Anthony took this picture with my phone of Sydney eating the sucker on the end of her HEB balloon.  There is something about the lighting and the color that I just love.  He was so tickled that she managed to open it and eat the whole thing (she has never done this before).  By looking at this, you would never know that we had spent the morning at the doctor getting both kiddos antibiotics.  We went to HEB to fill the prescriptions and buy groceries.  On the way home (okay… Wendy’s THEN home)

Welcome to my world.  Sounds disgusting huh?  It is amazing how much snot can come out of one tiny little nose in one day.  Poor Sydney and Anthony have been passing around cooties for the past few weeks.  There are rogue fevers that don’t get too high, but seem to repeatedly pop up, snotty noses that range from stopped up to LOTS of green gunk.  (I know.. EWWWW)  This weekend I was following poor Sydney around with tissues and lotion. Her poor cheeks were angry red!  She got to the point where we put a kleenex box down on the couch and a trashcan next to it.  She was even bringing me the aspirator (aka booger-sucker).  You know when a two year old WANTS the aspirator, she is tired of being snotty.

I am hoping that we can kick this bug… in the meantime, I think I am going to buy stock in Kleenex.  (insider tip…. hint, hint)

Sydney has been called Sydney-Bean for quite some time.  Funny thing is…. one of her FAVORITE foods is refried beans.  She likes Mexican food as much as her mama.  Here’s a quick picture.  Enjoy!

As nervous as I was to put Sydney into daycare, she is thriving!  It has been 1.5 months since she started school and she is talking more, eating EVERYTHING in sight (woo hoo!), and generally doing more physically.  What is funny is that she is much quieter at school.  She is just now starting to socialize more.  Apparently she was very observant of others, but not interacting as much as the other children in her class.  She has been coming out of her shell over time and now has a buddy, Gracie.  Gracie loves to do most everything with Sydney.  She holds her hand when they move from place to place, she gets Sydney to come play, and invites Sydney to do whatever she is doing.  I LOVE that Sydney has a buddy.  Her teachers just love her and I couldn’t be happier about that!  They are working hand in hand with Sydney’s ECI specialist and are learning quickly to continually challenge Syd. 

I was so worried about putting my daughter in someone else’s hands, and God gave us Good Shepherd.  She is doing GREAT!

I don’t know about you, but I am SOOOOOO ready for a new year.  This last year was definitely full of challenges!  The most obvious one was the lay-off in January that was finally relieved with Randall and I getting employed in October.  Yes, I said OCTOBER!!!  Wow, 10 months!  Needless to say we learned a lot in the last year about frugalness.  (if that is even a word).  We learned to pinch pennies, recycle things that we never dreamed of, and stretch things that were disposable in our previous years.  So, we learned a whole new appreciation for the value of food, money, resources, and time.  2009 changed us!

We are starting 2010 ready for a fresh start.  Anthony is turning 6 in a few days and just started the second half of Kindergarten.  Sydney is now established in pre-school and doing WONDERFULLY!  She is chattering up a storm and real words are coming out… along with the cutest Blocka-blocka-blocka babble you have ever heard.  She is eating everything in sight and trying new things every day.  YEAH!!  If you have been following us in the last year, eating has been out biggest struggle with Sydney.  She is walking up and down steps by herself holding the rail, and playing with all of the outdoor play scapes and toys! 

I am starting a new chapter in my volunteer work at DSACT by being the Vice President this year.  Yikes and yeah!  I am excited and nervous all at the same time.  New adventures always give me those butterflies.  The flutter away quickly and I am looking forward to a great year ahead.  I am working on getting more pictures to put up of the holidays!  Stay tuned.  =0)

A VERY special woman and sweet friend of mine went home to Jesus today.  Deborah fought a long battle with cancer and today she is free from her broken body.  I met Deborah and her husband Bernie at church.  We became part of a discipleship group and became incredibly close to three couples, Deborah and Bernie Davies, the Callaways and the Wrens.   We were so close that all three couples are Godparents to our kids.  Yes, Deborah was not just a friend, she was a sister-in-Christ and a Godmother to my kids.

She was a woman who kept a close circle of friends.  Unlike my social-butterfly self, she was much more introvert and I am forever blessed to have been one of the few that she let get close to her heart.  She had a love of all things in nature.  If there was anyone that literally stopped to smell the roses (and identify them, and take a picture of them) it was Deborah.  She also had an amazing talent for quilting.  She made Anthony a gorgeous quilt when he was born.  It was in the colors of his nursery; blue, yellow and green.  Not only was it filled with beautiful fabrics and textures… but she sewed something EXTRA special into it…. squares hand written with scriptures and notes from all of the godparents!  It is such a treasure.   She also made one for Sydney that included squares of scriptures and prayers but also was full of butterflies and Randall, Anthony, Zach and I all had our hands dipped in paint and created a family of butterflies on the quilt.  Needless to say it is beautiful!!

Deborah “adopted” Anthony when he was born.  She had a special place in her heart for him…. and he for her.  She sent him post-cards from wherever she travelled, and every holiday bought him books… his FAVORITE thing!  She even found a book on camoflauge after hearing Anthony’s Camel squash story.  I was also blessed to be in a reunion group with Deborah for many years.  This is a weekly group of a few women that get together and share our lives and hold each other up.  We shared our hearts and joys. 

