Big Sister is always trying to get Tinkerbell to lay down with her. Except when it’s time to go to bed at night. She’s not all about a kitty being in there with her.(Excuse our ugly couch in the bonus room. It usually has a slip cover over it!)

We love this little kitten and are so happy to have a mini addition to our little family.

Jamesy goes back to work tomorrow. Big Sister starts preschool again on Tuesday. The house will be quiet(er) and things will slowly get back on track.
I’ll miss them, yes, but I will be thankful for clean close on a regular basis and home cooked dinners every night. And just life back to the way it ought to be.

Tomorrow is also the big reveal of Uppercase Living’s new Catalog! You can view it here at my website. Make sure you check it out - I’ll be having a giveaway later in the week!

There’s just something special about grand daughters and their Paw Paws.

Happy Wordless Wednesday! For more, click here.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? 
Started my own athome business with Uppercase Living. Sent my daughter off to preschool. Started teaching Kindergarten Sunday School.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions and will you make more for next year?
No, I failed at them all!My goals were to lose weight (as always) and I’ve actually gained weight. So that’s no good.To read 25 books, I’ve actually accomplished that, so ye haw! And to do project 365. And I totally failed at that. While I took more than 365 pictures, I did not take one a day, every day.

As for this coming year? I want to be healthier, which includes losing weight, but it’s not about the numbers for me. It’s about a lifestyle. I want to work at being more organized and sweeter to my husband. Because he is, after all, the sweetest person to me and he deserves it. Big time.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
So many babies!! My sweet friend gave birth to a sweet baby girl in June. Another sweet friend gave birth to a sweet boy in September (the day after my birthday!) and my cousin & his wife gave birth to their first little boy.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
James’ Granny Teenie passed away earlier this year, April 20.

5. What countries did you visit?
Just here, didn’t live the country.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More dates for my husband & I. We just don’t go out without the kids. And while I LOVE that. I mean, we did have children so we could take care of them - but I think our marriage will just get better and better as we reconnect without having to say “Sit in your chair!”.

And more naps. Totally more naps!

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 2, Little Sister turned one. And I still can’t believe that happened!
September 18- we celebrated four years of sweet marriage

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Having two of the most precious girls in the world. They are just so sweet and to watch them grow and learn new things is a great achievement for me. I feel as though I have a little to do with the way they are (good & bad).

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not taking care of myself. I really have let myself get rundown by not maintaining my health.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I fractured my wrist. That was good times.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I would say our four tickets to Disney World. Although we were only there for one day. It was a WONDERFUL day and so many memories were made.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Big Sister’s for being such a sweet and kind girl. Little Sister’s for finally being a sweet and happy little girl. James’ for always putting up with me!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled?
Uhm, mine. And some family members after my grandfathers passing.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage. And groceries. Because we have to have a place to live and we have to eat. I’m actually pretty proud of us this year, financially speaking. I’m praying that 2009 will be the year we become debt free! I know we can do it!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Our trip to Orlando to visit our Johnsons & getting to go to Disney World. Oh, and we went to the beach earlier this year in March! That was fun. And Christmas was AMAZING!

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
How Many Kings by Downhere

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier and more thankful for the life I have been given.
ii. thinner or fatter? I like to think chubbier is better than fatter.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer. But not by much!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Worked out - but that’s a lie. I totally hate working out. But I wish I would have held my babies longer. They are growing up so fast!

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worried and stressed out and raised my voice.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
We had a busy, busy, fabulous Christmas. Read more here.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I did. I fell in love with my husband and our two little girls.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Desperate Housewives (don’t judge me, okay), LOST, The Office and The Hills (Yeah.. you can judge me on this one)

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope. I’m pretty good on not disliking people.

24. What was the best book you read?
Honestly? Probably the cook book my Secret Sister Heather gave me this Christmas. It’s Rachel Ray’s Family Favorites. And it’s good stuff. But since I don’t think that counts as a real book, I read Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picolt and it was really good.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery of 2008?
I don’t think I even bought a CD this entire year.

26. What did you want and get?
An awesome mattress - thank you Jamesy!

27. What did you want and not get?
A laptop. But that’s okay.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
We took Big Sister to see The Tale of Desperaux yesterday. My favorite time at the movies, ever.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
26 - oh man. I received some sweet presents and my husband took me out to dinner.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being Super Skinny while we were in Florida, hanging out on the beach during Spring Break. Oh yeah… being a mom of two who has yet to lose that baby weight and hanging out on the beach with my past life made me a little sad. But oh well. I had two precious things those skinny minnies didn’t have.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Uhm - I have no fashion concept. And I highly urge each and every one of you to nominate me for What Not to Wear.

32. What kept you sane?
God & my husband & countless hours talking to Tiffany & Julie. Praise God for sweet friends!!

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jim from The Office. James may take that off of Tivo now. But I think he fancies Pam.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Oh boy. I reserve the right not to talk about politics on my blog. But I do look forward to seeing all the promises that Obama will not be able to keep over the next four years.

