Here comes 2009!

With less than 24hrs before we embark on 2009, I just wanted to give a quick update of the highlights (yes their were some) of 2008!

....Sage turned 3!
Hunter and I went on a weekend trip to Moosehead
Learned how to Ice Fish
Hunter turned 6
Hunter was in his first play
Andy graduated College! (the first in his family)
Hunter played on his first Baseball team
I spent lots of time with my Dad without fighting (yes that is abnormal)
Family Reunion
Hunter started 1st Grade
Rachel mastered writing her name
We made our first road trip down the East Coast
We moved to Florida
Sage went to Disney for the First time
Hunter & Rachel are old enough to remember going to Disney
Hunter started at a new school
Andy got a new Job
Me, Hunter, & Andy went to our first Hockey game
Hunter has gotten excellent at Reading
Rachel turned 5!
I got a new van
Celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time with Andy's parents and sister
Hunter got his first achievements in Cub Scouts
Hunter was in his first Florida parade
Sage has almost mastered writing her name, and recognizing her letters!
We celebrated our first Christmas in Florida, with Andy's Parents
We will celebrate our the start of a new year in Florida!


There is our list of highlights from this year. I hope that 2009 brings you all joy! We are looking forward to starting our new list of highlights for the upcoming year. May 2009 bring you all Happiness and Joy!

Reflection

Reflection Questions for 2008

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year? Moving, I know that sounds crazy... but it helped our family become closer.

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened? My relationship with my husband

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year? Don't think I really had an unexpected one

4. What was an unexpected obstacle? Andy finding a new job after graduating college

5. Pick three words to describe 2008. Interesting, Challenging, Memorable

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2008 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you). Hard, Long, Ok

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2008 (again, without asking). Different, Hard, Memorable

8. What were the best books you read this year? The Twillight series, The Tale of Despereaux

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships? My friends, and family, and most of all my kids!

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year? Staying sane, and figuring out what I want in life....

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally? Learning to let some of the small stuff go

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually? Learning to trust that things happen for a reason, and we can't change what is meant to be

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically? All of the above

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others? Learning to let people grow, trusting in people (still working on this) and letting others help me, even if I don't think I need it.

15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home? Organizing

16. What was your most challenging area of home management? Debt!

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year? Blog reading! But it is really the only thing I do for ME!

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year? Spending time with my Kids

19. What was biggest thing you learned this past year? Life has many obstacles, you just have to be strong enough to make the choices that might be best for you, even if they will hurt you. Letting go of being near my family has been the hardest thing for me to do, and many still think that will overcome me, and we will move back to Maine... I'd like to say they are right, so we will be close to family again, but I can't. Moving to Florida may have been a big leap of faith, but it has so far proved to be one of the single most best decisions we have made for our family. It has proved to bring us all closer, we enjoy each other now. I know why would a location change all that, I still wander that to this day, but its not just the location. Many other things here have contributed to it, its the trickle down effect of decisions. Everything really does connect in one way or another at some point. Sometimes I think we all forget that.

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2008 for you. Interesting, challenging, and memorable all rolled in one! The worst, yet the best if that is possible?

My christmas present.....

I bit late, but I wanted to share with you what I got for Christmas. Isn't it pretty??? It is from the new Jane Seymour's Collection called Open Hearts. There are a lot of them that I like, but this one was prefect cause it has three hearts, which I think is a nice reminder of my three beautiful children. She has a really nice collections you can see on the Kay's website.

Manic Monday

What is the biggest mistake you made in 2008 and will not make again in 2009?
To take to much of my life for granted...... to think that things will always be the same, when in reality it can all be gone in seconds. Another life lesson!

Do you make New Year's resolutions? Why or why not?
I do, but as like most people never keep them. I am in hopes to try to keep this one this year, and why will this year be any different??? Not really sure, maybe cause I want it more than I have any other year. :) We all need something to look forward to right??

Who do you nominate as “Man or Woman of the Year” for 2008?
This is a tuff one, I'm not really sure. I haven't really kept up with the times enough, to know who is hot and who is not! There are diffidently a lot of people that could deserve it.

