Goodbye 2008....hello 2009!

I've been trying to figure out what to post for my last one of 2008....and I thought I would go back and look at last year. Well, that wasn't such a great idea because I didn't do too good with my goals! Oh well, I still think I had a good year......take a look at last year's goals.....


1. First off....Damnit......I WILL lose that "no smoking" weight. I know it won't be that easy but really, I have that new pink bike so how hard can it be! DECEMBER UPDATE - ummm...well, it IS HARD!! I didn't lose any...guess we'll work on that one again.

2. Find more time for scrapbooking - DECEMBER UPDATE - I didn't find time for scrapbooking BUT I did find time to set up my scrapbooking room and now have my awesome new TV....thank you Johnny boy! So I think I will find the time now.

3. Learn how to take awesome pics with my new camera - DECEMBER UPDATE - I DID take a class and I learned a whole lot. I have my new lens on order....thank you Johnny boy! I'm looking for another class.

4. Learn to quilt - DECEMBER UPDATE - Darn.....I just didn't have time this year. I want to take a class.....BUT I do have my sewing machine now set up in my new scrapbooking room so maybe it will happen!

5. Spend more time with mom and dad - DECEMBER UPDATE - I think I did this some but I still need to work on it even more. We took mom and dad on vacation with us this year and it was awesome!!

So, to all of my bloggy friends......HAPPY NEW YEAR! I wish you all of the best...good health and happy lives!

love.......Nina Diane

later.......

Christmas returns....

Johnny boy and I had a busy day today........so busy, it's bullet point worthy!

*We first went over to Ritz Camera as I could not figure out how to make my new macro lens work as autofocus on my camera.....well, come to find out, it won't work on my Nikon D40X! haha.....so I returned it and ordered the new Nikon 50mm, f1.4 with auto focus. It hasn't been released yet but I'm on the list!!

*Then we returned some jeans I had bought for Jake to Kohl's and I bought myself some new shoes. Now I have to order him some from his fav place...Swell.

*Next up.....we headed over to Lens Crafters to get my new glasses. And pretty much, I felt like they were rude. I've been getting my glasses there since I started wearing glasses so I was a little disappointed. So I left! Went over to For Eyes and ordered my new glasses.......which took care of what was left in my flex spend account.

*Target next......just some hair products and laundry detergent

*Lunch at The Peking....yum

*Costco of course.......just some of our regular purchases.....milk, coffee, coffee mate, trash bags, etc

then home......and made a nice pot of coffee.
Turkey sandwiches for dinner
relaxing with some wine
and now it's about time for bed

later........

help...please....

It's Sunday night and the Cowboys failed to show up for their game that COULD have gotten them into the playoffs.....oh well, there's always next year.

it's hot here! I mean just hot.....like it's 77 degrees in my house right now and it's 9:45 pm. good grief........

Now....please help me. I don't know how to get my pics a little bit larger when I post on this here blog

can someone tell me?

later....

Pictures.......

pics from Christmas......

*Jake and Bucky hanging out in the tent

*Jake snowboarding with th wii

*Christmas trash

*Maddox and his big wheel

*Bucky and Jake playing guitar hero....ummm...sitting down!

*Johnny with his new sign for his bar.....from Jacquelyn and Bucky

*Mr. Marley

*Jacquelyn and her baby dogs.....

*My new lens

*Maddox in his new Christmas pj's

*Nicole enjoying breakfast

later.......

Our Christmas......

We had such a wonderful Christmas! I feel so blessed......everyone was healthy and happy and really, what more can you ask for! I think this Christmas was the latest we have slept since having children.....7:00 am! wow! Jacquelyn and Bucky had come over and spent the night so Jacquelyn came running up stairs at 7:00 to get everyone up! And what fun......tearing through all of the gifts, breakfast casserole, lots of coffee, cinnamon buns.....

Nicole let Maddox sleep and sleep he did! I think he woke around 8:30 and had a bit of a confused look on his face. But that didn't last long as he caught on to opening presents. There were times that I think he was a little overwhelmed or rather, he just wanted to play with the toys he had already opened......so we would have to wait a while to give him another to open. He really had fun but I think the best part for him was his Big Wheel.....once that came out, it's all he was really interested in.

My mom and dad came over for a little while and then my BIL, niece and nephew. By night time everyone was gone and it was me in a recliner with a glass of wine relaxing. Christmas is so much fun and so tiring!

We spent Friday just hanging out and gorging on food....haha! Realizing that we really should stop eating......off we went to.....well, what else.....SHOP!! We bought a beverage holder for Johnny's bar. It keeps 128 cans chilled!! And we bought a TV stand for my NEW TV! Thank you Johnny boy.....he gave me a 32" LCD HD flat screen TV for my scrap/sew room. AND....he even had already gone to the cable company and got the box and DVR.......how awesome is my Santa!

Saturday was spent at my sister's house with all of my family. The young kids all opened up their presents then my mom and dad gave out all of their gifts to everyone. After that we did our crazy gift exchange........so much fun. We all brought 2 or 3 appetizers so grazing was the way we ate all.day.long! It has just been such a wonderful time.

