Happy New Year!!!!

Happy New Year!!!! Welcome 2009!!! I am so happy to be starting a new year. Sometimes a fresh start is just such a good thing isn't it. I have enjoyed the holidays more this year than I remember in a long time. We have been home and enjoyed eachother, our home, a fire in the fireplace and all of the great things in life. Dee's mom came down to see Baby Hallie and brought our niece Baylee with her. We had a great New Year's eve. Having company is a big treat for us especially during any holiday! I think they thought our first grandbaby is pretty sensational and precious! I myself just can't get enough of her. But I have set her down for a few minutes (atleast when her mom has taken her away from me) and I have been back in my room creating away. I started a new book yesterday that is going to be fabulous! The ideas just started to roll. See what I mean about a fresh start...it has taken me a while. I have been on vacation mode. Even though most things in my life have to do with creating and inspiration sometimes it takes a while for it to all flow together.

I think I have been pretty side tracked with some "little" things around here though:

1. Hallie for one of course

2. Christmas with all of the wonderful trimmings

3. Making fun and lasting memories for our family

Now I get to do the next best thing to living it, I am able to create about it and share it with all of you. Make treasured memories that will last a life time.

Santa Rocks!!!

I am pretty sure she doesn't really get how cool

all the loot is...but she sure looks like she gets it!!! Oh My!!!

The best part of this Christmas was Dee and I were in bed

by midnight on Christmas Eve

and the kids didn't get up until 7:30 am Christmas morning

I guess there is a first time for everything!

Maybe next year I can hope for 9:00 am

Kaden had a pretty great Christmas!

He is turning into a pretty big boy, he got an ipod

this year and a cool new red bike.

Austin asked for a weight bench for Christmas

this year so he can "bulk up" for football next year!

He got some cool video games and stuff too.

We have been blessed with a great family!!!

Our little Christmas package!!!!

This is the best Christmas package

I could ever ask for.

I am so in love with this little girl

all tied up in bows.

She is making this a very

special Christmas!

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!!!!

I had to slip in a pic of Hallie's latest new look...a little

shadow from her big bow, but isn't she stinkin' cute????

Below is our yearly neighborhood Christmas party!

It is one of my favorite AZ traditions since we have moved here.

Breakfast is served at the park and there is

this secret AZ recipe for Buttermilk syrup that is to die for.

Then Santa arrives usually in a convertible, yes in December!

It is usually just comfortable sweatshirt weather. LOVE IT!!!

look it's mr. do not take my picture!

on Santa's lap??? (even smiling)

lil' miss Hallie~ it's her 6 week old birthday!

and look who slipped in not wanting to be seen on Santa's lap

our wanna be believer.... mr. K ~ 9 years old

their both babes!!!

What a fun day we had today!

It was Hallies blessing day and take a look at her mama...

isn't she a babe too???

Hallies grandpa gave her a very special blessing

and then we had a fun wintery day here in Arizona!

The day time temp. was probably around 70 degrees.

Darn chilly.....don't cha think???

It's starting to be "normal" to me????

It's starting to be normal to me to have Thanksgiving,

Christmas shopping and decorating, and planting flowers all in the same weekend.

It was the anniversary of our sixth year here

in Arizona last week, and now I can say this is a lot

more normal to me than shoveling snow would be.

These months here with the weather fabulous

are what make the summers worth it.

This is heaven!!

I really have to say I enjoy Christmas shopping a lot more here.

I have never really enjoyed cold temps and big heavy coats,

even worse being cold. I still yearn for familiar

even though it is getting more familiar here.

I miss my family and my amazing friends.

But, I have been truly blessed to have made wonderful

friends here also. I am grateful for all of you!!!

So, I guess what I am saying is..............

DEAR SANTA, I WANT IT ALL!!!!~

( my hubby will say...I've known that for a long time)