Happy 2011...

It's a new year and I am soooo far behind that once again I look like I am in the lead. Those of you in the lead.....lead on!!! I will follow only if you don't stray!
What can I say about 2o10....
1. It flew by!
2. The new school setting has been a good thing after all. I hate it when God puts a drastic halt to my pity parties!!! My son (who always received the Spirit award which meant we are glad you are here) not only had AB report cards this semester, he also received the outstanding citizenship award for his class first six weeks, and outstanding 4th grade music student second six weeks. My daughter....overcame the issue at school. You just get up from the lunch table and move to a new one where you make new friends. She is also doing great.
3. My job has never been this busy in the fall. We have had some sad situations at school which have kept me on my toes.
4. Pigs, Pigs, Pigs. Pig poop still sticks to everything, and still stinks. Especially in the car when the heat is turned on. We have the best pigs we have ever had. We have Widget, Reba (red), Girly(white) and Socks (solid black with 4 white feet, and probably our next Christmas ham!!!) The kids have won several top awards with them at the jackpots, and this week begins the real test of what we have been doing. We ate Sallye for Christmas Lunch. OMG...you must have home grown ham to understand the difference between "from barn to butcher "and "pig to grocery store."
5. I have had to grow up and admit the following: I am a tad jealous of my friends whose children are already grown up and can take them to the air port so they can fly around the world. But not jealous enough to give up the laughter that is in my house daily!!! Okay, almost daily!
6. This year I also discovered that I am definitely not through with my grief process. Year ten has been tough as well as growing more. There have been so many mile stones this year for the kids, and family has done well, but there has been this empty spot with his name on it. A friend of mine told me there would be days like this years down the line. The week before Christmas, his horse, Blackjack, died. Even the kids were saddened by that, and once again I was able to let go of more tears.
7. We also went to the Cowboy Christmas ball this year with friends. You have to go. It is so family and so fun. I haven't been in....over 10 years. Kelly and I led it the year we got married. The boys (the three amigos from birth) decided that they would ask their moms to dance and then go for the girls. All three of us moms were on the floor at the same time laughing and smiling. The boys were very dashing. Our own dates weren't too bad either! Miss thing....even danced with her brother and a very cute cowboy friend!!! She dances like her daddy. I am still laughing. A body on fence posts! My son was all over the place! They definately didn't get my family's dancing ability.
8.. I am going to be a grandmother.........bet I got your attention. Well, it really isn't a true grandmother, but it isn't anything with 4 legs either!!! Our bigs are expecting, and I get to stand in if needed. That is a big IF because this precious baby is a huge blessing to all, and I figure that the true grandparents will take every opportunity to be here at any moment. But...my son talks about his new "niece" all the time, and I have to assure people that it is not my own flesh and blood!!!! Anyway, we are so excited. We have been so blessed by them.
9. You don't always get what you want for Christmas, but you also get some wonderful surprises. I have a clean and organized shed complete with shelves!!! Now if the mowers (yes plural and yes the ones with gas) would work.
10. Drawing names for Christmas is fun as long as Aunt Traci is in charge of the games!!! We played all sorts of fun games on Christmas Eve. Check out my cousins facebook posts for Christmas Eve. My precious 94 yr. old grandmother even played Left, Right, Center. We played with quarters instead of dollars. She loved it and would have won except she rolled a right and gave her quarter to mom. My aunt hit center, so mom won!
11. We are all double digit birthdays in my house as of 2011. So, do you start saying things like,"Grow up", "You're almost a teenager, quit that!", or do you let them grow slowly and hope that you don't have to come change their underwear in the gym locker room. And with the teenager, it is just the opposite. "Quite acting like his mother!" "Do you have enough perfume on?" Tony keeps me from really going into a spin.
12. We have decided at our house that we want Disney to be closer so that we can go more often. We have family there right now, and every time we get a text (greatest thing since mac and cheese), we feel like we did the week we were there in the spring. We also decided(and the kids have told me more than once) that moving out here is the best thing we have done (except Disney). A few weeks ago, mom and dad were on their front porch at 2AM and we were on our front porch (2AM) watching the eclipse, but mom and I were on the phone talking about the things going on around us! Too much fun! If she had stepped to her mailbox, we could have just shouted! It is also fun when you stop to visit with a neighbor and they tell you that you have really helped the neighborhood look better. Not me, but the yard. ha ha.
13..Lucky number 13! No matter how many lottery tickets you buy, you don't break even unless you win the big one. Well, since I am in Texas and the winner was up in the Northwest, you can bet that I will be teaching on Tuesdays at the university, and hoping to sell pigs for bigger bucks.
Hang on for more to come. I wish that I could tell you all the funny moments we have had this year. My son is such the comedian, and my precious blue-eyed baby girl is working on it. Love them.
Love you...thanks for reading....
Happy 2011