What was your greatest accomplishment in 2008?
Not really sure, I had a great accomplishment of 2008.... I managed to make it threw the year?? I would have to say, I made the hardest decision of my life, and moved my family to Florida... Leaving behind my friends, and all of my family. Though tough.. probably the best thing I could have done for my family. Does that count as an accomplishment???

The Simple Women's Daybook!

Outside my window.... Sunny, warm, and beautiful! :)


I am thinking.... Only 3 more days til the New Year... where did the time go??


From my imagination.... Crafts, coloring, school work!


I am thankful for.... a wonderful Christmas!


From the kitchen.... Food... any suggestions for dinner??


I am wearing..... My jean skirt, and a t-shirt.... and bare feet


I am reading.... The Tale of Despereaux, the kids got it for Christmas.. Hunter and I have been reading it together.... fantastic book, we have such a hard time putting the book down!


I am hoping.... things are finally turning around and looking up!



I am creating... more scrapbook pages, but not as much pressure now!



I am hearing.... hunter talking.... the girls are still sleeping can you believe that???


Around the house.... is clam, happy, and content!


One of my favorite things.... smiles on my children!



A few plans for the rest of the week..... Library, resting, crafts, coloring with my kids, reading, laughing, playing, and just living life and having fun!



A picture I am Sharing....

A nice picture of my kids finally! :)
I told them to say "ARR Matey" That is why Sage is winking, and Their arms are up!

Hal,Holly & Mistole Pic's

Here are the pictures of the Reindeer that Santa left the kids under the tree. I promised pictures... I think they are so cute. The kids are eager to go back to Build-a-bear with their gift cards and get them new outfits, but I told them they had to wait until after the new year, when the people stopped crowding the stores!

Mistletoe, Holly, & Hal! :)

Hunter with Hal!

Rachel with Holly!

Sage & Mistletoe!

Sad to see you go!

I had such a nice visit with Di, and her family! I was very happy to spend time with them. Hunter really enjoyed his trip to the beach with them, and we all had a good time when Ash spent the night with us. I'm very sad to see them leave on Saturday... they will be moving on to see more family up on the pan handle, and then from their heading back to Maine. I want to hold on and not let them go, as they are such a big part of my life, and my children's. :) I would like to thank them for supporting me in my decision to move here, and for standing behind me, even though Chris thinks I will be back in a year. (people like to make bets on me) Even through that though, they have tried to help me with Hunter's transition here, and helping him remember, that even though we are not in Maine, it doesn't mean that people have forgotten about us, or that we have forgotten them. A hard concept for a 6yr old I think... But he is getting there, and his attitude in school has started coming up, and my little boy I remember is starting to peek back out! So thank you for that! I hope you have a safe trip back, and remember that we LOVE YOU, and will MISS YOU! We hope to see you soon!

Merry Christmas

It was a rather weird day for us.. It was strange to have Christmas with no SNOW! It was rather warm today too! We had a great Christmas though, and enjoyed our time together as a family. We even got to see Jason & Chris's family in Maine do Christmas, via web cam. (They bought my in-laws a web cam for Christmas) It was nice to kinda share in those moments with them. :)

The kids had a wonderful day... Got more than they really needed, but was very thankful for it all. They had a great time playing with toys today, and exploring there new stuff. Mommy & Daddy even got in on the action!

We had a nice dinner together this evening, that Stacey joined us for. It was a hard not being with my mom today... and talking to her made me teary eyed, but I know we were thinking of each other often. I hope that they had a great day as well, and we miss them very much! MOM, we miss your hugs too! I LOVE YOU!

Here are a few pictures to give you a taste of our Christmas Day! Hope you all had a great day too! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! LOVE THE BERTONE'S!

Hunter got a few lego sets and he LOVED THEM! Especially the Shark from you MOM!

We got a 3 games this year! We can't wait to play them all! :)

We also got a few new books! We can't wait to read.. the one Hunter is holding is Tale of Despreaux....

Sage got a lot of Mickey Mouse Club House stuff! She LOVES Mickey!


