Christmas

Ahhhh, the most wonderful time of the year.

This year....where to start.

Well, it has been a hard year with work, or lack of it. I think it was a blessing that Jeff had the time off from work so that he could have the time to get his pilot's licence which he has wanted to get for as long as I have known him. So money has been really tight. Right after Gobble Day, our friends/family (The Holcombe's) treated us to Disney Land. What a fun day. It was like Christmas early to be able to spend time with their family. LOVE THEM!!!!

The past few weeks since then have been busy with my open house with DaNae and then we opened her garage at night to sell our stuff to people walking the lights in her neighborhood. I was also busy getting things wrapped up at work for the kids to do a small gift for their mom's, and finish up papers for classes. Then....well, lets just say that life has been busy with EVERYTHING. I tried SEVERAL times to write a Christmas Letter to send out to everyone. For some reason, it just never came together. Not to mention, the thought of spending all the money on the postage was a bit intimidating.

Coqui-this year has been about choices and consequences. I am hoping that this next year brings happiness to her with new adventures. She is moving to Washington to live with some friends and hopefully go back to school.

Keana-is trying to find the perfect place for her. She is in Washington now looking for the perfect job.

Colton-is still going to school, working and playing hard. I know he is alive because the piles on his floor in his room move.

Klaira-learning to drive, busy with school and church.

Jeff-Pilot. (so fun to add that to his accomplishments!)He will be starting a new job next week, we will see what adventures he has this next year!

Christmas eve was our traditional homemade egg roll/eat tons of Chinese food night. We started a tradition several years ago where we don't have gifts for the kids, we just give them $10 for every year of age that they are until they are 18. Then they get a gift card. We fill the stockings, for those that are home, with a few goodies. We just have not had the money for the past few years to do more than that. Sometimes I really wish I could buy the stacks of gifts for my children of things that I know they need and wish to have. Other times, I am thankful that it is not about the presents, but the time as family. I so enjoy spending the day with my family and the day after. (We go to the movies and out to lunch.) I will miss these days when all of the kids are making their own traditions with their own families. I think I would like to start making new traditions with my family, but sometimes it is hard when we all have in our minds what we want Christmas to be.

Now I look forward to this next year. What will it have in store for us all?

My goals: Listen more, tell my kids I love them more, learn more, enjoy more! I still have not found my theme for this next year. Maybe in the next few days I will find it.