35. Who did you miss?
My Grandaddy. Every day I miss him and there’s always things I wish I could call and tell him about. When we were in Florida, I saw a huge fighter Jet and started to call his number. I miss him so much.
The Johnsons are so very missed as well. Just a different kind of missed. The missed where you can still talk to them and see them on occasion! And get text pictures of them in the ocean the day after Christmas. So crazy!

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Big Sister’s Preschool Teachers. Mrs Lora and Mrs Hope. They are true women of God and just love to teach about His love. I am ever so thankful for them and their love for Big Sister!

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
It’s all about Him. It’s not about me. It’s not about you. Everything I do, I should do to the Glory of Him. I’ve learned the lesson, I just hope to apply it this new year.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
This doesn’t sum up my 2008, but I pray it will sum up my 2009.

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above

When is say this was the best Christmas ever, I truly mean it. Not only were the gifts great (because they were), but I’m starting to see something in my oldest daughter’s heart. I think she’s getting it. I think she’s understanding that there was a baby Jesus who came to earth. He grew up and then went to Heaven and we can go there too. Some of the details are hard for me to understand, much less a three year old. But her heart is growing to love Him and I couldn’t be a prouder mother!

First let’s back up to Big Sister’s Preschool Christmas Pagent. Oh my, it was so fun! We had a lovely play put on by the entire preschool and then a wonderful spaghetti dinner with a silent auction. I donated lots of Uppercase Living goodies and they went way over the value price. I was incredibly happy to help with our preschool auction!

Big Sister and two of her sweet friends before the play. The entire class were cows. And such cute little cows they were!

Here is my sweet Big Sister waving as she left the play (there are tons of pictures, but how many can one look at if not her mother??)

This year we went around the room, youngest to oldest, unwrapping one present at a time. I don’t know if you’ve done this or not - but man, it takes forever! But it was so great to see everyone opening their gifts!!

Little Sister got a ride on horse, complete with baby doll and puppy.

Big Sister received this gorgeous Cinderella dress that she wore for the rest of the night and the entire day on Christmas.

This is my precious niece Brooke. She reads this, so be sure to tell her hey in the comments! Brooke got this amazingly strange little baby. She breathes. She looks like a real baby and she FEELS like a real baby. You’ll see a creepy picture later that we won’t be able to figure out who she is in 20 years.

I’m not sure what’s up with all my thumbs up, but I’m bringing it back, I think. One of my FAVORITE gifts. My NEW WII FIT! Stinking awesome, I say!

This is my brother, Stephen. I’m not really sure what he was doing to this poor babydoll.

He’s a cutie with 2/3 of his neices. He’s single ladies. (I know my brother is dying as he reads this… if he reads this).

A little mini family picture. The girls dressed in their Christmas Jammies.

From the girls, James received Hungry Hungry Hippos!

This, my friends, is my most favorite Christmas gift. I received (from my dear, sweet husband and his parents threw in some money too!) new mattresses. I have asked almost every single night since we’ve been married for a set of new matresses. And now, I have some AWESOME Serta Vera Wang mattresses. One again… thumbs up.

No, that’s not a real baby. Seriously, creepy folks!

Christmas morning! Santa was here!

Santa wrapped all the presents this year.

It’s a little dark - but I got sticks & rocks in my stocking. So sad.

Santa brought Little Sister a Fisher Price Busy Day Home. The next night she flushed the Daddy down our toilet. Seriously, folks.

Big Sister received Fisher Price’s My First Doll House

She loves it.

And so does Babyzilla.
I mean, Little Sister.

Loving this picture.

Then, after an awesom little breakfast, a quick trip to my Aunt & Uncles for lunch and a few gifts with my Gram, we headed over to PawPaw and Granny’s for Christmas with my inlaws.

This is one of my most favorite outfits. It was a hand me down from our neighbors. When we found out Little Sister was indeed going to be a Sister I was so excited that this would be worn by one of my children again!

J’s brother holding Little Sister while she chomps on some crushed ice. And by chomp I mean suck. Though, she did cut her first tooth yesterday! YAY Little Sister!

And what’s this? A sweet little Kitten in my daughter’s lap? Yes, Santa brought us this precious little fur ball who loves to chase little girls (and hide from them too!). Her name is Tinker Bell (of course) and she is a very adorable addition to our family.

I love this sweet picture of our eldest nephew, Abe, and Big Sister playing with her princess castle doll house from Granny & PawPaw.

Granny & PawPaw also bought this little doll for Little Sister. It turns its head and says “mama” and wiggles its arms. If you’ve walked down the girls isles in Target, I’m sure you’ve had this thing scare you! Thanks for the extra batteries, too!

So that brings us up to speed.
Today we took Big Sister to see The Tale of Despereaux. It was her first movie! We had such a blast and the movie is awesome!! A big shout out and thanks to our sweet friends who kept Little Sister and then fed us all dinner afterwards. Julie & Chris are super awesome.

I will be back to normal eventually. James is off work until Next Monday so it’s just hard to ignore him to blog. Plus… I have the Wii Fit!:)

I hope you all have an awesome New Year’s Eve!!

This year = Best Christmas EVER!!

I can’t wait to get back into town and tell you all about it!

Have a blessed day!