The Dawn of a New Year.....

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.
Benjamin Franklin

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. Hal Borland

For last year's words belong to last year's language And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Glory to God in highest heaven, Who unto man His Son hath given; While angels sing with tender mirth, A glad new year to all the earth. Martin Luther

Perhaps, it's the freshness of a New Year dawning, or the clean slate of a new day. Either way, I am always filled with hopes, plans, and provisions as I awaken to New Years Day. I imagine the things that I will finally get "right" this year. Shedding the "old" me, and clothing myself with a "new and improved" me.

These are the things that I want to improve on or do in the year ahead of me....

-being on time

-trying new and different recipes for my family

-reading an American classic

-being a better friend

-calling my friends more often instead of texting or emailing

-sending birthday cards instead of voice mail wishes

-to sincerely speak to the cashier or clerk who rings up my groceries each week

- to learn a foreign language...perhaps french or italian

-to not take things so personal....it's not all about me

-to pray much more often

-sticking to my word, even when it's inconvenient

-spending more time with my Dad

-focusing less on my house work and more on my husband and children

-letting the little things go

-being a whole lot more thankful for my blessings, instead of worrying about tomorrow

-joining a church..we have been visiting a few, but haven't joined a new church since we moved out here

-to learn that "less" really is "more"

-to do things for others fully out of love and with a servant's heart, and not for something in return.

-to be a better listener

I can't wait to look back at these a year from now and see if I was able to improve in any of these areas. One thing is for sure..there is always tomorrow, and that's what gives me hope.

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

-

starting today,

me

All Aboard....

~Santa gets on the train and we get a picture with him...~ ~The kids watching the Polar Express arrive at the station...~

~Check out this golden ticket....~

~Can you say...Adorable??~

Saturday, December 7th, we took our annual ride on the Polar Express! Another tradition that we look forward to all year long. My mom takes us every year, and the kids always wear their pajamas, just like in the movie. If you haven't by chance seen this movie, you MUST see it!! I will personally hand deliver you our DVD to watch it with your family. There is only one stipulation, you must watch it while drinking hot chocolate. This will make your viewing even more pleasurable.

If you haven't figured out by now, I am a "traditions" kind of girl. I love traditions, and i love making new traditions. Maybe i am a bit over board on having them, but i can't seem to help myself. I just want the kids to always know what to expect and look forward to each and every Christmas. It warms my heart to see the joy on their little faces when they talk about what they love to do most at Christmas.

Here are a list of some of our most beloved traditions...

~Our Elf on the Shelf..our elf's name is Spot..and he usually appears December 2nd each year.

~Riding the Polar Express out of Bryson City, NC

~Christmas Eve service at FBC of Conyers

~Every December 23rd, eating at the Waffle House in Madison sitting in the same booth each year.

~The Moreau's Christmas party

~Riding around looking at Christmas lights.

~Taking our "Christmas Card Photo"...whew.

~The white elephant game with the Cannon's every year

~My mom's side of the family Christmas gatherings

~Christmas Eve at Mommy Jane's

~baking cookies for Santa at the Jayne's house

~my cookie/ornament swap party..(this was the first year!)

~Christmas parties in the children's classrooms

~Christmas morning at Mom's

~sprinkling reindeer food outside on Christmas Eve

~Getting out our Christmas dishes and Christmas china

~using my favorite pen to address our Christmas cards

~Putting up the tree the weekend before Thanksgiving

~NO school for a couple of weeks..yay!

~reading Joseph and Presley's Christmas letters...Presley tells Joseph what to write for hers. :)

~Getting out Santa's cookie plate and filling his glass with milk

~pictures with Santa at the mall

~receiving a Christmas card in the mail almost every day in December! i LOVE this part!!

~watching Polar Express with my family snuggled under a cozy blanket and drinking hot chocolate.

i still believe,

me

Treats for Santa......

~Presley's cookies for Santa..~
~Joseph's cookies for Santa...he got a little sprinkle happy..~

~All the kiddies showing off their yummy treats...~

~Presley rolling and patting her dough..~

~Mrs. and Mr. Claus...oops..i mean Jaynes~

On Tuesday, December 23rd, the kids and I went to Kim and Christian Jaynes to make cookies for Santa! This has become a much anticipated event for me and the children. This is just one of the many traditions that we have with friends and family to celebrate the best day of the year...Christmas!!

Thank you, Kim, for hosting this oh-so-fun event at your beautiful home each year. We love you guys so much and can't wait for next year.

still sticky from the icing,

Jill

Dear Santa.......

