Vanderbilt game with special friends!

Today Mark and Annslee took Paige to the Vandy women's basketball game. Paige had a BALL (no pun intended!). We value their friendship so very much! I'll let the pics that Mark took speak for themselves :)


Why, look at those two superstars...Paige and Annslee!



I just love these two!


Paige's favorite player! #23 point guard!




Serious cuteness!


Paige shooting from the free throw line. She said the ball hit the backboard and that was good enough for her :)


I love little Annslee's hand on Paige's leg. She is just so special to us and to Paige. She is like the little sissy in Paige's life...precious!

Thanks Mark, Annslee, Lala and Coby for being our special friends!!!

Partay!

I LOVE New Year's Eve and the festivities and fun my friends and I always have. My best friend, Barb and her husband Aaron, had a great party. The good (and sometimes not so good) part of going to Barb's is that she has a son, Mitch. Paige and Mitch are both in fifth grade and have been in class together for two years now. Paige and Mitch are both FANTASTIC kids and we trust them to take care of the little ones...they are peacemakers and I love it. However, Mitch is a total 'cutie' and I don't know how much longer they will enjoy just hanging out and playing board games, if ya catch my drift :)

I digress...

We had such a great time talking, laughing, eating, partaking in some adult spirits or as Paige refers to them as "Mama drinks". We just had a great time. I am so blessed to have such amazing friends. Lots of pics from the past couple of days...






Barb and Aaron are amazing chefs! They make the BEST mussels I have ever tasted...yummo!


Barb and Amy are two of my dearest friends. They know EVERYTHING about me and still love me?!? :)


Me and Barb and my GOOFY hat...! My teeth look purple because I had a glass of red wine :)


This pic CRACKS me up! Look at my cuties face... :)


Aaron being, well, Aaron. He played football for Purdue in college and then went on to play NFL for a year. If you look closely, his pinky finger is completely out of whack. He thinks it is absolutely HILARIOUS to get my goat and contort that thing in all different ways...grosses me out. Ewww! :)

A fun night was certainly had by ALL! Hope your New Year's Eve and Day were wonderful, too!

Happy New Year!

It is my hope that 2010 brings about some significant happiness for everyone. I usually set unattainable goals and then become upset with myself when I don't meet the goal. This year, I have some goals that are very attainable and will bring about good things in my life and the lives of my loved ones.

1) I am going to work on my weight. This time next year I want to have a new, slimmer me. I want to feel better and become more active. I am FOR SURE starting back to Weight Watchers next week, as it works for me. Nuff' said :)

2) I am going to go to bed earlier. I know that might sound silly, but it becomes a real issue for me when I have to get up and educate over 20 first graders daily. My problem is that I don't even begin winding down until after 10pm. So, computer is being shut off earlier, Paige's homework will have to be done BEFORE dance (this will be difficult), and I will be ready to hit the hay earlier.

3) I would like to spend more QUALITY time with my family and friends...doing things that make happy memories. Just existing together and being in the house together is not always quality. I want to laugh more with my family and enjoy each other, as I really am blessed with wonderful people in my life who I truly enjoy. So enjoy each other, it is!

4) Stop spending so much money on frivolous items and save more. SERIOUSLY save.

5) Travel more and make big plans. I don't think life is any fun if you stay put all of the time. My goal is for my family to start planning more trips and getaways and getting outside of our comfort zone. We already have a GREAT possibility for the summer :)

These are five little things that don't cost much money or will just kill me to do. I am going to do my darndest this year to make these goals a reality.

Hope you all eat your blackeyed peas today, enjoy your family and think about the things you'd like to see happen this year!
Happy 2010!

Out with the old and in with the new!

As 2009 draws to a close, I wanted to reflect on some memorable moments during the year. 2009 was a year of changes for our family. My dad passed away in 2008, but I became less numb in 09'. We three girls have really bonded and worked well together this year. We have learned to help one another and pitch in without too much fuss or problems. Paige has really matured in so many ways. I feel so very sad for the losses that she has had in her young life. Let's face it, loss is a big part of adoption. She lost her biological parents, lost the life she knew with her foster family, lost her cultural ties and then...then the loss of my dad. I write this with tears streaming down my face. I know she is loved beyond comprehension, but it makes my heart tear apart when I see her friends with their dads. Loss. It hurts. We grow from it. We survive. We are stronger because of it. It has fortunately brought us closer to God.

2009 proved to be the year that I became closer to Him. I feel like I have a purpose. I didn't before 2009. I just found myself meandoring through life. Always trying to be the best person that I could be, but yet, no goal in sight. I now feel like my purpose is to live a life filled with teaching Paige and my students about being the best they can be. Being a good friend, daughter and sister is at the TOP of my list for 2010. Not just walking the walk, but talking the talk.

