Happy New Year....

Well, it is January 2nd already. Wowzer time flies, the holidays are over and time to go back to work. Vacation is over. I actually am looking forward to going back to work. I miss my coworkers. They are a very fun bunch and truly enjoy working with them.

I have a few things to work on this year.

-trying to be more patient with Samantha. I have to remember she is 13 and somewhat self centered (trying to be positive here)
-declutter my home (I know this will take all year but I am bound to to it)
-spend more time for me, enjoy the good things in life.
-be healthier exercise a bit and eat a bit more green.
-reflect on the positive things in life, not the negative

I also found a new shower curtain and boarder to match the bathroom. Troy said in order to redo it, I have to find a boarder to replace the old boarder.
So yep, it took me a year or so but I found one. This will be the main bathroom, the one the girls use. I wanted something colorful.
We will paint the bathroom a grey.



What do ya think? The girls rooms each have the blue in it.

Luanne

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Wow, I can't believe that Christmas has come and went.
I notice the older I get it seems like the years seem to just fly by.
Just wanting to wishe Everyone a Very Merry Christmas and here is to a Healthy Wealthy and Wise New Year.

Luanne

Christmas Magic with Pizza and Santa

Saturday night Jenna and I went to a special event with my neighbor and friend Laurie and her granddaughter. We got to go to Pizza with Santa sponsored by the local library.
It was just Such an AWESOME event.
We got our own personal table with a beautiful Christmas Candy filled Tree to take home.
We got to eat Pizza, Bread sticks, Salad, Soda, cookies and Ice Cream.
I had to pick off the cheese off the pizza and no ice cream for Jenna, but she didn't care she was in awe of the whole event. Santa and Mrs. Claus came to each table and talked one on one with each child.

After dinner, we got to attend a Christmas Magic show. Jenna is so into magic tricks, this was right up her ally.

After the Magic Show we got to Decorate Giant cookies, make a Cinnamon Ordainment, make a necklace and reindeer ears hat, make a card, got a tattoo and then got to visit with Santa again. He gave each child a stocking filled with goodies and a large Teddy Bear sticking out of it.

It will be a night to Special night for Jenna and I to remember.

Luanne

State finals
State finals

Well, since Gymnastics rules our lives right now, I just have to boast about my girls.

Jenna had her state meet on Saturday. She did her very best and came in 9th out of 25 girls in her age. She was very happy. Scores were


Vault 9.3
Beam 9.025
Bars 8.850
Floor 8.450

Total.....35.625

Samantha had her State meet on Sunday. She was very pumped for the meet. She said she poured her heart and soul into it that day.

Judge Judy was on the Bars and was very stingy with her scoring. We saw all 7's and low 8's. Not one 9.0. She is tough......

Samantha Placed overall 2nd. She Went all out on the Floor Exercise. Sometimes it works in your favor, sometimes it doesn't. This time she stumbled a bit after her split leap because she gave it her all.
She missed the top spot overall by 2 tenths of a point. So Close....and we are so Proud.

Vault 9.350
Beam 9.1
Bars 8.375
Floor 8.825

Total...35.650

Now in 1 month she will be competing at a Level 7. She is very nervous but still excided.

The 25 Days of Christmas Countdown

This year I want to try to make a 25 days of Christmas scrapbook.
I think I will start tonight by watching my favorite of all time Christmas Movie.
Each and Every time I watch it I laugh harder.

So my countdown is starting.

1. Favorite Movie Christmas Vacation

Luanne

Got Chalk????/

Well we spent our Saturday at a gymnastic meet in Whitewater this past Saturday. We ended up being there 10 1/2 hours. Both Jenna and Samantha competed, but just at different times. We went out to breakfast at a little cafe in between the girls competition's. We are so proud of both girls.

Jenna didn't have her best meet, but she tried her hardest and did her best for the day. At her level they all get a participation metal. She loves it.

Samantha came in 2nd in each event and ended up taking the first place overall for her age. She was flying on cloud nine. You couldn't wipe the smile off of her face.

Luanne

Halloween and the Annual Chili Dump

1997 Julia Samantha and Jake



2009







When I think of Halloween I think of the annual Neighborhood Chili Dump. This is a time for all of us 7 neighbors to come together and celebrate.
We celebrated our 13th Annual or Maybe it was 14th Annual, I am not sure. I can totally remember the very first one. Samantha was about 6 months old. She was the second oldest out of 5. They all sat on the couch most of the kids were proped up by eachother because they were so small.
I found a picture of the 2nd Annual event. My how the kids have grown.