Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
With the new year comes new changes to my blog.  Hope you like the changes.
With the new year comes resolutions.  
Here is 2011 Resolutions. So the question is how did I fair and what will 2012 bring….


1.Blog more and learn more about the features of blogging.
I tried to blog monthly.  I definitely learned more about its features.  I will continue to blog and keep it up to date!


2.Spend less time online hap-hazardously surfing, online shopping, and facebooking. 
I did less surfing and shopping but more facebooking.  Grrr…I will work on this!


3.Return to my true loves of reading, scrapbooking & card making, and photography.  
I did read several books this years.  Mostly during the summer months.  I have continued to go to the Paper Pickle for card and scrapbooking classes.  I need to do more on my own however!  I have done several photo sessions with the girls and plan to continue as I learn all the features of my camera in the manual mode.


4.Be a better mom to my toddlers and spend more quality time with them.  I can not forget the need for better verbal communication, patience, and self-control (a weakness of mine).  
Is this possible?  I will continue to look the the greater ONE for help in this area.


5. I need to come out of my shell more and not be afraid to speak to others. 
I am still working on that one.  I often find I put my foot in my mouth and then stress about it later at night and think about why I said what I did and what people think ….  I hope to stress less and just be ME!  If people don't like that oh well.  I have two children who tell me everyday that they love me and that means more than anything else in this world.


6.Strive to become more physically fit.  As a phys. ed teacher I need to practice what I preach.  
Injuries have put a damper on this.  I somehow managed to hurt my shoulder mid-summer and have been doing therapy on it for 3 months now.  I was not able to work out during this time.  I also fell 3 weeks ago in class and hurt my shin and knee.  The klutz that I am….definitely good laughs had by my class at my expense.  Then there are the excuses not to exercise.  SO I will do something about it this year!!!


And a new resolution…..Practice Godliness in Pursuit of Holiness.  That means I will make new commitments and attend my Bible Study more regularly.  All these things can only be done with HIS help.


Again, Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Wishing everyone a happy holiday!  I decided to make my background seasonal.  It was supposed to take 2 minutes and it has ended up being over 45 minutes….grrr.  I am such a perfectionist!  

I just love the holidays and the music that goes with it.  Christmas music puts a smile on my face and leaves me in a good mood.  It makes me want to run and jump.  It hasn't felt like Christmas much here however since all it does is rain. 

I week until the big day!!!!!

Cause it is the most wonderful time of the year!!!
Night Y'all!   Jaelyn and Ava will be up before I know it!  I better get some sleep!

Family Photos

It is that time when family photos are taken and Christmas cards are sent out.  In the past, I was super excited about making Christmas cards.  Things have changed.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE making cards! Time has not permitted me to be creative and make the 75 plus cards I used to make each year.  I did get around to making a bunch of cards and some 10 lucky families will be on the receiving end on my hard work.
So this year, my goal was to get a nice family shot and use it to make a Christmas photo card to send out.  It took 2 photo session to get what I wanted.  The "girls", were not the most co-operative in the first session.  Thanks for a great attempt Sherri!  We then decided for a complete change of scenery and went to St. Thomas and had photos taken at the Train Museum.  Thanks to Sarah for her attempt to shoot my children and get everyone looking in a family photo.
Anyway, you will have to wait and see the family Christmas photo card but here are some of the shots taken during my 2 photo sessions.  Thanks again Sherri and Sarah!  
Session 1:

Managed to get both smiling

Would have used this one if Ava would have not looked so thrilled to have her picture taken.

Like this photo!

 Session 2:

My favourite

Another family shot

Loving each other!

Ava close up 

Jaelyn close up 

Daddy and his girls

Love this one too!  Wish Brian was in the photo ...

One last shot to enjoy!

Until next time…