Goodbye 2009

2009 is coming to an end. This is the time of year to sit down and reflect upon the great events of the year that have passed. For someone with an uneventful a life as mine, every year I find that I am digging through the archives of my memory to find something to reflect upon - accomplishments, disappointments, illnesses, inspirations, failures, discoveries. Anything.

This year in no particular order I have celebrated my grandmother's 80th birthday and retirement, kids birthdays, went to social gatherings such as Keno & Pokeno, school programs, worked on my blogs, planned my oldest daughter's class Christmas party, worked on crafts, tried new recipes, went to the occasional MNO, made many facebook friends, learned new things on DFW area moms, set up Casserole Crew for DFW Area Moms, celebrated another birthday and anniversary. It was a wonderful year.

So I raise my glass to the moments in life, and to taking the time to appreciate every little one of them.

Christmas Eve 2009

New Year's Resolutions

In 2010...

I resolve to eat better.

I resolve to keep my home in better shape.

I resolve to take better care of my body.

I resolve to be better about what I spend my money on.

Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas Eve!

Popcorn Jumbles

I made Popcorn Jumbles to take for my daughter Hayley's Holiday Class party and it was a hit! The recipe can be found on my cooking blog: www.mykitchenfairy.blogspot.com.

Cookie Decorating

The kids & I made cookies for Santa today and they had fun decorating with all the bright icing colors.

Sharing Recipes With Friends

I made cream cheese & pecan stuffed strawberries and sugar cookies for a cookie exchange I went to on Friday at my friend Jamie's house. The recipes can be found on my cooking blog: www.mykitchenfairy.blogspot.com

I had so much fun visiting with the ladies and coming home with oodles of yummy goodies to share with my family. I love cookie exchanges! Next year I want to host a cookie/ornament exchange. I think that would be fun!

Christmas Picture Of The Kids 2009

Our Christmas Tree *2009*

I let the kids put all the ornaments on the tree this year and handed them out one at a time. I think they did a pretty good job!

Birthday/Anniversary/Thanksgiving

My birthday was on the 4th and my friend Karen got me a nice top to wear. My friend Laurel got me a "Perfect Brownie Pan". I love them so much!

Howard & I celebrated our 13th Wedding Anniversary on the 23rd. We went out to eat at Chili's and to see "The Blind Side". It was an awesome movie.













We spent Thanksgiving with my wonderful in-laws. We arrived around 3:00 to watch the Cowboys play and we at dinner around 5:30. There was turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, corn, fruit salad, sweet potato casserole, coconut & pumpkin pies, cookies. We were pleasantly stuffed! We were having so much fun chatting and letting the kids run around that we didn't get back home until 10:30 that night.

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving this year.

This N That

Friday we had family movie night. We watched "Up". For dinner we had "Spice It UP Nachos", Cherry 7 "UP" & Push "UPS". to go with the theme. hehe!

Saturday the kids had soccer games. We had 5 games so we had to divide & conquer. They all played great!

Sunday we went to church and we picked the kids up from Faith Formation, the car wouldn't start back up and someone was nice enough to give us a jump. Thanks Mister! Later, I took Nicholas to his game and he made 5 goals. He promised me 4 so the other one was just a bonus. Yay! Howard took Hayley to her game and the car doesn't start up again and it's pouring down rain. Thankfully the rain stopped and someone's dad from her team helped him get the car started long enough to get it home.

This morning I dropped off the kids and Hayley at school. I had to drop them off early because Hayley's class is going to Sky Ranch. She will be gone for 4 days. I will miss her very much but, I know she is going to have a blast! Dh took off work and we went to Walmart and had them replace the car battery.

Nicholas' 7th B-Day Party

Food, Family & Fun! It Can't Get Any Better Than That!

Family Movie Night

We watched "Tinkerbell And The Lost Treasure" this last Friday and it was SOOO cute! I love Tinkerbell. She is my favorite! We had BBQ chicken pizza for dinner and Fairy Dust Fizzy Drinks to go with our theme. The kids thought it was pretty cool to hear the popping of the pop rocks in their fruit punch but, it didn't really fizz like I thought it would.