2009 brought my precious, precious brother a new life partner. That makes this sister happier than anyone can imagine. You see, Greg is 5 years younger than me and I always felt like he was "mine". My parents allowed me to take ownership in his rearing (which in hindsight, they always let me THINK I was making decisions, but they had already made the ultimate decisions. They were slick that way). My brother is one of those people that everyone is attracted to. He has a shining personality and makes everyone around him feel safe and secure and IMPORTANT. I'm glad that in 2009, he married the girl that would make him feel safe, secure and important.

I gained and lost weight in 2009. I was very successful with Weight Watchers, but wasn't consistent. I am hopeful that in 2010 I will not only take the weight off, but I will keep it off. I need to. I deserve it and so does my family. They need me. Healthy me.

I hope that 2010 brings all of my friends and family good health, prosperity and boundless blessings. Thanks for always leaving me encouraging words and comments and being great supporters and friends. Here's to 2010!

Movie night memory

I just watched My Sister's Keeper with Paige and it was so sweet. She made us a pallet and poured our drinks and ordered the movie on demand. While watching this terribly SAD movie, she leaned over and asked so sincerely if you can catch cancer. When I said no, she let out an audible sigh of relief. During some sad parts in the movie she put her hand up by her head to cover her eyes, as she was welling up. It was so precious. I don't know why this was such a tender time for us, but tonight was one of those nights that you don't want to forget, hence the blog post. For newer pics and exciting stuff...scroll down :)

Don't want to forget special moments in life...

Ice, Ice Baby

So, lame title, but that's what comes to mind when I think of our fun outing to the Ice Spectacular at Opryland. Artisans come in from Harbin China every year and sculpt ice into a wonderful scene. This year, the theme was Charlie Brown Christmas. It has been a tradition for my best friend of almost 25 years and I to take the kiddos and then out to eat. We had SO much fun this year. Her children are 15, 6 and 3. We let the three year old stay with her daddy and we took the older kids. I can actually say that we all enjoyed each others company and there weren't any fights or crying fits or diaper changes...ahhhh! I've waited for these days to come and they are here! Don't get me wrong, I love little ones, but there is something so fun about really enjoying spending time with the bigger ones. I love Paige being this age (on most days :) lol.


Ryan, Paige and Haleigh at the entrance to Ice. FYI, it was minus 4 degrees inside. BRRR!!!!


Silly kids! Why is it that when children reach a certain age, they MUST throw up the peace signs???


Such a cutie pie...it's ok that I always say that, right?!? I'll never stop telling her how wonderful she is...haha. It never hurts to have a number one fan, right?


Ryan and Paige at dinner. Ryan was so hilarious and kept on telling Paige she was a "hottie". Rut ro!


Paige received a cell phone for Christmas and she was trying to teach Ry the basics of texting. Santa created a MONSTER! Thank goodness for unlimited texting plans :)


Tracy and I. We have been friends since we were 11 years old. I am soooo blessed to have a handfull of friends that have been by my side for over 20 years. I treasure these special friendships and feel so blessed by these sweet girls. Tracy and I were the dynamic duo in high school and in college. She is the one friend that I have the FUNNIEST memories with. She is the friend that when I tell stories to Paige about what NOT to do, well, let's just say Tracy and I were always in those stories. We weren't bad kids, but if we could get a laugh, we'd try our darndest. One of my favorite memories is of us dating two friends in college and while the guys went out for a "guys night" we thought it would be funny to break into their apartment and rearrange their furniture (at 3 a.m.). Needless to say, we didn't date the guys long, as they didn't share our sense of humor! :) She's grown into a wonderful mother, wife and friend and I am proud of the person she is. Who'd a thunk it?!?

It's a Wonderful Life

To say we have had a wonderful Christmas would be an understatement! I cannot tell you how much I needed time with my sweet family to relax and just enjoy each other's company. We have spent time with my sweet brother and sister-in-law, visited family and friends (who are like family), gone to church services, and just plain had fun!

Some highlights of our holiday in pics...


Greg and Paige...two of my favorite people in the world!


My family at Greg and Laurie's house


My mom took this and it's blurry, but I still LOVE it! It's not about photo quality during the holidays, but about the love!


Pretty Paigee


Before church


Me and mom before church....can I just say how much I LOVE her!!!


Me and my girly before Christmas eve church service...LOVE!


Christmas eve at the Craigheads. These girls are precious friends.


Kids tracking Santa on Norad... I LOVE THIS PIC!!!

I hope your holidays were super special and that you got to enjoy your family as much as I did mine!
More updates to come as we have lots of fun things packed into this week off from school :)