Friday, December 19, 2008

......update....

Well, Riley FINALLY got her very 1st hair cut today! Cameron and Julian were getting theirs done for the Christmas party we are going to tomorrow....and we just happened to ask if they cut girls' hair...( it's a man/boy parlor ) ..and they said sure! So, Riley climbed up into the chair ( after a little bribery ) and got about an inch cut off! We had them put some layers at the ends too! It really made a big difference! I will post pictures on Monday! I was so weary about having her hair cut for one reason...she never lost her baby hair, so the ends of her hair really were her baby hair! I kept some for the baby book of course, but now, like I told her, there is no more baby left...she is now officially a big girl! Her face lit up when I said that, and then she just wanted her candy cane...ie: the bribery! :) We will attend our first actual Christmas party tomorrow with some friends of ours...we all have new outfits to boot! I will post pictures of us all spiffy on Monday as well!

We are so thankful that our friends have included us in their holiday celebrations for the last 3 years! The holidays are pretty hard for me, being that I am away from all of my family! Cameron has his sisters and his brother, so it's a little different for him. I haven't spent a holiday with my brother or sisters since 2003 I think....that is the last one I can remember....it's just been too long! I miss them and I have 3 new nephews that I have yet to meet.....one from each of my siblings.....! There is also stuff going on at home in Oregon that I just wish I could be there to help with...and be there for the ones that need to know I love them and miss them. I just want to give all of you hugs and tell you face to face that " I LOVE YOU "......

So, here you go...this is just what you are gonna have to hold on to until I can get over that way...(((HUGS)))...and I LOVE YOU! Please keep it close and know that I mean it! :)

...pictures to come MONDAY!

Monday, December 1, 2008

...Just some blabber...

Well, we are currently in the process of getting our first snow of the "winter" season! I love watching the snow accumulate on the outside patio and on the leafless trees! I find it peaceful and almost like a stress reliever....to be able to just sit quietly with my cup of coffee and watch as God covers the earth with the fluffy white stuff! We have about 3 inches on the ground so far, and the forcast shows snow for the next 7 days. So, by that time, we should have a good foot of snow on the ground. My other favorite part of the snow, is watching the kids play in it! Riley just wants to make snow angels and Julian wants to make a snowman and have snowball fights with Daddy! The joy that it brings to their eyes is unexplainable!

Growing up, we didn't get much snow....maybe a few inches at the most, that I can remeber. I do remember that it snowed on my 16th birthday! I drove down to the beach and it was covered in snow! You don't see that very often! I am still not used to the cold weather here...nor do I think I ever will! The negative temps just beat up your body! Especially my back!

For those of you that don't know, I have had 2 back surgeries to repair a bulging disc....both surgeries have failed and I am in mild pain all the time. September was 2 years since I hurt my back.....but it really seems like yesterday. During the winter, the pain seems to increase so much that I have to take the pain pills again....I dred taking them! I have not had to take any meds for my back since April of this year! I am hoping that this winter won't be so bad...pain wise.

On to another note, for Christmas, Cameron got me a treadmill that I have been asking for! I am hoping to drop anywhere from 20-30lbs! I would LOVE to get back into my pre-pregnancy jeans! ...they are still in my closet! Hopefully dropping some weight will help with my back issues. I am not fat, but I do have some extra padding that I can't wait to get off!

....off to the laundry I go! I hope you all have a great day!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Here it goes....



Well, I have never "blogged" or had any sort of on line journal, so this will be my first attempt! I am somewhat of a rambler, so I appologize in advance for the tough to read blogs that may appear! I am feeling a bit disconnected from my family and friends back "home" in Oregon, and my sister in N. Carolina....so, I am hoping that this blog thing will help keep them/you up-to-date with what goes on all the way over here!

We've had a very blessed and busy year! We bought our first home in April and we have completely fallen in love with it! We took our 1st family vacation to Disney World, Cameron not only has a new job, but a career! He loves this job; and I love seeing him come home from work happy! The kids are getting big! Julian is in 3rd grade this year. We recently had parent-teacher conferences and the teachers LOVE him! He is doing well in all subjects....his strengths are in math and science and his weakness is reading! He has been working on improving reading all year and is definately becoming a more confident reader! Riley just started pre-school this month! She even rides the bus to and from school! It was so hard to let her go, but she is blossoming and growing in just the short time that she has been there! She had been a bit on the quiet/shy side, but now, well, lets just say she doesn't stop talking! We got a boston terrier in September and he is the best dog! He is well behaved, loves attention, finally crate trained, and he is great with the kids! Our cat Jazz is a fiesty thing! She LOVES Cameron and doesn't care much for me....she will let me pet her once or twice and then she bites me!...such a stinker!



This is the view from the back patio:
Julian on his 1st day of 3rd grade!
Riley with our puppy, Max!
Riley on her 1st day of school....waiting for the bus!


This is Jazmine...she has claimed the hot wheels for herself!





...well, it's getting late, and I can't see the words I am typing anymore and I am too lazy to get up to get my glasses.....that's another new thing! My glasses!...which I don't really like, but boy I can see with them on!
Goodnight!...