Last Sunday night we asked Joseph to write a letter to Santa telling him what he wanted for Christmas this year. After about 10 minutes of writing, he handed us this letter...(the elf that he is referring to is his "elf on the shelf" that he received last year)........

still learning from my children,

me

The main ingredients....

"Life is unsure, always eat your dessert first"

~my kitchen in the after math~ ~oatmeal chocolate drops~

~tracey's brownie/cookie dough muffin recipe~

~this is definitely a baking record for me...whew~

~the sweetest dessert of all...my little helper kisses me after the baking is complete...yes, i am wearing a tank top with my apron...this kitchen was HOT!!!!~

Just a little note....

I want to thank my Mom and my Mama Jane for all their help with my first annual cookie/ornament swap. Their perfect gestures of kindness smoothed the entire planning process.

Jane made the gorgeous fruit tree centerpiece that adorned my dining room table. (SEE PICS FROM THE POST BELOW) She also made the yummy sausage balls AND the chocolate bark bars. (which, by the way, we need the recipe). She always has a way of being exactly what i need, thank you for that. Unfortunately she couldn't attend due to a Christmas performance that my nephew William was in. Keeping my fingers crossed that she will make it next year, though!

Also, my mom, my best friend in the world, was my right hand girl during the whole party. From the delicious wassail, the chocolaty brownies and the games and prizes that she provided for our entertainment. She is always the fun, game girl. I love this about her!! She always breaks the ice and makes the party fun! Thank you so much mom. You are the perfect hostess assistant.

One last but not least thank you to my over worked friends and family that slaved over their hot ovens in their aprons to manage 4 dozen cookies to bring! You guys are some really good sports! Maybe next year we will dwindle it to 3 dozen....we'll see. :)

Every detail of help that all of you provided will never be forgotten or overlooked. I am truly blessed to call you my friends and my family....my main ingredients. ;)

Until next year!

still sweeping up flour,

Me

Cookies, Cookies, Cookies....

Last night was my first annual cookie swap! Here are a few of the very special people that were able to come and bring their delicious delectables to swap. I am blown away by the baking talent among my friends! So many treats, so little time!!

Enjoy the pictures...and counting down "til next years!!

~the neighborhood girls..me, shannon, vicki, kelly, and mandy~

~me and my elementary school friend...cynthia skinner dolan~

~me and kim~

~thank goodness for kelly...she had the camera!~

More cookie pictures...

Did I mention there were ornaments?? Beautiful ornaments were swapped among each of us. Our trees are finally perfected!

~the entertainer...my mom!~

~all of us..me, mary, beka, mandy, vicki, shannon, leslie, angela..(front row...kelly s., kelly m., cynthia, and kim~

~i know, i know..you are kicking yourself for not coming! ;) look at all the yumminess!~

~mary and me~

~me and bek~

More needles in haystacks....

I promised more Christmas photos, and here you have them. These are from 2007 at Mommy Jane's house. The task was to try and get all SIX grandchildren in the Christmas photo. Well, let's see how things went.......

~hmmm...here we have only five children.....ladies and gentleman we have an escapee...Graham wriggled his way out of this picture.....

~and he is still missing....but the camera is still snapping pictures, just in case he decides to suddenly reappear~

~hey...what's this I see...Graham has decided to grace us with his handsome presence.!!! now we have Presley, Graham, William, Ashley, Danny and Joseph!~

~and DAH-DAH!! here we have a Christmas picture with all 6 grandchildren!~

And you thought it couldn't be done!!

The Princess and the Party....

~The morning after....we have a Princess Hannah Montana! Quite a combination!~ ~Strumming her new guitar in perfect tune~

~Aunt Ang and Presley at Chuck E Cheese~

~Danny and his million dollar smile!~

~Anna-Joy and Presley cousins and BFF's!~

~Mommy Jane having some birthday fun with baby Danny~

~The ever so lovely, Ashley, wants in on the fun too!~

~Presley and Graham take a ride on the Barney express~

~Nana Terri and PaPa Danny party with us~

~The cake!~

~Presley and Joseph taking a second to pose for the camera~

~PawPaw, MawMaw, Presley and Joseph say cheese~

Well, Presley's 4th birthday ended in a bang! We had a nice family party at Chuck E Cheese with lots of food and cake! Presley loved all of her wonderful presents from everyone. Thank you and Thank you!

Happy Birthday, Princess!!!

taking my party hat off,

mommy