Good bye "baba"

Today is day 3 that Ethan has not had his baby bottle! He will be 2 years old on January 30th and I am well aware of the fact that he should have had his bottle taken away a long time ago, but this has been hard on both of us. I took the bottle away from Alyssa on her first birthday and never looked back, but Ethan is "my baby". I must admit that I have tried to take it away before but always seem to give in more for me then Ethan, see I have no intentions at this point of having anymore children and I guess the fact that Ethan is using his "big boy cups" is hard. This morning he didn't even ask for his "baba", and yet it was all I could think about. I know this sounds crazy but I guess this is just the beginning and I fear now what will I do when they grow up and leave home=(. So I guess it is offically good bye to the "baba".

Daddy showing ethan the tickle me Elmo
Ethan quickly got the hang of opening the gifts

Alyssa was so excited she got her "reading pen"

Daddy helping Ethan

Why are we waking them up on Christmas morning, Ethan is waking alyssa!

Christmas morning

Well What better way to show your hubby how much you love him on the eve of his birthday then to take him out to dinner where they make him stand on a chair and embarress him!!! Kyle will be 31 years old on 12/28 and I couldn't be happier. We have been together since his was 19 years old and I was 18 years old...WOW. Time does fly when you are having fun. I can't believe it.
I had to snap a quick picture of us at his birthday bbq in our colts shirts and showing our "pride" and of course they won!!! It has long been our silly tradition of taking picture of ourselves...funny I know but also hard to get a pick together when you are the only people there! Well Happy birthday Kyle and I am happy to say we have celebrated 12 birthdays of yours together and hopefully many more.

The closing of 2008....

I will say my good bye's to 2008 in order:

January '08: Ethan turned 1 years old and we had a great party at Little lake bryan.
February '08: Kyle and Alyssa enjoyed the Daddy daughter dance for Valetine's day.
March '08: Kyle and I celebrated 5 years of marriage!!!(been together for 11 years)
April '08: I turned 29 shhh one more year til it all goes down hill!
May '08: Alyssa turns 5 years old and we celebrate by our yearly tradition of staying at a Disney hotel for the weekend.
June '08:We take a week vacation to Cocoa beach with Ga friends!
July'08:We are packing and preparing to move to OUR HOUSE!!!
August '08: We are offically moved into our new home and Alyssa starts kindergarten
September '08: Kyle and I took a trip to Savanah for a friend's 30th and had a great time.
October '08:Halloween Alyssa was marrying Ariel and Ethan was a monkey!!!
November '08: Ethan got his first hair cut at Disney!! It was a fun experience! I cried a little.
December'08: Christmas!!!! Kyle's birthday! A great end to a great year.

As I reflect on 2008 it was a tough year alot of ups and downs but over all I must say we have been lucky. Of course every year is a way to start fresh and do better then the last but each thing that we experince is to teach us a lesson or a stepping stone to doing better! I look back and sigh but look forward and smile. 2009 Bring it on!!!!!

Christmas Fun Survey

I took this survey from a friend's blog and thought this would be fun.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, it is more fun to open
2. Real tree or Artificial? Always Real
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually 2-3 weeks before Christmas
4. When do you take the tree down? I wish we didn't have too...but usually the first week in January it is done.
5. Do you like eggnog? No
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I would have to say the year I got my ten speed! Still fresh in my mind.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Alyssa
8. Easiest person to buy for? Ethan
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No, I wish I did
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? MAIL and email year update
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Never heard of a bad gift
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Grinch
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Mid December (every year I promise to do better)
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Don't think so...
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Guilt free eating!!!
16. Lights on the tree? Yes
17. Favorite Christmas song? I like them all can't think of one right now.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? HOME
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents on Christmas Eve or morning? We exchange with the cousins and open one then the rest in the morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? So much to do and NO time
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I buy the kids ornaments every year to make something from that year I love decorating the tree and just talking about what each one means.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Honey baked Ham
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Peace and love and to all be together.....and I should have said all of the family together and then with peace and love...haha

My Way Awesome Friend!

I have an awesome friend (Alisha) who introduced me to the fun, fun world of blogging! I can't wait to get started on writing about my families adventures! This is time well spent... not like silly, immature My Space! Please stay tuned for more on 'The Story of Us"!