Year In Review.

Where has the year gone?

It seems like I ask myself that question around this time EVERY YEAR.

But, really, why does it feel like time is moving so fast?

When we were younger, it was like we COULD NOT WAIT for time to go by, but, now, as adults, it's like we want time to STOP.

It seems like yesterday when I wrote this post about what I hope would happen for me (& Matt) in 2007.

Looking back over that list, I did more than half, but the biggest "hopes" are still left undone...like my hope to get pregnant & have a healthy baby.

Cross your fingers that it'll happen in 2008.

2007 will go down as a Pretty Good Year in my book.

• Matt & I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary
• I started my book (I hope to get an agent & a publisher in 2008)
• I got my designs "business" up & running & completed dozens of orders
• My scrapbook got "Best in Show" at the state fair
• Matt & I were able to go on several trips, including South Padre Island, Dallas & Atlantic City
• Matt, my sister & I took Jackson to his 1st concert ever (Kenny Chesney)
• I turned 29 this year...my LAST YEAR IN MY 20's

And, I'm sure there's more I could add to this list, that maybe I just can't remember right now.

Now, here's what I hope will happen in 2008.

• The Baby Thing (I know, I know...you're probably tired of hearing about that)
• Matt & I will build the deck we've been wanting to build since we bought this house
• WE WILL BECOME MORE DISCIPLINED IN THE WAY WE SPEND MONEY
• Spend more time with our families, especially our niece's in Fayetteville
• Continue to develop my relationship with God
• Be happy, healthy & loved

And, of course, just have fun & enjoy being with Matt, Maisy & our families.

As we move into a new year, my hope for all of you is that your happy times far outweigh any hard times, you take time out to enjoy the little things & you count your blessings every day.

Happy New Year, friends.

Here's to a great 2008....and, GO HOGS BEAT MISSOURI.

Day Trip to Memphis.

Relaxing.

That's the word I use to describe this past week because Matt & I have both been off work.

Yay!

But, come Monday?

Our vacation ends.

Yuck.

We've used this week to get a lot of cleaning & organizing done around the house.

Wendy, you'll be proud of your brother. He actually helped me clean out his closet & the drawers in our bedroom. His exact words to me were, "This is fun!". He wasn't being sarcastic.

I think I'm finally starting to rub off on him!

Anyway.

One of the really fun things we did this week was spend all day Thursday in Memphis.

It's only a 2 hour drive from our house, so it's totally do-able in one day. Matt's mom came to let Maisy out during the day, so we were able to stay a while.

Our 1st stop was the Peabody Place for a little lunch & some shopping.

Our next stop was the Gibson Factory Store where we got to play around with some of the guitars & take a guided tour of the factory & see how the guitars are made.

It might sound totally boring to some, but it was actually a lot of fun & very educational.

Matt with a guitar.

Matt playing a sweet looking guitar.

Autographed by Les Paul.. He's one of the great guitar players, who still plays guitar at a bar in New York City every Monday night, even though he's 93 years old!

Me "playing" a guitar.

A huge replica of B.B. King's "Lucille" guitar.

On our guided tour of the factory, the motto was "Safety First".

The inside of one of the guitars this factory makes. This is the semi-hollow body guitar. They also make the hollow body guitar.

Guitar bodies ready for the neck.

After the neck gets glued onto the body, they are attached to this "spinner" which goes around & around to allow the glue to dry.

Except for the red one, these guitars are ready for their paint bath. They don't get primed, though, because that would ruin the natural wood grain on the guitar.

See that guitar on the far left? The tag on that says "scrap" because of some sort of flaw that was discovered that couldn't be fixed.

Next, we toured the Rock & Soul Museum. But, we weren't allowed to take any pictures, so you'll have to trust me when I say it was very interesting.

After all that "touring", we walked along Beale Street.

Our last stop was The Wolfchase Galleria, where we had dinner & shopped for a while. I think we got home around 10pm or so. Even though it was cloudy & cold, it was a really fun day!

My Christmas, Part 2.

Ok, so here's Christmas Celebrations, Part 2.

We were supposed to be at my sister's around 8:45am on Christmas Day.

Well, when I called her at 8:15am to say we were on our way, I woke her up!

Yes, WOKE. HER. UP. The kids were NOT up yet!

So, she waited a few minutes before getting them up & made them wait for us to get there before letting them see what Santa brought.

That was very special to be able to watch them see their faces when they walked down the stairs & get their first glimpse of what they got.

It reminded me of when my sister & I were young & our parents would take pictures of us walking down the hallway to the Christmas tree.

Here's their reaction when they saw what Santa brought. Jackson got a new Xbox with a steering wheel & pedals, some new super hero's & an Arkansas Razorback toy chest.

Riley got a baby doll bed, a little "closet" for her baby doll clothes, a Dora bike & some play jewelry.

My sister was helping her see what was inside her stocking. Riley's favorite: M&M's.

Riley pushing Jackson on her new bike.

My sister opening a new shirt from Matt & me.

Jackson showing off his new frame that I made him for his bedroom.

I included this one because I was so proud of how straight I got my hair that morning. Seriously, y'all, it takes me like 20 minutes because it's so naturally curly.

My mom & step dad gave me the original painting of my Granddaddy's house. I loved this house when my grandparents were alive & living in it. This painting is very special to me because my sister, me & my cousin's would have parties for our baby dolls on the porch. I also remember my Granddaddy sitting in his favorite chair, watching the Cubs play on TV.

Matt & some new golf club covers from my sister.

After my sister's house, we went to Matt's mom's house to celebrate with my sister in law & her family & Matt's aunt, uncle & cousins. The picture above is of my niece, Madeline, opening up some dress up clothes.

Me opening a gift from Wendy, Jim & the girls.

It was a scrapbook "scrap can" & some paper.

Suzanne opening a Memory Album Kit.

Matt's mom opening her new digital camera from us.

Me with a "Bless This House" baking dish from Matt's mom.

Yay! Knives. Matt LOVES knives.

Matt's cousins: Jennifer, Emily & Kayla.

My silly, but wonderful husband.

Madeline showing her new dress up clothes.

Lots & Lots of PRESENTS.

So, I know you guys might not really care about seeing pictures of me &

my family opening our gifts on Christmas.

Well.

Tough.

We went to my dad's house Sunday night, for dinner & gifts.

And, because we have to be at my sister's tomorrow morning at 8:30am, Matt & I decided to do our Christmas tonight.

Probably the funniest thing about this Christmas so far is that Matt & I both got each other sunglasses from Oakley! (See last picture below).

Riley cheesing for the camera.

As long as you say "cheese", "donuts", "elmo" or "poo-poo", she'll smile for you.

Riley & Jackson are best buds.

Me with a new picture frame.

Matt with his Best Buy gift card.

"I want to see what's inside that box!"

Riley wanted to open her presents by putting them ON my lap.

A princess coloring set.

My step mom & my sister.

A very nice shirt's inside that box.

Jackson & Matt clowning around.

Quit talking woman & open the present!

Riley got TONS of clothes & diapers for her baby dolls. I think she even got a diaper bag!

Jackson got a really cool game.

Me showing Maisy what "Santa" brought her in her stocking.

A bacon flavored bone that she wanted to bury.

A Black & Decker auto wrench. This wrench is ALL he's talked about for the past month.

I got 2 new pairs of jeans from The Buckle.

My Circut fonts & die cuts!

Matt opening his new sunglasses.

A Forever 21 gift card.

Opening a gift.

Opening a gift.

Posing with our new sunglasses. Mine are the Crosshairs & Matt's are the square frames. I realize they look way too small for his head in this picture. In real life, they look fine.