A Year in Review

Wow, looking back on 2010, everything that could possibly change for John Wayne and I (for the better), has. If we didn’t still look the same, you wouldn’t even know who we are!

Our 2010 time-line…

January 4th – John Wayne started a new job at Gordon Insurance in Limon.
January 4th – Our house in Colorado Springs went up on the market.
March 1st – The Little Lady joined us.
August 11th – The house went under contract.
September 11th – We moved back to the ranch in Wild Horse and into the trailerhood.
September 13th – I started in the Limon office of Farm Credit.
September 20th – We closed the sale of our house in Colorado Springs.

After 35 weeks, or 250 days, or 6,000 hours, or 360,000 minutes or 21,600,000 seconds…of keeping the house in tip-top showing condition while preparing for a baby, and packing up and leaving for what felt like 17 million showings while having a newborn, our faith was at times tested. Finally, after 250 days, our faith was renewed as we were once again reminded that our God does have a perfect plan.

My folks moved out of the trailer into their new house the first week of September and we moved in the second week of September, and began making the trailerhood our new home. Without those 250 days, all of this would not have been possible.

As I look back at everything that has happened during 2010, at times it all still seems quite surreal to me…Did all of these wonderful things really happen to us this year? What did we do to deserve many of our long-term dreams becoming realities at the young age of 28? I can’t figure it out…all I can do is give glory to our God!

Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. I Chronicles 29:13

Wishing you and yours a 2011 filled with health and happiness surrounded by those you love.

Card Party

Last night we went to a card party at my brother and sister in laws house.
Yes, that's what us ranch folk do for fun...get together and play cards.

The kids had fun playing board games.


The Little Lady got to hang out with one of her favorite people, cousin Sydney.


They have two little puppies.
Yes, they are crazy. (Not the puppies, my brother and sister in law.)
But, they have five kids, so really what's a couple of puppies thrown into the mix?!?

Love their names...Peyton (as in Manning) and Tebow (as in Tim).


It was a fun night filled with lots of food and fun.


Many of us played Pitch.


Some of the men played Poker.


I am happy to report that John Wayne only dug into my purse to steal money once!
And he ever brought some money home!


The Little Lady had fun playing with all of her cousin's toys.
Did I mention there are five kids?!?
Five kids = LOTS of toys!


Tomorrow night we're supposed to go to another card party at Wild Horse for New Year's Eve.
Yep, we're regular card sharks here in the trailerhood.

Goodies for John Wayne's Office

To gift or not to gift?
That is always the question when you're the new guy.

Well, John Wayne's office gifts.
And we didn't gift.

So I came up with what I think is a pretty cute and clever gift for John Wayne to take to his co-workers to help welcome the new year.



"Happy New Year!"


"Wishing you a lucky 2011!"

One more Christmas

Sunday we had Christmas with the Geist's.
We went to Great-Great Uncle Ronnie and Aunt Linda's house in Colorado Springs.

It was lots of fun because cousin Jayden was there!



Me and Great Grandpa and Grandma.



Mama's pretty sure that in the years to come me and Jayden are going to equal double trouble!


My first Christmas extravaganza was great!

Christmas Shoes

I bought the Little Lady fancy red shoes for Christmas.



I sure am glad she likes them.

Final Stop, Great Grandpa and Grandma Chisman's House

We made the trek to Hanover to finish the day with Great Grandpa and Grandma Chisman and family.

Have I mentioned that my Mom has some really cool cousins, who I really like to play with!
Here I am with Kendra.


And here's me and Kelsey in our same-same hats!
(Notice I finally got to lose my frilly dress.)


I performed a Christmas concert for all before we opened packages.
Mama says this is why we don't have a piano.


After my concert Great Grandpa read the Christmas story.



Great Grandma made me a very special quilt. It has giraffes on it and is sooo cute!


Here I am with all of my special presents from Great Grandpa and Grandma.
I got an American Girl Bitty Baby doll!


And then...the meltdown began...
A little lady can only take so much Christmas!

Next, it was onto Great Grandpa and Grandma Hammer's House

Also known as the wild bunch!
Here I am with Great Grandma and Grandpa and all of my Mom's crazy cousins.
They are crazy and loud and wild...I love it!


One of my presents from Great Grandma and Grandpa was this Mickey Mouse because Great Grandma knows how much I love Mickey Mouse's Clubhouse.



Jake, the wildest one of all.
I pretty much like him and understand him...we get each other.


Another stop in the books!

Christmas morning with Grandpa and Grandma

After I opened my Santa present at the trailerhood, it was time to go to Grandpa and Grandma's to open presents.


Stockings first!


I got lots of fun stocking stuffers!
This is probably one of my favorite presents I got all day...a mini Dora See 'N Say.
Hola will probably be my first word thanks to this toy.



My very first "blingy belt" from Mama and Daddy.


My "big present" from Mama and Daddy...


A red wagon!


Grandpa says this will be perfect for hauling me (and baby goats!) back and forth to the goat barn!



A pink pony with wheels from Grandpa and Grandma!


I've always wanted one of these.


Spoiled?!?
Maybe just a little!

Pretty much the best gift ever...

So yesterday my family spoiled me lots of great gifts: clothes, jewelry, a Kitchen Aid mixer.

However...

The one that wins the prize...


Yes, really...a Saved By The Bell DVD.


Rewind to the early 90's. I LOVED Saved By The Bell.

I had a Saved By The Bell movie, "Saved By The Bell, Hawaiian Style" recorded on VHS. Watched it over and over and over. Well something happened to this video, it disappeared. My Dad probably "accidentally" recorded over it because he couldn't stand to watch it again. (Dad, now that I have it back, it's ok, you can tell me the truth. I will probably forgive you.) On several occasions (recent occasions) I have told my Mom how much I'd love to have it back. To watch it again. To experience my youth again.

I have searched for it on the Internet, this important part of my youth, with no luck.

Christmas 2010, Brenda wins! Brenda finds "Saved By the Bell, Hawaiian Style" and when Emily opens her stocking stuffers Christmas morning, Emily is ecstatic!

Thank you Mom for giving me back this important piece of my childhood. : )

As promised...

Pictures of me in my "newsie hat" from Auntie Katie and Uncle Willy.