Happy New Year!!!!

Hmmmm, I wonder how many blogs have that heading today???

Well, we had a very low key New Year here. Gene called me from his work at midnight to wish me a Happy New Year and I gave him an audible New Year Kiss. LOL! Then followed the kids lead and went to bed. They didn't make it to midnight. Nope no sipping champagne and eating pork for me last night. But that's ok, I'm gettin' pretty used to spending the New Year alone. That's the life of swing shifts I guess.

My mother-in-law's birthday is the 1st. So we always head over there and celebrate with a little cake and a gift picked out by the boys. Then we came home for a pork and sauerkraut dinner with Gene and now I blog.

It's been quite awhile. We had a good Christmas. The boys got pretty much what they wanted and it's kept them quite content this past week. My Holiday Blues/Stress.....still hasn't seemed to left yet and I wonder if it's turning into that seasonal depression.

But I just know that 2007 holds many blessings and good tidings so I'm holding onto that for now!

Part of my New Year's resolution (for the record don't like to make resolutions....they just don't seem to stick for me!) is to get organized both digitally AND at home. I've realized that me and the kids just can't cope without a good solid schedule and the way we do things now at our house is work around Gene's work schedule. Some days he works 1st, 2nd, or 3rd shift and some days he's home. I think that it would be good for me to set some certain things regardless of his work schedule and if he can join us that's great but if not at least the kids and I have some solid ground to stand on. Things like meal times, bed times, certain daily activities. I know this makes me sound like a horrible mom not having these things already done with a 7 and 4 year old. I feel like things have just gotten away from me and we pretty much do what we want, when we want. It will be quite the adjustment, but I think in the long run it will be much better for our body, healthwise and our mind and spirit to have a set schedule.

I have organized my CT requirements today, to get things ready for this new organization thing. I have a folder for all my CT layouts and assignments and inside is a monthly folder. Inside the monthly folder is an individual folder for each CT I participate in and I have the requirements and assignments in a book at my desk. This will help keep me on track and help me set some goals that I can actually achieve!

If you are thinking of scrapping goals be on the lookout for an article to be published in this month's DSS newsletter, written by Tina Busick! She did a wonderful job and I'm sure you all will be inspired by some of her thoughts and ideas.

Ohhh, and did I mention Kyle had a birthday Saturday??? Yup, he turned the big SEVEN!!! I can't believe that it was 7 years ago today that I held him in my arms at the hospital. Now he's so big and opinionated!!! We had a small party with just family to celebrate. The party for friends he decided would be a small sleepover with five chosen friends rather than a big Pizza Hut party for all his friends. We decided that it wasn't a good idea to try and do that on a weekend that Gene is working midnights.....so will be doing that sometime soon.

Gene's sister always does the kids birthday cakes and this year Kyle's theme didn't change any! LOL! He wanted an army camoflauge cake but he did have a very special request for barbed wire frosting. And she pulled it off! Look at that adorable barbed wire trim on the edges.


Here he is in all his glory with his new birthday gift!

That's Cabela's Dangerous Hunt II in his hand. Against my wishes for a seven year old, but apparently my vote isn't the only one that counts! LOL!

And here's Josh crashed in his new "big boy" bed complete with new SpongeBob Sheets and comforter. Finally, the first night he'd actually sleep in it!

Grammy got these for him for a Christmas Gift and delivered the new bed (passed down from Grammy-Gram...Gene's Grandma who's passed on) and new mattress and box spring the following day after Christmas. It took us two nights to finally get him to sleep in it. Apparently, it's a big step up from the little tikes toddler bed he'd been used to sleeping in every night.

And since I was told by my mom to upload more pics this morning....here's one just for you MOM! The scene early Christmas morning...approx. 2 AM. May not look like much under that tree, but there's tons there trust me! LOL!


I made y'all a freebie! I wanted something cheerful and fresh and have worked on this during this past week off and on. I wanted to add more but time just will not permit.

Download Here

And with that everyone....I'll sign off! I hope you enjoy the alpha and find it refreshing and inspiring for your scrap pages!