It was the Season to be Jolly!!!

I am pleased to report that we all survived the holidays and remain intact and. better yet, unsick. You know I have listened and read several people...and all their gripes, about the holidays and what a crazy time it is, etc. But I have to honestly say, it is one of my most favorite times of the year. Maybe it is just me, but I never mind the busyness, because it is all so much fun. So I cannot really agree with all the hectic nature that I hear so many speak of, because it is really just a great time to enjoy my family and friends and watch the kids enjoy it all!!! There is no Scrooge at our house!!!
I use to think that Cory was pretty Scroogeish, but I can say that this year he really enjoyed himself. I don't know why he is not big on the holidays(I could speculate some different reasons) but none the less, he admitted this year to being one of his bests. I think it has alot to do with the fact that Meredith was at such a fun age....that really helped his spirits!! I as usual enjoyed every minute and every activity. One of the best things we did this year was going to see the Lights at Saulda Shoals. It was really beautiful and definately a tradition I hope we will continue. Meredith and I piled into the back of Cory's truck bed and covered up with LOTS of blankets (it was cold the 3 nights following up until Christmas...go figure). It was a great show of lights everywhere. We really enjoyed it. Maybe next year we will plan a little more time to get out and see the other activities they had there. Meredith also got her goody bag from church the Sunday before Christmas...she thought that was pretty neat to get a bag of chocolate, fruit, candy cane, and Christmas tree cake!!!

Christmas Eve proved to be fun as we shared it with our "extended" family. After that was done, we headed to mom and dad's to spend the night....I still do not know how Santa managed to find us there....it MUST HAVE BEEN quite a trip for him. The night went better than I or Cory expected. Meredith watched Ice Age with mom and dad until she fell asleep (rather late I might add) but slept through the move to Aunt Drew's room to sleep and throughout the night until about 8:30 or 9:00 the next morning. She was really a good sport. It was so funny to watch her check out all of her gifts. We vowed we would let her find everything, but we all kept finding ourselves saying "look at this Meredith". You can't help but be excited about Christmas with a toddler around. She was very patient when we opened all of our gifts. She waited her turn and played with her toys in between.

Although she loved all of her gifts....just as Cory and I expected....she loved her egg carton full of "baby balls", the small bouncy balls, the most. If you ask her today what she got for Christmas, she says "balls." So in other words....we really could have saved alot of money and she would have been happy with the balls only!! That really makes us smile when we think about it. Isn't that how it is with kids though....it really does not take alot to make them happy.

She has loved her other gifts...big and small. She is enjoying everything from her doggy toothbrush holder all the way up to her kitchen. For a few days after Christmas, she was really busy checking everything out and making the rounds to everything. She still isn't tired of anything and I am hoping these things will keep her occupied for a while. Cory and I realized we really do not buy for her throughout the year. I was always under the thought that we don't want to spoil her...even if she is our only one. So I know this was special for her!!!

She has missed being in school very much and has asked about it several times. I know she will be glad to get back this week. She also continues to make us laught with her speech. Soooo many things are coming out. A little adult is emerging...and it is really cute. She is doing so well with the potty.....I cannot rememeber the last accident.....I hope not to speak too soon. I wish I could remember all of the cute things she says. The cutest are the little comments like "okay mommy or okay daddy." Last week she told me something scared her and it "might make me cry, cry, cry all my tears out my eyes." Precious. She insists on answering the phone now, every time it rings....note to all: Great way to get rid of Telemarketers. She says "hello" followed by "whose this" or "whose that?" Her current obsession is her monkey purse. A TINY purse that she insists on sleeping with and taking everywhere she goes. It holds her "baby balls", a play cell phone, and her "moneys" aka a stack of business cards and misc. receipts. Enough about her....I could go on forever!

Cory has been his busiest this past week. He put in 22 hours of overtime at work and also started our Kitchen remodel. For the past 4 years we have been in our house, we pick a project to do after the holidays. We are getting down to the last few areas...and of course the hardest. Right now he has already taken down our cabinets, painted the kitchen, put back the cabinets, installed 2 different over-the range microwaves (he had to have the perfect one, but that is Cory :)), installed under cabinet lighting on one side, bought our tile/grout/new sink/and faucet, and taken off our baseboards. I think he said the taller baseboards will be next along with the other side of under the cabinet lighting. I cannot wait for my deeper sink and taller faucet.....funny what you can get excited over. I have been busy playing with Meredith and putting back/reorganizing my cabinets and pantry. I hope to try and turn over a new leaf this year and to try and be more organized. I do not consider myself a slob by any means, I am lazy and do not take the time to put things away neatly. I am wanting to do better. So that is one of my New Year's Resolutions, along with exercising more (even if it is just walking), and worrying less.....trusting God. I know He has my best interest in mind!!