Halloween 2009

Family Movie Night

We watched "Ice Age-Dawn Of The Dinosaurs" The kids & I really liked it. It was cute! For snack I made Iced Sugar Cookies to go with our Ice Age theme.

Progress Report Time!

Hayley

Reading: 92
Writing: 99
Math: 77 (Unsatisfactory grades on daily work.)
Social Studies: 98
Science/Health: 89
Physical Education: S
Art/Theater Arts: S
Music: S
Spanish: S

Madison

Reading: 77
Writing: 88
Math: 89
Social Studies: 86
Science/Health: 84
Physical Education: S
Art/Theater Arts: S
Music: S
Spanish: S

Nicholas

Reading: S+
Grammar/Composition: E
Handwriting: S
Math: E
Social Studies: S
Science/Health: S
Physical Education: S
Art/Theater Arts: S
Music: S
Spanish: S

Jake

I guess they don't do progress reports for Kindergarten.

Family Movie Night

This Friday we saw "Monkey Trouble" I remember watching this on back in 1994. It's about a monkey that likes to take shiny things and hide them. It's really cute! The kids really enjoyed it.

















I made pumpkin bread and it turned out pretty and delicious! We had it for our snack. If I had thought about it more I would have made Monkey Bread!
Ooh Ooh! Ah Ah!

Busy Weekend

Saturday we had four soccer games so Howard & I had to split up. They all had fun! Hayley made a goal and Nicholas made 4 or 5 and someone said that he was really fast! Zoom! Madison & Jake had no luck. After the games we went home for a while and Howard mowed the yard and then we went to Chic-fi-la for dinner because they begged us. You'll never guess who's idea it was. That's right. Hayley. She was like a dog with a bone and latched onto the idea and wouldn't let go. LOL! We gave in because it sounded good to us too!

Sunday, Hayley had a soccer game and set up a shot for someone else to kick it into the goal. Nice!

I went to a Pampered Chef party and ordered a garlic press, cheese knife & stainless steel whisk. I'm hosting a party on November 15th at 2:00. Let me know if you're interested and I will send you my address.

Family Movie Night

We saw "Lemony Snickets -A Series Of Unfortunate Events-" This is the first time we've seen this one. It was really good. Cute & funny. We made Lemon Bars for our snack to go with the Lemony theme. It was a hit! This was a first for Lemon Bars too and the kids thought they were pretty tasty!

Bargain Alert!

I got the boys some short sleeved t-shirts at Target for $1.98. I got a bigger size so they can wear them longer and I got like 6. LOL! I love a good bargain!

Fun With Family

Saturday was my grandmother's aka. Nanny's 80th birthday celebration. Family that I haven't seen in ages came from all over to join the festivites. We all met at Spring Creek BBQ to have dinner and cake and visit and then we headed to my Aunt & Uncle's house for some more chatting and some played poker. It was fun!



























Sunday was our family reunion for dh's dad's side of the family in Muenster, Tx. The girls played Bunco while the kids ran around outside and the guys played golf. Afterwards we all met at the park for dinner and socialized for a while and went home.

It was a great weekend.

Decobloc Present Gifts

I made these decobloc presents and they were so much fun to make! I'm going to be selling them for $40.00. If anyone is interested email me at dawnendres@verizon.net. These are great for any occasion.

Family Movie Night

We watched "Hocus Pocus." The girls liked it and thought it was funny and they boys were a little scared so they would go off and come back. hehe! I haven't seen this one since I worked in day care 10 years ago. Time sure goes by quickly.

Family Movie Night

We have started our new tradition of family movie night on Friday's. Don't forget the popcorn! This week's movie was "Monsters VS. Aliens". It was cute!

A darkened room and plenty of comfy seating are the prerequisites to family movie night.

The nice thing about watching movies at home is that you are in control. A pre-planned movie night gives us something to look forward to at the end of a long week as well as being a great excuse to spend some well needed time together.

We are bonding and making memories.

Bottle Cap Necklaces

I made these bottle cap necklaces. They are so fun and easy to make. My girls wore them to school and all their friends are asking if I can make them one.

1st Day Of School 2009

Camping Out At Sulphur Springs