Ringing in the New Year

Happy New Year!

Beauty in the Common Things: Hearing Grant read to himself. He got plenty of new books for Christmas and now likes to sit and read to himself.

Listen In: Right now, I can hear Grant playing in his room. Sounds like he is sawing on his new toolbench. Nope, just banging on it like he's supposed to.

View from Kitchen Window: A clean backyard. The dogs have chewed up a few things and left it a mess. We got a chance to clean it all up while Grant was napping.

We have gotten SO much done since being out for school. Organizing, cleaning, and doing fun things with our little man. This is our last official day of vacation until March. Depressing, but I won't complain. Every time we have a long break from school, I have nightmares about me being unprepared for class or terrible kids that won't listen. I hate those dreams...and hope they never come true!

Early Christmas week, I made and decorated Christmas cookies with Grant. I remember my mom and I every year during the holidays doing this and then delivering them to elderly or ill friends. I want to keep this tradition up with Grant and help him to grow up the servant we are called to be. We had a great time making the cookies, just hated cleaning up the huge mess!! Good thing I kept my workout clothes on so that wouldn't matter too much. HAHA. We had all intentions of delivering the cookies, but the weather got bad. Family members got to enjoy the goodness instead.

We spent Christmas with my husband's family. There are so many cousins, aunts, and uncles that their house gets hectic and crowded. I'm totally not used to that. My family consists of just my immediate family. However, I do have a wonderful extended family consisting of some wonderful friends I can always count on and they love us, love my husband, and love my son. I am truely blessed.

On Christmas Eve, we got news that it was supposed to be snowing back home. They expected inches of snow. I was so upset! How could this happen the year I was to spend Christmas away from home??!! But, in the spirit of Texas weather, they didn't receive anything more than light flurries. Phew, crisis averted.

I don't have many pictures from Christmas yet, I spent most of the time trying to keep Grant on task and video taping the events. Thanks Tanya for the tripod, a tleast I can now be in some of the videos!

Grant is growing up so much lately. He talks and talks, even when you can't understand what he says!

We were also organizing his room and decided to convert his crib to a toddler bed. So far, so good!

There is so much already on the agenda this year, but we are looking forward to it:
Daniel graduating with his masters, me wrapping up my masters, possible job upgrade, potty training, home buying/remodeling, sister in law graduating high school and starting college, possible terrible 2's AND a new nephew or niece!