Ode to 2008

I am reflecting as to some of the things that I remember happening this past year and thought that I would share them with you ~

1. I WASN'T SICK THIS YEAR!
2. Kevin found out after many tests, that there isn't anything wrong with his brain, just problems with his ears.
3. My mom has become a Mother to her Ducks and Chickens.
4. Lindsey graduated from High School.
5. Lauren took drivers training.
6. I am glad that gas prices have gotten back down to affordable.
7. Kevin got his feet looked at, but they are still giving him problems.
8. I finally got my dad talked into going to Tennessee for a vacation.
9. Kevin and I were able to go away on vacation twice with my bestest girlfriend in the whole wide world. Once to Tennessee and then to Arkansas to dig for DIAMONDS and Branson, MO.
10. I got a new BOSS, which is really my OLD Boss, it's complicated, but it has been GREAT. Because of this, my health is a whole lot better.
11. My Dad has a relationship with his father.
12. We rescued our dog daughter Kricket from a family that was abusing her.
13. Mitchell did a great job playing football.
14. I got to see Brad Paisely and Jesse James this summer.
15. The Raiders actually won some games.
16. My cousin Misty introduced me to this blogging.
17. Kevin and I went to Holland Michigan this past spring to look at the tulips. And I bought 200 bulbs to plant at our house.
18. My cousin/God Daughter, Jennifer got married in May and is now expecting her first baby.
19. Morgan is now old enough to get her drivers license.
20. My sister has been married 20 years.
21. The presidential race is finally over.
22. Leah went to Germany and stayed with her German sister Rani.
23. Madi learned how to cook with the help of an Easy Bake Oven and Mama's help.
24. My brother works too much, and needs to slow down some.
25. My cousin Liz had ankle replacement surgery, and spent a lot of time in Indiana and Illinois. We even had a surprise birthday party for her.
26. Hopefully this will be the last year that I was unable to go to Florida when my family goes at Christmas.
27. I am happy that we still have jobs, with this economy who really knows.
28. My parents have done a great job raising us and I look up to them for that.
29. Lindsey has 1 semester under her belt and got all A's and 1 B.
30. My stepson had shoulder surgery and is recovering from it, and will gradually be better.
31. We spent time with Kevin's brother and sister-in-law which was wonderful to get to know them.
32. I am glad that the freezing cold days and ice storms are over for this year ~
33. We got to go to Chicago for overnighters with my cousin Liz, which was a lot of fun.
34. My family is doing well, health wise and financially!
35. I found a website that I am hooked on http://www.restaurant.com/!
36. My stepson sat in a tree many days trying to get his first deer, but it never happened.
37. The intermodel hasn't come to Union Mills (YET).
38. I love my HUSBAND!

From Ice to Slop

Would you have ever guessed that 1 week ago the hi temp for the day was -2 and today the temp was 62? I'm not sure, but I think I still live in the midwest. Oh yeah, that's right last year on Jan 7th our house was struck by lightening and we lost all of our electric items. So I guess this weather is correct. Tonight the temp is going to drop and it is going to ice up again. Hang on for the ride!

This is the water that it is in the side yard at our house. The back yard has a small slope so I can use the garden tools and a rake to open it up and let it go. I am sorry to the farmer that lives next to us, but there really isn't anything that can be done.

I thought you would like to see the river that we now live on. It is called the River Troyer. I think I can get a tube and take a ride down stream....... looks like fun!

I wanted to post a picture of LadyBug running thru the water. She was a mess, but was having a blast! She was helping me with keeping the area opened up! I had to bathe her when she came in the house!

Gifts that we exchanged with each other

I got this for Kevin. I thought that it was really kind of cool. It's not too big, and we can put it on a table or hang it on the wall. The website online really did a wonderful job. I really liked it and got my BFF one for her house also!

This is the bracelet that I got this year. I really love it. It is simple that I can wear it everyday, and pretty that just want to look at it constantly. I told you before Kevin spoils me, and I love it!

Kevin bought me beads for my Pandora bracelet this year. I really did some damage this year while at the MOA and he thought it would be nice to add more! I orignally got this gift from Kevin's boss for a Christmas gift. This year they also added beads. Thanks so much, I just love it.

This is Kevin's gift for this year. This is something that he has wanted for a long time. It's big and massive, weighs a lot, but it will do what we need it to do! I think he was a very happy BOY!

I hate ICE, unless it's in my Jewelry Box!

We really got blasted with the ice. Our poor trees have really taken a beating. They look creepy but neat at the same time. The bird feeder is almost in the ground, which makes the cat happy. I am thankful that the electric was only out for a little bit.

The part that I don't understand is it doesn't matter how cold out it is the animals have to constantly go outside. I have to make sure that LadyBug has on a sweater, because I gave her a haircut, and most of the time she looks like a circus dog, but we don't really want to talk about that.

Speaking of ICE, I did get more, for me and my jewelry collection. I got a diamond bracelet. I had to make sure that I didn't say it was a tennis bracelet, because I didn't get an instructor along with it. Anyway could you see me playing tennis? NOT!

Have a great Christmas and Safe New Year's Eve!

P.S. I have to tell you all that I love my husband, he spoils that crap out of me~! I am so lucky to have found him

Christmas 2008

One Christmas down and 3 more to go! Well we had our family Christmas last night. It was fun as usual. I got everything I wanted and then some. Actually I really didn't want anything, because I have everything that I want. I didn't mean for it to come out that way, but if we want something, we go and buy it. So the older we get the harder it is to buy something for us, and that really goes for the whole family. So that it why I just enjoy getting together.

It's that time of the year the ALL the family, except for Kevin and I are going to Florida. My plans are to be able to go next year! Ok, maybe we are losers, but some one has to watch the pets.

I am really jealous, only because it is so dang cold, I would love to be going somewhere WARM! We will just pretend we're on vacation and turn up the heat.

An Evening out with "The Girls"

I have to brag! I have the best employees that anyone can have. We have a blast together and I treated them to dinner last night. We went to the Backstage Grill in South Bend. It is located at the old Heartland Resturant. We had great food and wonderful conversations and many, many LAUGHS! I personally don't pay my employees, but if I didd I would pay them way more than the get paid, they all deserve it.

I love them all ~

P.S. We went after work, that is why we are all dressed the same!

P.S.S. I found this restaurant by using one of my restaurant.com coupons.