happy new year!!

it's about 10pm. i am trying to stay awake til the new year's first minute. not sure if i'll make it. two of the kids are already getting delirious. you know when you are so tired you just act plain stupid and then giggle nonstop about it? yeah, me either. but the kids are just about right there. alex is home playing some video game live on the xbox--getting his butt kicked by some 10yr old boy in india. :) yes, we are seriously into celebrating the newest year.

to inspire a fresh clean new year, i pulled my better homes & garden january 2008 issue off my bookshelf. and alex said, i'd never look at those again...i figure the tips for '08 are just as good for '10. i know for a fact i didn't keep up with all those clutter control tips and the organizational skills they tried to teach me back then well, i am in need of a new lesson.

there is something amazing about the start of a new year. as i get older, i find myself looking forward to it. a new month can be a great welcome, and it is known waking up to a new day can help mend yesterdays broken heart. but a new year--well, it brings with it so much hope. so much potential. it is so BIG and so very much can happen. and i love the possibility in the air.

2009 has been good. so much growing and maturing for my children. a little heartbreak here and there-just enough to teach life's lessons. izzy's broken arm healed. her return to singing everyday. new best friends. she is finally enjoying a book each night. logan's grades back up to fantastic. his fascination with legos and astronomy and science and spies. camille's obsession with skinny jeans. her entering teenager life-to its fullest. a new boyfriend--even though its not allowed. she also entered the workforce of babysitting and she loves the families she sits for and she really enjoys having her own money. (and has not complained at loaning mom a few dollars when necessary).there is much to be happy for my kids this past year. they always improve on their beautiful selves and continue to amaze me. i am so very lucky to have such truly good, gifted children.

alex spent some time away this year again; but is home now and we all made it through. he is extremely happy with his job and even though once again the military life brings much sacrifice, him being proud of what he does carries over into our family life and that is a very good thing. he finally at age 36 grew a beard. well, i don't think it was called a beard, but you could actually SEE it, which is new for him. and he is finally attempting to read at bedtime as well. :)

what have i done this year? my usual. some volunteering at school. some scrapbooking. a little home decorating. a constant battle with my 10 pound weight loss. i go up, i go down. i'm currently down by 3. go me! i did take a few steps up in my crafty business. making more money than i ever have. branching out a bit. i also made a few new friends, and they are really nice women and i am thankful that we moved where we are (even if the house is smaller then i wished, i am finding it cozy as well) and welcome the chance to spend time getting to know them better. i am feeling the beginnings of home...yes a year and a half later, but thats the usual for me. i know i won't want maryland to be home forever, but i am so glad that i am feeling like i fit okay here. you military wives know what i'm talking about. it is so hard to be in a place where you just can't feel right. :)

as a family we celebrated a huge achievement by buying a new home here in maryland. settling into this community on a semi-temporary permanent basis. :) the split level design is not our favorite, but everyone has a room and we have a nice yard and the kitchen is bigger than any we've ever had and we get to live on a cul de sac where everyone is safe. we are having good memories made here. having my cousin kelly's family visit in the summer was wonderful. henry higgins is beginning to fill all of our hearts--even mine. i know i said it would never happen, but i find him not so scary anymore and am growing rather fond of him.

and our latest happy family adventure this week has been teaching buster baxter to shake his paw. and if you know buster, then you know this is a miracle. a very sweet happy miracle. he does NOTHING but eat and sleep and lounge in the sun if possible. so him learning this new--his only trick at age 7 is just the happiest thing for all of us. we are so very proud and lavish him with kisses when he does it.

of course, there are so many big and little things that happened this year to my family. of which i wish i spent more time documenting them here. but guess what? i have a whole new year to try again? and i bet so much more to come.

i wish for a fantastic new year to everyone. i'm so ready for 2010; how about you? even the number is cool.

lovingly,

sherry