Happy New Year 2009 - year of the anti-slacker

Happy New Year everyone!! You know as every day rolls by, and life just keeps on trucking. One does not even notice that it has been 10 weeks since the last post. With keeping the house and kids straight, work, school, the loss of dear family members, and the holidays, it seems like last week since the last post, when in fact it was LAST YEAR. It seems almost strange that another year has come and gone. I am finding that with age the years go quicker, which really bums me out. As cool as it is to see the kids grow up, it is also somewhat heartbreaking that every day they get further and further away from being my kiddo's and closer and closer to dating (yikes) and going away to college. Our holidays were great, with the exception of the loss of Amy's uncle George just 2 weeks before Christmas. He was a wonderful person, and was very much missed over this holiday season. It was nice to see all the family so close to the holidays, but a downer as to the reason why. I will try my best over this blog to catch you up on the events from mid October thru the end of our 2008.

First was Steven and Amy's birthdays.

This was Steven's graveyard birthday cake that Amy made.

This was Steven playing his birthday Nintendo DS.

Amy and Emma bear snuggling at the party during gift opening .

After the birthday parties, we had Halloween close on it's heels. Amy had to work that night but was able to get a few hours off to go out with us for some candy scavanging. Here are some pictures of the pumpkin carving, Amy's new makeover hairdoo, and the kids trick or treating.

Amy carving the pumpkin after her new haircut.

This was the pumpkin after carving...

These were our two little trick or treaters, Dumbo and the "Scream Guy.

We also took a trip to the State Fair in late October, of which this was my favorite photo...

Next came the month of November. That was fairly uneventful, except for our trip to VA for Thanksgiving, and Amy and my date day where she finally got her first tattoo. It has the kids initials in it, and it is very cool I think.

Amy's lower back tattoo with an S for Steven, and E for Emma, and a tiny C in the neck for me.

This is the kids swinging in my parents' back yard swing in VA at Thanksgiving.

Now comes December. All of the impending holiday stuff along with life's normal challenges. No problem right? I think we did a pretty good job of managing. We finished all the shopping and wrapping just before the holidays. We also got a new 46 inch TV for the family just before Christmas. Steven had his school chorus concert that he was selected for earlier in the year. I will put some pictures in here from all of those activities.

My beautiful, trim wife and kids trimming the christmas tree.

Our beautiful Emma at Mrs. Debbie's Christmas party.

Steven, Emma, and Grandma making Christmas cookies for Santa.

Emma, her Bubby and their Christmas snuggle doggies on Christmas Eve.

Emma checking out the "loot" that Santa brought for Christmas upon waking up Christmas day.

Merry Christmas to Daddy.

Emma on her Spongebob ball.

Steven with one of his many Nintendo DS games.

Emma driving Mommy to school in her new School Bus tent.

I think that will about do it. We are now up to the first of the new year and last night, Amy had to work, and the kids were in bed by 9. Daddy followed closely by 10:30. We are catching up now with getting the house back to normal over the next week or two, and start yet another wonderful year full of new firsts, alot of the same and hopefully a more timely blog. Time will tell. Everyone have a Happy New Year!!