Looking Back At 2009.

Today is the last year of 2009 ...

I thought I would share some of my favorite memories from this past year.

I decided to share one picture from each month of the year that meant a lot to me. Some months were harder than others to choose just one picture and one memory.

We had some fun times, new experiences, travels and unexpected delights this past year.


January 2009
My word of the year for 2009 was nurture. My goal was to nurture those things that meant the most to me. Of course friendship means alot to me. Here you see Griffin, Sam and Darius hanging out enjoying their popsicles. While Griffin was having a good time with his buddies, I got to nurture my friendship with their wonderful mothers Carol and Keisha.


February 2009
We visited the farm several times this year. Griffin loves going down there to see all of the animals and enjoy the quite farm life.


March 2009
Mike took a business trip over seas. He went to Taiwan for two weeks and experienced a whole new world and culture.


April 2009
We went to Disney World! This was Griffin's first trip to Disney and he loved it. We were lucky enough to spend the day there with Grandma Bett.


May 2009
Griffin played soccer for the first time. Learning the rules, listening to the coach and being part of a team were great learning experiences for him. The best part? He enjoyed it and played again in the fall.


June 2009
We spent alot of time at the YMCA pool this summer. Griffin learned to swim under water (he taught himself). He enjoyed spending time in the sun with friends from school.


July 2009
We spent the Fourth of July weekend in our nation's capital. Wow. To experience our nation's birthday in Washington DC was beyond words. We LOVED it!


August 2009
The park ... when we weren't at the pool we were at the park. Griffin learned to ride his bicycle this year and enjoys riding on the basketball courts at the park.


September 2009
Mike passed his private pilot's test! We were so very proud of his achievement! He worked very hard for this!


October 2009
Apple picking ... our first time ever. It was so much fun to drive up the mountain and pick apples directly from the trees. They were the BEST apples ever!


November 2009
Griffin's first trip to a Florida beach. We went to Clearwater Beach and he enjoying jumping in the waves and seeing the dolphins swimming not too far from us.


December 2009
The Blizzard of 2009 ... with 20" of snow we experienced our second snowstorm of the year (the first was in March). It was beautiful and we had many fun times in the snow building a snowman, throwing snowballs and sledding.

We say a fond fairwell to 2009 and look forward to an amazing 2010.

My Maytag Repairman ...

For a couple of months my Maytag washing machine has been acting up.

Every time it would go through the spin cycle it sounded like a jet plane getting read for take off.

It still worked okay ... just the noise was very loud.

Sunday before Christmas it started leaking water

Time to call that elusive Maytag repairman, right?


Not!!!

I have a wonderful husband that can fix anything!

He went online to find a manual for our Maytag washer and his wonderful engineer brain figured out what the problem was. We called the local appliance center and ordered the parts. The manual said it would take two special tools to repair the washer, which of course they wanted you to purchase. Well ... the wonderful handyman that he is used standard tools.

I never thought I would be so happy to wash clothes ...

I tell you we really take things for granted.

I'll never take my washing machine for granted again.

Thank you honey for repairing it for me!!

Snow Sledding!

With all the snow we had (reports say up to 20") ... it was the perfect opportunity to go snow sledding in our backyard.


Mike and Griffin heading for the hill ...


First time down ...


... and he LOVED it!


So did Daddy!


So ... they slid down the hill over and over and ...


... over again!

What A Difference ...

What a difference a month makes ...


November 25th ... Clearwater Beach, Florida


December 24th ... Snow storm remnants ... Central Virginia

Merry Christmas 2009

The three of us had a truly beautiful Christmas.

It was quite and relaxed ... and raining!


Santa Claus found his way to our house delivering many wish listed gifts from our very good boy, Griffin.


The joy and happiness on our son's face is the BEST!


He enjoyed opening his gifts ...


... and discovering what each surprise was.


Later in the morning he and Daddy put together the airport ... he's been playing with it ever since.

Wordless Wednesday.

Snow Turns To ICE.

I love when the snow is falling ... I love the first day when it's white and fluffy ... I love getting out in the snow to play with Griffin.

But then ...


... it turns to ICE.

That ... I do NOT love.


Although the main roads (interstate/state roads) are pretty clear to drive, our private road and the secondary road leading up to our private road is not clear. It's pure ice. It's almost impossible to get out.

I sure hope the sun shines bright today to melt some of this ice!


I wanted to share a couple of pictures of Griffin attempting to slide down his slide.


The snow was so deep he went OVER the snow instead of through it!

We are sending warm winter wishes your way ...

Winter Wonderland.

Wow ... they are calling this the blizzard of 2009.

We've gotten about 16" of snow and it is simply wonderful!


Saturday we went outside to play in the snow. It was fluffy and beautiful.


This is what a boy looks like after being thrown in the snow by Daddy.


I tried to build a snowman ... the snow was fluffy and wouldn't pack very well. So, we are calling this my snowblob.


The sweetest of boys with Mommy's snowblob.


And another of my sweet boy.


Mike shoveling the steps ...


The snow was DEEP!


Griffin and Mommy ...


And finally inside after getting all the layers of snow gear off ... I love this. Lazy playing in front of the fireplace.

Happy Snow Day to you!

Seeing Santa.

We ventured out to Bass Pro Shop's Outdoor World Friday night with our friends the Halls.

The kids visited with Santa and played with toys and games set up in Santa Land.

They had such a good time.


Here we see Griffin sharing with Santa everything he has on his wish list.

The snow had started coming down so we decided to cut our visit short. We had planned to have dinner together afterwards, however with the snow falling as it was we all decided to get fast food and head home.

The weather was UNBELIEVABLE ... the snow was coming down very fast ... the roads were covered and it seemed as though the snow plows forgot about the interstate. We drove along the interstate about 25 mph all the way to our turn off.

I thought we were in the clear until we reach the hill we climb right before turning into our neighborhood. This hill is always covered with water ... and guess what ... it was ice! We couldn't make it up the hill in Mike's van. We kept slipping. I just knew we were going to careen off the side down into the trees. That scared me silly. He finally found a button to push to turn the traction on/off (can't remember which one) and we made it up the hill.

Whew ... talk about stressed.

So, we turn into our yard and our house is all lit up and the snow is settling ...


It was a beautiful site!

We've been settled in and have no plans to leave the house today.

Well ... we might have to get outside to do some snow tubing ... we'll see.