a little crazy with fresh, this year}

Fresh Wreaths {on the back doors}

Santa Tree

{In the breakfast room}

I also hung the Advent Calendar, in the breakfast room.

{Click HERE to see it.}

Merry Christmas!

Hope you enjoyed my decor...I can't wait to see your Holiday decor! {this is one of my favorite weeks in blogworld}.

I've joined these wonderful Holiday Tours.

Go Check out all the beautiful homes:

The Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes

Hooked on Houses

Southern Hospitality