So now we have football tomorrow.....then on Monday Johnny and I have a few exchanges to make. Johnny boy also gave me a really cool macro lens for my camera but I'm not doing something right so we need to go by the camera shop so someone can help me.

So here's a bunch of pics.....
*We gave Maddox a frog tent.....so here's Nicole and I hanging out with him. And then of course Bucky and Jake in the tent!
I was going to post a bunch of pictures but I can't get bloggy to love me tonight!
I'll try a little again...

later

There are nice people......

So apparently, my package that contains most of Jake's Christmas is in limbo in some little post office in West Virginia.

But because of a wonderful gal at Swell, we will get our stuff tomorrow.....guaranteed! She re-created the order and shipped overnight express. She said we should have it before 8:00 pm Christmas eve.

there are nice people in the world......

later

Arghh........

Right now I am not a fan of Fedex Smart Post...........hello! who even heard of that!!
I placed an order online with a company in CA and was expecting delivery last Friday. This is pretty much half of Jake's Christmas.......yes HALF!!
the tracking last shows the package being delivered on the 18th in West Virginia.......ack!! I'm in Virginia! At that point, the Post Office takes over except that when I talk to them, they have no record of the package.

I have to wait a couple of more hours for the business on the West Coast to open before I can "calmly" explain to them that they did a major goof up!!!!

I guess worst case..........ummmmm, really, I have nothing for worst case. Not sure what I will tell my son.

later........

Five for Fighting......

I love that band "Five for Fighting"

Johnny and I were at the hockey game and 2 of the guys were in a fight....then sent to the penalty box, adult time out...haha.
I noticed they got 5 minutes in the box for fighting......

I said to Johnny......they get 5 for fighting

he said yes, that's what that band is named for ...... 5 for Fighting.

guess I didn't know

later......

4 more days....

I think I pretty much get into the holiday spirit around Thanksgiving. It's just my fav time of year and I enjoy the build up to the 25th of December.....Jesus' birthday. And I've learned over the years to not stress...to do what is necessary but to enjoy as you go along. And I think I have really been getting better each year with that. I did some final shopping yesterday, picked up Chrissy from getting her holiday hair cut and then hit the grocery store. I had my list and was planning on buying everything I need from now until Christmas. I had menu plans and recipes out....you just can't get anymore prepared than that!

and for some silly reason, as I was leaving the grocery store, that holiday spirit smacked me in the face again. I just felt good......excited and happy about.... well, everything! And no, I wasn't drinking..... haha......here are just a bunch of pics from around the house, us making candy and our little guy Maddox!

later.......

One more week.......

I sure hope I receive a few UPS packages soon......

later...

Sunday.....

It's been a busy weekend

Lots and lots of shopping.

I'm almost done

And lots and lots of wrapping....I'm almost done with that too!

Did a little baking......Russian tea cookies.

Watching football all day and I have 6 wrong from today!!

7 more work days and then I'm off until Jan 5th....woo hoo!

later........

Braces...

Maddox received his braces today for his ankles.......

look at how tiny

I know these are going to help him so much

I wished he didn't need all of this but it's all good, it will help him

later.........

A Christmas post.....

I was chatting with Jacquelyn this afternoon....actually we were emailing...haha!
we were talking about how people complain about the commercialism of Christmas. And here's just my opinion........I think people who do that, they are just looking for a reason to complain. Because I don't see commercialism all around.....nope, I see the beautiful Christmas decorations and I see people out shopping having fun....old and young, laughing together. I have more people hold the door open for me and more people smile at each other. People just seem nicer...and that's fine. Even if it is just one time of the year....it's ok. I wish it was more but at least they do it!

And that's because regardless of what stores do or what shows are on TV....Christmas is what you make it. I don't mind decorations coming out in October..they are beautiful so it's just fine by me. We raised our children in church, they know the reason for the season, we taught them to help the less fortnate, and now as adults, they continue with that. We spend the holidays at home not party hopping...we spend good quality family time together and we have a bunch of holiday traditions that we still do...no matter how old the kids are. And it's fun.....it's just fun at our house during the holidays. And we keep God's love in our hearts year round....not just Christmas. But Christmas is a reminder to everyone of God's love and you know what, there's nothing wrong with that......we all need reminders!

I guess what I'm saying is the holiday season is what you make it to be.....and don't tell me there is too much commercialsim because you know, I'll just smile. And I'll wish for you that you will see the real beauty of the season.

later........

In Glen Allen, Virginia.......

it is snowing.......right now

might just be flurries

might just be a clipper system

but it's snowing........right now!

later......

Christmas shopping........

Johnny boy and I went Christmas shopping last night

We stopped by the going out of business Linens and Things

We bought new bathroom scales......as we had the other one since we got married so I was pretty sure they were "off" a little

ummm.....let's say "off" a lot

looks like I know what my New Years resolution will be........

later....