Rachel had to try on the Sweater! What a silly girl! :) She got Barbie stuff... she loves them!

I know there are some of you waiting for the pictures of Hal, Holly, and Mistletoe... I couldn't seem to get a picture of them today, but I will have one soon and post it! :)

Thrusday Thirteen

13 things I'd like to do in the New Year!

1. Spend more time as a family
2. Move to our own house!
3. Get my kids in better schools
4. Lose some weight
5. Excerise more
6. Be a better mom & wife
7. Visit my family in Maine
8. Take the kids to the Zoo
9. Take Hunter to the Orlando Science Center
10. Visit Thomasina
11. Elimate our Debt and come up with a Financial Plan
12. Have fun
13. and enjoy life!

Christmas Eve

I hope you all had a great Christmas Eve! Ours was rather mellow. Hunter was gone for the day with friends, Andy worked, as did my MIL.... My FIL just hang out and puttered most of the day. The girls spent the morning playing... and then they watched Mulan with me. In the afternoon they helped me make peanut butter cookies, and some brownies. Relaxing clam day, before the Christmas Chaos begins! :)

This evening we will be having our Traditional Christmas Eve story.... This years selection was Rudolph Shines Again. Then we may watch a movie, and have some popcorn and hot cocoa. I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas Eve!


Merry Christmas!

Hunter's Christmas Eve!

Hunter was invited to go along with Di and the family today to a beach. Excited was he excited! We haven't been to a beach since we got down here, so he was eager to check it out. I was hesitant about letting him go, being that today was Christmas eve, but Andy and my MIL was working today, so their was no big plans. Plus he has missed them so much....

How many people do this on Christmas Eve??

I told him he got to do something he has never done before... go to the beach on Christmas Eve. How many people do that?? He loves to do new things!

He even played on a new Playground!

Handsome isn't he??

Thanks again Di, I can't tell you how much this meant to him! :)

Good times with our friends!

My Best Friend and her family came from Maine to Florida this week, to spend time with us, and her family here in Florida. The kids were so excited for them to get here. They have missed them a lot, and it was nice for them to see familiar faces from back home. After anxiously awaiting to see them, we met up with them yesterday morning.



We met them at Downtown Disney.... so the kids could explore, and play with LEGO'S. I very big deal! It was so nice to walk around and hang out with them. We had a wonderful time! After that, we had lunch together, and showed them where we lived. Ashley came back and spent the night with us. We had a wonderful time with her as well. Lots of laughter, and almost some Soda out the nose! We are going to miss them terribly when they head back home.... we are very glad they decided to come see us though, they made our first Christmas here in Florida a bit easier.


Good times!

Waiting!

While waiting for some friends of ours yesterday at Downtown Disney... the kids decided to become experts at sneaking up on things. They were trying to sneak up on a squirrel... it was rather cute! Hunter got pretty good at it, although I didn't get a good picture to show how close he got to one. It was fun! Then to watch the girls get in on it, what a riot! :)

Here is the squirrel, they tried to touch!

And this is the kids trying to SNEAK up on it!!!

Ready, Set, Go!

While we were at the Lego store yesterday the kids got to make a car, and have a race for the first time. They thought that was the best ever! I caught a couple of pictures. It was rather funny, as they held on to them, and I said READY, SET, and Rachel let hers go! So, she won the first race. :) The second time, we explained to her that she had to wait for GO..... and she did, that time Hunter won! They loved it....

The first car is Rachel's (with the flower), next is Sage's (she was trying to add anything she could get her hands on), then Hunter's (he did very well)


They lined them up, and tried hard to keep them in their lanes!
So fun! :)

READY, SET, GO!!!!

Update:

Luckily Hunter's stomach bug/flu, was a very short lived. He was all better by the next morning. I did keep him home, the following day, just to be sure he was completely better. Which meant he missed his Christmas Party....but he was a good sport about it. I think that I caught, it but fought it off well, so I never got really sick, just ran a bit of a fever. So far, so good.... No one else has caught it. Keep your fingers crossed!

The Simple Women's Daybook!

Outside my window....


