Sunday, January 6, 2008

Christmas Review and Happy 2008!!!

Obviously, I need to post more often so I don't end up with these mega picture posts. Just wanted to show a bit of Chirstmas around our place. These are some little sugar and salt scrubs that I made for gifts.

I also made sets of cards to give away this year. Here are just a few...

Little miss opening her gifts on the big day. Boy, was she ever into it this year. Three hours of opening at grandma's apparantly wasn't enough for her. She couldn't believe there weren't any more when she was finished.

Blurry pic of one of our trees. I got this one up before Thanksgiving so you can see a bit of my Thanksgiving decor on the mantle. Orange is one of my favorite colors so this tree is for me. I love all of the orange, gold and brown colors together. The other tree below was put up later.
My helper on a snow day getting gifts wrapped and under the tree.
Another snow day shot. We got out the glitter and glue and went to town. This is her version of a gingerbread girl. I love the crown earrings! Too cute...
I love these little Santa ornaments. So there you have it... a bit of what our Christmas looked like this year. We had a lovely season with lots of fun holiday events: Going to see the Nutcracker, holiday lights, many parties with family and friends, wreath making and craft days, cookie baking days, New Year's with good friends, etc.
The last week or two of the year were very interesting. Several events happened and culminated at once to make a crazy end to the year and set up an interesting start for 2008. We have had several friends and family suddenly diagnosed with terminal illnesses and other various things going on that have wreaked havoc in our lives. It kind of puts into perspective what is important as we head into the new year and think about changes to make in life.
I have had chaotic periods in life such as this and I know, as always, this too shall pass but it isn't very fun when you are in the middle of it.
To really add some excitement to the mix, I decided to head back to school. I have been down many paths with school... I have an AA, a BA in English, two-thirds of a nursing degree (decided that I couldn't handle being charged with the care of someone else's life...saw too many mistakes being made while I was in school and it freaked me out) and basic and advanced floral design certificates to name a few. I love learning something new and would be a professional student if I could make any money off of it. Now, I find myself wanting to do something more creative with the potential to earn income and work from home so I am heading off to get a Multimedia Design & Production degree, which is essentially learning Graphic & Web Design.
I'm super excited and can't wait to get started. I have really (happily and willingly) put my interests on hold these last 4 or 5 years as we started down the path to parenthood. I'm usually very goal oriented and I feel like I have been floundering these last few years. I guess my goal was just surviving becoming a parent and finding my way with that. It will be hard to have the new schedule and I worry how it will effect my daughter but I know in the end we all will benefit from the time I will be able to spend with her in the long run and, hopefully, will be able to work from home etc. So lots going on now... I know 2008 is going to be a year of transitions with all that is happening. Change, even though exciting, is uncomfortable sometimes. My mom's mantra (that I have taken to be my own) has always been "it all works out in the end" and it really does (it has brought me through times of fighting over a toy with my sister to some really big decisions in life.) I just keep telling myself that and keep plugging along. Thanks mom...
So Happy 2008... can I just tell you that I laughed so hard when watching the local fireworks show on TV. We had had so many crazy things already going on in life that week and then were watching the countdown on TV to New Year and anticipating a lovely firworks show... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, screaming "Happy New Year" and listening to the music start the show. One or two fireworks go off and then nothing. Several minutes go by and the music continues but still no fireworks. You could hear people booing in the background. I thought "well doesn't that just sum up the week for us". A friend and I were laughing later about all of the people that were trying to get engaged that night (not because it was funny for them but because how superstitious we are and how we would have been freaked out.) Can you imagine if you are waiting for the big show to pop the question or have just been asked for your hand in marriage and then that happens? I definitely believe in signs so I would have told my husband to put the ring back and take back his question to ask me another day. I know...it all works out in the end.

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