Deborah fought cancer a few years ago.  We all stood with her through her journey to remission.  Then it came back this Spring.  This time she was stronger in spirit and faith and soared through it with amazing Grace.  Just when she was declared in remission… she was experiencing sharp pains in her side.  A few short weeks later she was given the news that she had terminal cancer and told that she had up to 6 months to live.  This time it was very painful, and she spent many nights and days going in and out of the hospital.  I was incredibly blessed to have many hours of one on one conversations during these hospital visits.  I think I grew closer to her in these last few tragic months.  For that I am grateful. 

I visited her everyday since Christmas when she was whisked to the hospital and tests concluded that she was in renal failure and the end was near.  I wanted to be there more but also wanted to respect her family who was making their way into town from Louisiana, California and even Germany.  Luckily all of her family was able to make it here before she passed.  She spent the last two days in a hospice facility.  When I saw her last, she was responding, asking questions, and having moments of lucidity.  What a blessing that was.  When I left yesterday, she was covered in a beautiful blue quilt that she had made for going to Chemo sessions. 

I will miss Deborah terribly!  She has been lifted up and is in the hands of God now.  She was surrounded by her family this afternoon as she went home to God.  She had Bernie by her side as well as her children Kathryn and Christian, her twin Chris as well as other family and friends.  She was also lifted up in prayer by many many more who were not able to be with her.

Deborah is a bright spirit that has left a beautiful legacy with all who were blessed to call her friend, sister, wife, mother, daughter.  She is an amazing woman, whom we will all miss dearly.

In this time of great loss, please pray for Bernie and the family as they cope with this difficult time.  I will leave you with this scripture that popped into my head when I got the call… Deborah is now on wings as eagles….

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

We are finally healthy, or at least feeling MUCH better!  The decorations are up (inside), the Nutcrackers are on display (up to 60 this year), the Christmas cards are ready to send out (I know, it’s late) and the holiday baking frenzy is underway!!! 

It’s just NOT Christmas around our house until there are stacks of containers full of goodies.  The standard fair each year is:

• Christmas cut-out cookies (frosted with Sprinkles of course)
• Snowballs (shortbread cookies with a hint of cocunut and rolled in colored sugar)
• Peanut brittle (Thanks grandma)
• Cinnamon pecans (sugar and cinnamon goodness!)
• Chinese fried walnuts (deep fried walnuts with a sugar and salt coating… mmmm)
• Fudge…  Oh, when I say fudge, I mean there are standard batches, some get one batch in dark and one in milk chocolate, and each year there is one experiment…
  • Plain (milk)
  • Walnut (milk and DARK)
  • Peppermint (milk and DARK)
  • Toffee (milk)
  • 2009 Experiment (and my new favorite) Cinnamon red hot fudge with white chocolate drizzled on the top!

Did I mention that the diet starts January?!?  

I am excited to see how Sydney enjoys Christmas this year.  She is two and understands the concept of opening presents.  She doesn’t get Santa or know who he is, but she loves all the lights!  Like I mentioned the Christmas cards are ready to go out (hubby is printing them as I type this post).  Here are some pictures that were in the top running for this year’s card, and some that didn’t quite make it… (By the way, the two year old was the MOST cooperative of the bunch!)

The one that made it as the Christmas card

One of the many shots that didn’t make it…. the reality of family pictures

The boys

The girls

The parents

The kids

The end…

Sometimes I wonder if we ever slow down?  I think the short answer is probably not.  I haven’t said much about it, but I really LOVE my job.  I am back at Dell and I am taking over the management of one of the Social Media platforms, called Ideastorm.  I have been officially in this job for three weeks, however this week was my first actual week of working.  The previous two weeks were spent in training or a short week due to the holidays.  Anyway, it has been crazy because I am new in and there is a new project launch this weekend, so wow… jump in and run!

Sydney is doing great in school but she was out most of the week because she was sick.  She had an ear infection and a cold, but she is on the mend and went back to school today.  I, however came home early and went to the doctor to find out that the reason I feel so bad is that I have a double ear infection, and upper respitory infection and strep.  I KNOW…. ewwww!!!!

So, It is eleven at night and I just woke up half an hour ago from my drugged stupor and sleeping off the sickness.  I have a ton of pictures that I want to post and stories to tell….  I just can’t seem to find the time.  Ugh!  I need to sign up for the post-a-day commitment so I have to write everyday.  =0)

My baby is growing up!!!  She started pre-school this week and I was a nervous ninny.  The first day I went to drop her off and when she realized that I was going to leave she clamped onto my arm and locked her legs around my waist and shook her head and said “No, no, no, no, no…”  I got even more worried and started talking to her teacher about my concerns around eating, drinking and sleeping  (socializing, playing and communicating I am not worried about at all).  Anyway, while I am talking to her teacher, Sydney start wiggling to get down.  I put her down and off she goes with her almost evil sounding laugh (when she gets really excited) and ran to play with the kids.  She was fine, so I snuck out. 

That afternoon I picked her up and she saw me and RAN towards me with a smile and her arms up!  I was SOOOOO happy to see that!  She has had a GREAT three days and her teachers just adore her.  I was proud when the teacher said that she ate fine, drank from a cup with a straw all day, and took a nap (sans bottle).  The BEST part was when the teacher said that Sydney not only ate her lunch (which I was concerned since she is picky) but she at with her fork and spoon and ate with better manners than her peers.  Woo Hoo!!  Go Sydney!