I am thinking.... So much to do, so little time before Christmas is here!


From my imagination.... Not much these week... Maybe some crafts for the kids to work on.


I am thankful for.... help, as it is rare, but nice to have!


From the kitchen.... Not sure yet...better figure that out!


I am wearing..... My jean shorts, and a t-shirt.... and bare feet


I am reading.... nothing right now, but I bought the book Despereaux to read with the kids. They don't know that yet though.. Shh... its under the tree!


I am hoping.... Hunter has a good vacation, and we can have some fun times, and lots of laughter!


I am creating... the last of my scrapbooking pages for Christmas!



I am hearing.... the tv, with cartoons!



Around the house.... Holiday spirit, giggles, and excitement!



One of my favorite things.... quality time with my favorite people!



A few plans for the rest of the week..... Library, Spending time with Di & Family (yes they are in FLORIDA!!! IT SO MADE MY CHRISTMAS!) spending time with friends and family, wrapping gifts, scrapping, laughter and just chillin....

A picture I am Sharing....

My cute nephew!

I WON!!!

Well the shock has worn off, and reality has set in. I finally won a giveaway! Not just a small one either, nope my first win was rather big! I thought, I had misread the comment when I received it. It was going to be a present to the whole family.
I was going to just give it to Andy, but since he found out about it, and we discussed it...

Hunter loves the movies, and we know he is going to want to hear us read the stories to him. So we decided to give them as a family gift for all to enjoy, with no one actually claiming them as their own! Are you curious yet???

Hmmm..... OK. I won a in the trunk, hardcover, Complete set, of Harry Potter Books.

Yes, you heard me right... Plus the newest book that just came out.

It became more real to me yesterday when the box arrived. I'm very happy and blessed!

It means a lot to us, because Andy had the complete set minus the 7th book, all in hardcover, until the year before last, when they got wet in the basement, while being stored. Thanks again to Rolemommy for the giveaway. You can find the link on my sidebar!

Holly, Hal, & Mistletoe!

Ok, one thing I can't wait to post after Christmas is one of the kids big gifts we got them. I was very happy with this selection. I have been wanting to take the kids to Build-A-Bear for awhile now. I think that they will really enjoy it, although we just haven't had the time, or the money! So, with that being said we decided to get them all their own stuffed reindeer! Sage got Mistletoe (we named it), Rachel got Holly, and Hunter got Hal.... Now, Holly & Hal were already named from a story written about them. Which we actually got free with the purchase of two of the reindeer. Then we bought each of them an outfit for their reindeer! Since we spent a certain amount of money there, we got 3 $10 dollar gift cards as well with our purchase. So, we are putting those in the kids stockings to use to go back and pick out another outfit they choose. We are going to put these under the tree from Santa. I'm anxious to see their facial expressions. I will share the picture of them after Christmas.......

11 Countries in one day??

While Andy and I went and finished our Christmas shopping today. My in-laws took our 3 kids to Disney... Oh, very exciting for them..... and very tiring to the in-laws. They ended up going to Epcot, and walking around the world. Yup, they hit 11 countries in one day. Needless to say they were very tired.....perhaps more like exhausted! They had a wonderful time though. During their travels around the world, they got a stamp for each country they visited. Plus they learned how to write their names in a few different languages. Here is a picture of Sage's completed mask from her tour around the world! :)














Now while they were all having fun, we went to the Outlet Mall. Which was pretty impressive with around 200 stores. We of course only hit a few that we were interested in... On a good note that was easy to find....(ohhh...just wait) Then from there we headed out to go to the Florida Mall which has probably another 300 stores, roughly. I was very excited about going there, until we started on our way, and got lost, not once, but 4 times! Oh my, goodness! Tell me how such a big mall can be so hard to find?? Florida has this thing about not giving you any signs along the way to help find these sort of things. Finally, after I think close to 2hrs! We made it to they Mall. I'm glad we did, as we didn't find as good of deals, as I would have liked. However, none the less, we had a good day together (alone...which never really happens) and we got the kids some stuff we really think they will like. I can't wait to post after Christmas!